Committee on Privileges and Conduct (House of Commons)

Committee on Privileges and Conduct (House of Commons)
Name	Committee on Privileges and Conduct
Body	House of Commons
Established	2018
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom Parliament
Chair	Speaker's appointed chair
Members	MPs

Committee on Privileges and Conduct (House of Commons) is a select committee of the House of Commons formed to consolidate functions previously handled by the Commons Select Committees on standards and privileges. It oversees matters relating to parliamentary privilege, MPs' conduct, and the enforcement of rules such as the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament, working alongside the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and drawing on precedents from bodies like the Committee on Standards and the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege. The committee interfaces with institutions including the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Serjeant at Arms, the House of Lords, and legal authorities such as the Attorney General for England and Wales.

History

The committee was established following procedural reforms in the aftermath of controversies involving MPs and the handling of standards, taking shape after debates in the 2017 United Kingdom general election aftermath and proposals from the Procedure Committee (House of Commons). Its formation reflects influence from inquiries such as the Sleaze inquiries and reform initiatives linked to figures like the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Leader of the Opposition. Precedent committees included the Committee on Standards and the Select Committee on Privileges, while long-standing principles derive from constitutional documents and incidents such as the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1949 interpretations and historic disputes involving the Attorney General and the Lord Chief Justice. Reform impetus drew attention from MPs from parties including the Conservative Party (UK), the Labour Party (UK), the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats (UK), and the Democratic Unionist Party.

Responsibilities and remit

The committee's remit encompasses allegations of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament and questions of parliamentary privilege arising from incidents involving MPs, committees, and witnesses. It assesses matters related to access to documents from bodies such as the Cabinet Office, the National Audit Office, and the Information Commissioner’s Office, and considers interactions with the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom when privilege conflicts intersect with statutory law. The committee may recommend sanctions ranging from apologies to suspension from the House of Commons, and it guides enforcement mechanisms involving the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Independent Expert Panel. It also monitors the operation of disclosure and registration rules linked to the Register of Members' Financial Interests and engagements with external entities like the European Commission or the United Nations when privilege issues have international dimensions.

Membership and appointment

Members are appointed by the House of Commons on motions reflecting party balance, with chairs often selected through elections endorsed by the Speaker of the House of Commons or through cross-party agreement. Membership typically includes MPs from major parties including the Conservative Party (UK), the Labour Party (UK), the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats (UK), and regional parties such as Plaid Cymru and the Social Democratic and Labour Party. The committee works with officials from the Clerk of the House of Commons and the Committee Office (House of Commons), and the membership may interact with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and legal advisers drawn from chambers such as Middle Temple and Gray's Inn. Appointments reflect convention and statutory provisions arising from standing orders of the House of Commons.

Procedure and operations

The committee conducts evidence sessions with witnesses including MPs, former officials, and external experts from institutions like the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy or universities such as Oxford University and Cambridge University. It receives referrals from the Prime Minister's Office or the Standards Commissioner and may initiate inquiries following petitions from MPs or debates on the floor of the House of Commons Chamber. Hearings can be public or in private, with legal counsel and clerks from the House of Commons Library supporting proceedings; the committee issues reports debated in the House of Commons and may advise on procedural changes to standing orders or on appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Operational coordination involves liaison with the Serjeant at Arms, security teams tied to Parliamentary Security Directorate, and administrative bodies such as the House of Commons Commission.

Notable investigations and reports

The committee’s work has encompassed high-profile cases involving MPs and questions of privilege tied to media investigations by outlets like the BBC and The Times (London). It has considered referrals concerning conduct matters that previously engaged the Committee on Standards and produced reports that influenced debates involving the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and senior ministers, drawing commentary from legal figures such as the Lord Chief Justice and civil servants from the Cabinet Office. Its reports have recommended actions debated in the House of Commons Chamber and have at times prompted responses from bodies including the Crown Prosecution Service and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Notable inquiries have intersected with events such as parliamentary disclosures linked to international affairs involving the European Union and domestic controversies covered by media institutions like Channel 4.

Relationship with other parliamentary bodies

The committee collaborates closely with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, the Independent Expert Panel, and the House of Lords committees on privilege. It coordinates with administrative organs such as the House of Commons Commission and procedural units including the Procedure Committee (House of Commons), while interacting with judicial bodies like the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom when privilege claims raise constitutional questions. Cross-jurisdictional matters may involve engagement with the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Parliament when privileges touch devolved institutions. The committee’s findings can trigger referrals to the Attorney General for England and Wales or inform legislative reform considered by the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Category:Select Committees of the British House of Commons