Commons Select Committee on Standards

The Commons Select Committee on Standards is appointed by the House of Commons to oversee the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

History

The committee was created on 13 December 2012 as one half of the replacements for the Committee on Standards and Privileges. Following the expenses scandal, it was considered desirable for lay members to provide oversight of standards of conduct of MPs, but it was not considered proper for individuals who were not members of parliament to make decisions on parliamentary privilege. The Standards and Privileges Committee was therefore split in two, with MPs (including the chair) by convention being elected to serve on both committees simultaneously, but with an additional cohort of lay members sitting on the Standards Committee. In 2020 the new Independent Expert Panel took over the select committee's responsibility for cases involving bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct by MPs.

In the wake of the Owen Paterson affair in November 2021, the Conservative government proposed removing the lay members entirely, which would leave the Conservatives with a majority of control on a newly re-constituted committee. MPs backed these reforms in a Common vote, as well as overturning the 30-day suspension of Paterson that had been recommended by the committee. However, these reforms were abandoned the following day amid widespread criticism, including from Conservative MPs. Paterson subsequently resigned as an MP.

External links

The Committee's website

References

"Role - Committee on Standards - UK Parliament". Parliament UK. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
"Public picked for Standards Committee looking into MPs' conduct". BBC News. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
"Erskine May, Committees on Standards and Privileges". Erskine May. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
"Boris Johnson to back bid to overturn Owen Paterson lobbying inquiry". the Guardian. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
"Owen Paterson resigns: Conservative ex-minister quits as MP after row over House of Commons suspension". Sky News. Retrieved 30 April 2022.

Current parliamentary committees of the United Kingdom

Commons

Departmental	Business and Trade Culture, Media and Sport Defence Education Energy Security and Net Zero Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Foreign Affairs Health and Social Care Home Affairs Housing, Communities and Local Government International Development Justice Northern Ireland Affairs Science, Innovation and Technology Scottish Affairs Transport Treasury Welsh Affairs Work and Pensions
Topical	Arms Export Controls Environmental Audit Petitions Public Accounts Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Statutory Instruments Women and Equalities
General	Panel of Chairs Public bill committees Delegated legislation committees European committees Northern Ireland Grand Committee Regional Affairs Committee Scottish Grand Committee Welsh Grand Committee
Internal	Administration Finance Backbench Business Liaison Procedure Selection Standards Privileges Works of Art
Statutory	House of Commons Commission Administration Estimate Audit Members Estimate Members Estimate Audit Public Accounts Commission Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Lords

Topical	Communications and Digital Constitution Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Economic Affairs European Affairs International Agreements International Relations and Defence Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Science and Technology
Private	Hybrid Instruments Standing Orders
Internal	Lords Commission Finance Liaison Conduct Procedure and Privileges Selection
Domestic	Services Works of Art

Joint

Select	Consolidation Bills Human Rights National Security Strategy Statutory Instruments Tax Law Rewrite Bills
Statutory	Ecclesiastical Committee Intelligence and Security

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