§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the most recent requests for investigations which the Government have made to the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the date each request was communicated to the Committee. [51224]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 17 July 1998]The Committee on Standards in Public Life does not have powers of investigation, but undertakes more general inquiries about standards of conduct in public life. On 12 November 1997, I wrote to Lord Neill, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, inviting the Committee to look at the funding of political parties, and extending their terms of reference to enable them to undertake this study. The Committee's inquiry is due to be completed in September 1998. The Government have made no subsequent requests to the Committee.