Catalogue description Records of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and related bodies

The Committee on Standards of Conduct in Public Life was announced by the Prime Minister John Major in the House of Commons on 25 October 1994 (Official Report Cols 757-759). The first chairman from 1994 to 1997 was Lord Nolan; he was succeeded by Lord Neill of Bladen (1997-2001), followed by Sir Nigel Wicks (2001–2004), Sir Alistair Graham (2004–2007), and then Sir Christopher Kelly, KCB (from 5 December 2007).

The Committee's terms of reference were: 'To examine current concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office, including arrangements relating to financial and commercial activities, and make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.' In November 1997 the Prime Minister Tony Blair announced additional terms of reference: to review issues in relation to the funding of political parties, and to make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements.

The Committee has been established as a Standing Committee, which will remain in being to advise the Government of the day. It is an advisory non-departmental public body of the Cabinet Office. Its Chair and members are appointed by the Prime Minister for renewable periods of up to three years. By 1998 the Committee had issued five reports: The First Report, dealing with standards for Members of Parliament, Ministers and Civil Servants, and executive Quangos and NHS bodies; the Second Report, on local public spending bodies; the Third Report, on Local Government; the Fourth Report, a review of executive NDPBs, NHS Trusts and local public spending bodies; and the Fifth Report, on the funding of political parties. In February 1999 it published an annual report for the first time. Subsequently the Committee has issued further reports dealing with Reinforcing Standards (Sixth Report, Jan 2000), Standards of Conduct in the House of Lords (Seventh Report, Nov 2000), Standards of Conduct in the House of Commons (Eighth Report, Nov 2001), Defining the Boundaries with the Executive: Ministers, Special Advisers and the Permanent Civil Service (Ninth Report, April 2003), Getting the Balance Right: Implementing Standards of Conduct in Public Life (Tenth Report, Jan 2005), and Review of the Electoral Commision (Eleventh Report, Jan 2007).