The standards landscape

Ministers, including Cabinet members, are subject to the Ministerial Code. The Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards provides impartial advice to the Prime Minister on matters relating to the Ministerial Code and may investigate alleged breaches of the Code. The Independent Adviser also works with accounting officers to oversee the process by which ministers declare and manage their private interests and provides advice to former ministers on employment for two years after leaving office, in line with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules. The House of Lords Appointments Commission recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political peers and vets for propriety the nomination of peers by political parties. The independent Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates appointments made by Ministers to a variety of roles in public life, including the boards of public bodies under the Government’s Governance Code.

Civil Servants are subject to the Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code. The Civil Service Commission provides assurance that appointments to the Civil Service are made on merit through fair and open competition. It also acts as the appeal body for complaints under the Civil Service Code and advises on the Government’s Business Appointment Rules in relation to civil servants. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) investigates complaints about UK government departments, other public organisations and the NHS in England. Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) examines constitutional issues, the quality and standards of administration provided by Civil Service departments, and the reports of the PHSO.

Members of Parliament (MPs) are subject to a Code of Conduct. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is appointed by the House to monitor the operation of the Code of Conduct (including investigating alleged breaches) and Registers of Interests. The Procedural Protocol sets out the process for Code of Conduct complaints and investigations. The Committee on Standards oversees standards issues and the work of the Commissioner. The Independent Expert Panel hears appeals against decisions by the Committee on Standards from MPs, and determines appeals and sanctions in cases where complaints have been brought against MPs of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) regulates and administers the business costs and decides the pay and pensions of the 650 elected MPs and their staff in the UK.

Members of the House of Lords (‘peers’) and their staff are subject to Codes of Conduct. The House of Lords Commissioners for Standards are responsible for the independent and impartial investigation of alleged breaches of the Codes. The Conduct Committee reviews and oversees the Codes of Conduct and the work of the Commissioners.

Local Authorities produce their own codes of conduct, registers of members’ interests, and procedures for investigating complaints. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman can investigate a local authority’s handling of a complaint, and recommend if an investigation should be re-run.

The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists manages a register of consultant lobbyists and monitors compliance with the statutory requirements of the register.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. It works to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity.

The UK Statistics Authority promotes and safeguards the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It also promotes and safeguards the quality and comprehensiveness of official statistics, and ensures good practice in relation to official statistics using the Code of Practice for Statistics.