Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 February 2025

Correspondence with the Modernisation Committee relating to work into outside interests and employment - November 2024

Inquiry: Outside employment and interests

Summary

Correspondence between Alberto Costa (Standards Committee Chair) and Lucy Powell (Modernisation Committee Chair) regarding a joint investigation into outside interests and employment rules. The Standards Committee agrees to conduct detailed work on implementing a qualified prohibition on paid outside interests, with both committees coordinating efforts and sharing findings before finalising recommendations.

Key findings

Modernisation Committee requested Standards Committee conduct further work on outside interests and employment following prior committee work and October 2024 rule changes to Chapter 4 of the Guide to the Rules
Standards Committee agreed (25 November) to undertake detailed granular work on implementing a qualified prohibition on paid outside interests using a rules-based approach
Standards Committee will set its own terms of reference and path of investigation while enabling input from Modernisation Committee members and sharing potential lines of inquiry in advance of final reporting
Standards Committee will consider evidence options at 3 December meeting, with intention to report to the House following consultation early in the new year
Both committees committed to coordination and potential future collaboration on standards-related matters, with offer to exchange witness suggestions and hold joint meeting to explore developing thinking

Tone

Procedural

Topics

standardsconflicts-of-interestparliamentary-rulesoutside-interests

Key actors

Alberto Costa MP, Lucy Powell MP, Committee on Standards, Modernisation Committee, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Notable line

“… asked the Standards Committee to conduct further granular work on detailed proposals, which I believe is the proper approach …”

Key Quotes

“I am grateful that you have asked the Standards Committee to conduct further granular work on detailed proposals, which I believe is the proper approach, not least since the Standards Committee includes the external perspectives of seven Lay Members as well as seven elected Members.”
— Alberto Costa MP · Responding to Modernisation Committee's request for Standards Committee work on outside interests

“I can now confirm that the Committee considered that suggestion yesterday and agreed to undertake such work.”
— Alberto Costa MP · Confirming Standards Committee agreement to conduct investigation into outside interests and employment

“I would intend so far as is possible to enable input by Modernisation Committee members into any work we undertook and to share and discuss, so far as is possible, potential lines of inquiry and conclusion in advance of our agreeing a final report.”
— Alberto Costa MP · Outlining commitment to inter-committee coordination on the investigation

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗