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 The BBC's Laura Trevelyan"The upper house should have a code of conduct as MPs do"  real 28k  The BBC's Laura Trevelyan"The committee will be considering whether the Lords should have a standards watchdog"  real 28k |
Lords under anti-sleaze microscope
The move would bring the Lords in line with the Commons
An inquiry is to investigate whether the House of Lords should introduce a register forcing members to declare their paid interests.
Such a move would bring the Lords in line with the Commons, where the existing register was tightened following the "cash for questions" scandal of 1994.
Such a move would bring the Lords in line with the Commons, where the existing register was tightened following the "cash for questions" scandal of 1994.
What the Neill Committee will consider |
The registration and declaration of interests in the Lords
Whether there should be a code of conduct for the House of Lords
Parliamentary consultancies and lobbying
Disciplinary procedures and investigative machinery
Penalties
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Peers have previously resisted the idea of a compulsory register over fears that it would impinge on the tradition that members of the upper house act on their personal integrity.
But the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Lord Neill, will study the arguments for a register, and further investigate whether the Lords should have a code of conduct and its own standards watchdog.
If such measures were introduced, peers could face disciplinary action such as suspension if they fail to register their interests.
The Lords currently operates a voluntary register of interests, set up after an inquiry by Lord Griffiths.
Peers are only required to register consultancies and posts with lobbying companies.
Code of conduct
The committee on standards in public life was set up following the Neil Hamilton cash for questions scandal "to ensure the highest standards of propriety".
The move led to the adoption of a code of conduct and the creation of a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, currently Elizabeth Filkin.
In the Commons, MPs are required to register all paid, outside employment.
They are also required to register shareholdings that amount to £25,000 or 1% of the company, or substantial property holdings, sponsorship or other financial support.
The Neill Committee's inquiry into the Lords comes four months after the government axed more than 600 hereditary peers from the House.
Now only appointed life peers remain, with bishops and a rump of 92 hereditaries elected by their parties to stay on until the second stage of reform is completed.
Lord Neill said: "The committee has had a long-standing commitment to considering these issues in relation to the House of Lords.
Inquiry welcomed
"At a time when the House has undergone such a radical change in its composition, it is now particularly appropriate that we should fulfil that commitment."
Leader of the Lords Baroness Jay said: "We very much welcome this inquiry. Labour ministers in the Lords already declare their interests to the same standard as is required in the Commons.
"Many Labour peers have followed suit. Any resistance to such an inquiry in the past has come from parties in opposition and not from the Labour Party."
The inquiry was also welcomed by opposition peers leader Lord Strathclyde, who said: "I have already written to Lord Neill and confirmed that the opposition will co-operate fully with any requests from the inquiry."
Liberal Democrat Party Treasurer Lord Razzall said "This is long overdue. In the light of the reform of the House of Lords the same standards must apply to peers as are in place in the House of Commons."
But the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Lord Neill, will study the arguments for a register, and further investigate whether the Lords should have a code of conduct and its own standards watchdog.
If such measures were introduced, peers could face disciplinary action such as suspension if they fail to register their interests.
The Lords currently operates a voluntary register of interests, set up after an inquiry by Lord Griffiths.
Peers are only required to register consultancies and posts with lobbying companies.
Code of conduct
The committee on standards in public life was set up following the Neil Hamilton cash for questions scandal "to ensure the highest standards of propriety".
The move led to the adoption of a code of conduct and the creation of a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, currently Elizabeth Filkin.
In the Commons, MPs are required to register all paid, outside employment.
They are also required to register shareholdings that amount to £25,000 or 1% of the company, or substantial property holdings, sponsorship or other financial support.
The Neill Committee's inquiry into the Lords comes four months after the government axed more than 600 hereditary peers from the House.
Now only appointed life peers remain, with bishops and a rump of 92 hereditaries elected by their parties to stay on until the second stage of reform is completed.
Lord Neill said: "The committee has had a long-standing commitment to considering these issues in relation to the House of Lords.
Inquiry welcomed
"At a time when the House has undergone such a radical change in its composition, it is now particularly appropriate that we should fulfil that commitment."
Leader of the Lords Baroness Jay said: "We very much welcome this inquiry. Labour ministers in the Lords already declare their interests to the same standard as is required in the Commons.
"Many Labour peers have followed suit. Any resistance to such an inquiry in the past has come from parties in opposition and not from the Labour Party."
The inquiry was also welcomed by opposition peers leader Lord Strathclyde, who said: "I have already written to Lord Neill and confirmed that the opposition will co-operate fully with any requests from the inquiry."
Liberal Democrat Party Treasurer Lord Razzall said "This is long overdue. In the light of the reform of the House of Lords the same standards must apply to peers as are in place in the House of Commons."
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