Conduct of Public Life (Hansard, 31 October 1994)

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Prime Minister what recent meetings he has had with Lord Nolan; and what has been their purpose.

§ The Prime Minister
I met Lord Nolan on Wednesday 26 October to discuss various matters relating to the committee on standards in public life, including appointments of Members.

§ Mr. Hanson
To ask the Prime Minister what is the proposed remuneration of the chairman and board members of the proposed committee on standards in public life.

§ The Prime Minister
[holding answer 28 October 1994]I shall publish this information shortly.

§ Mr. Beith
To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons peers are not included in the categories of persons to be considered by the Committee on the conduct of public life in respect of their parliamentary duties.

§ The Prime Minister
It is open to the committee to examine the standards of conduct to be observed by peers as parliamentarians, as Ministers and, indeed, as holders of other public offices.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Prime Minister if he will include in the terms of reference of the body which will investigate standards of public life the issue of funding of political parties.

§ The Prime Minister
No. The funding of political parties has already been the subject of an investigation by the Home Affairs Select Committee. Under the terms of reference I announced on 25 October, it is open to Lord Nolan's committee to consider concerns that appointments or other Government decisions may be influenced by political contributions.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement on standards of conduct in public life of 25 October,Official Report, col. 757, if he will indicate (a) who was the informant mentioned by the Cabinet Secretary in his report, (b) what proposals for a deal were put to him by the intermediary and (c) when he was first contacted by the intermediary.

§ The Prime Minister
I have nothing further to add to the statement that I made to the House on Public Life (Standards of Conduct) on 25 October 1994,Official Report, columns 757-770, and to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 25 October 1994, Official Report, columns 521-22.