§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that minutes of meetings of members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life should be published in the interests of openness about decisions they take. [HL2236]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe decision on the publication of minutes of its meetings and of information gained during its inquiries rests with the committee itself in the context of its own commitment to openness as one of the committee's principles of public life.
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§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any staff attached to the Committee on Standards in Public Life have been engaged in political activity or have been members of a political party within the last 10 years; and what has been the nature of that activity. [HL2237]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Committee on Standards in Public Life is currently supported by a secretariat of eight Civil Service posts. The Civil Service Code and the Cabinet Office Management Code place restrictions on the political activity, at local and national level, of civil servants and require the confidential disclosure of conflicts of interest to senior managers. Wider disclosure of such information would infringe individuals' privacy. There are no restrictions on membership by civil servants of political parties, and this information is not therefore collected.
§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is a register of interests of members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and, if not, whether they have plans to institute such a Register. [HL2239]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonA register of interests of members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life is maintained in accordance with the committee's code of practice. A copy of the register and of the code of practice can be obtained from the committee and is also published on the committee's website atwww.public-standards.gov.uk.
§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff have been attached to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and what has been its annual budget for each year since it has been established. [HL2240]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Committee on Standards in Public Life is currently supported by a secretariat of eight Civil Service posts. Details of members in post have been included in each of the committee's reports and in its annual reports. The committee's expenditure for 1998–99 was £676,358. Information for earlier years is published in theCommittee on Standards in Public Life Annual Reports 1994–98. Copies of the reports are available in the Library. The 1999 annual report will be published in the summer and will include details of expenditure in the last financial year The committee's annual budget for 2000–01 is £535,000.
§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life have made any political donations over the last 10 years or have shareholdings in companies that have made such donations. [HL2241]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMembers of the Committee on Standards in Public Life are not required to record details of donations they or236WA companies in which they have shareholdings have made to political organisations or other institutions.
The committee's code of practice makes clear the need to be open about any potential or perceived conflicts of interest and provides a mechanism for dealing with such situations if they arise.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
When each of the current members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life was appointed; for what term; and whether they receive any payment from public funds. [HL2242]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMembers of the Committee on Standards in Public Life are generally appointed for terms of three years, with the possibility of one re-appointment.
The table below gives details of the current membership of the committee along with the term of the appointment.
Appointed Term Ends Lord Neill of Bladen. QC Chairman 10 November 1997 31 October 2000 Sir Clifford Boulton Member I October 1994* 31 October 2000 Professor Alice Brown Member 18 November 1998 31 October 2001 Sir Anthony Cleaver Member 1 January 1998 31 December 2000 Lord Goodhart Member 11 November 1997 31 October 2000 Frances Heaton Member 1 January 1998 31 December 2000 Rt. Hon John MacGregor, OBE, MP Member 11 November 1997 31 October 2000 Rt. Hon bird Shore of Stepney Member 1 October 1994* 31 October 2000 Sir William Utting Member 1 October 1994* 31 October 2000 Ann Abraham Member 17 January 2000 31 December 2002 * These members were re-appointed on 1 November 1997 for a second three-year term. Members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life who do not already receive a salary from public funds may claim £180 for each day they work on committee business. The chairman may claim £500 per day. All members are reimbursed for actual expenses incurred.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life are placed under any restrictions to (a) then employment; (b) acceptance of honours; (c) election to the House of Commons; and (d) elevation to membership of the House of Lords, while they are serving on the committee or for any period after their term ends.[HL2243]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMembers of the Committee on Standards in Public Life are bound by its code of practice. This sets out the restrictions on political activity (including any paid office in a political party) that members, with the exception of the three political nominees, may engage in. Members are under a duty not to misuse information gained in the course 237WA of their public service for personal gain. There are no other restrictions on the acceptance of employment or on acceptance of honours or elevation to the House of Lords. However, Members of the House of Lords are guided in their conduct in the House by the statement made in the House by Lord Addison on 21 March 1951.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to place the Committee on Standards in Public Life on a statutory basis. [HL2244]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThere are no such plans at present.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
To whom the Committee on Standards in Public Life is accountable for the proper and effective conduct of its duties. [HL2245]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe committee is accountable to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament for the conduct of the committee.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life last met the Prime Minister; and whether he has discussed with him his proposed inquiry into standards of conduct in the House of Lords. [HL2246]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Prime Minister and the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life meet from time to time to discuss a number of issues. They last met on 10 January this year when the noble Lord, Lord Neill, presented the Prime Minister with his committee's sixth report. During the meeting the noble Lord, Lord Neill, discussed with the Prime Minister options for the committee's future work programme along with other issues.
§ Lord Dean of Harptreeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff are attached to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; what are their current salary bands; and what is the current annual budget of the committee. [HL2247]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Committee's budget for the year 2000–01 is £535,000, which includes £310,000 staff costs. There are eight Civil238WA Service posts attached to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The table below gives the salary bands of the current posts.
£42,755 to £67.163 £30,750 to £47,150 £20,000 to £30,750 £12.820 to £17,425 £10,500 to £14,350 Two staff members One staff member One staff member Three staff members One staff member
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many representations were received by the Committee on Standards in Public Life expressing concern about the effectiveness of the register of interests of peers established under the Griffiths report; and how many of those representations came from (a) Members of the House of Lords; (b) Members of Parliament; (c) journalists; (d) political parties; and (e) members of the public. [HL2248]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe committee makes publicly available all evidence received and summary information on written representations. Since its inception in 1994 the committee has received ad hoc representations on a range of issues, including issues relating to the House of Lords. But to extract and compile the information in the form requested would entail excessive cost.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life informed (a) the Leader of the House; (b) the Leader of the Opposition; (c) the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Peers; (d) the Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers; and (e) the Prime Minister of his intention to conduct an inquiry into the House of Lords. [HL24549]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe noble Lord, Lord Neill, met the Prime Minister on 10 January t o present his committee's sixth report. During the meeting other issues were also discussed, including options for the committee's future work programme. The noble Lord, Lord Neill, suggested a review of standards of conduct in the House of Lords as a possible area for its next study. He wrote to me as the Leader of the House on 22 February informing me of his intention to conduct an inquiry into the House of Lords. He informed the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Peers and the Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers by letter on 8 March.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of staff of the Committee on Standards in Public Life have been seconded from Civil Service departments; and from what departments they have been seconded. [HL2250]
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§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Committee on Standards in Public Life is provided by the Cabinet Office with a secretariat of eight civil service posts. Currently two staff are on loan from the Lord Chancellor's Department and one from the Inland Revenue.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any members of staff of the Committee on Standards in Public Life have made political donations over the last 10 years. [HL2251]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonCivil servants are not required to inform the Government of any political donations they make as private individuals.