House of Lords Commissioner for Standards explained

There are currently two House of Lords Commissioners for Standards, officers of the United Kingdom House of Lords. When the post was created in 2010 there was a single commissioner who was "responsible for the independent and impartial investigation of alleged breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct". Duties of the Commissioners include investigating potential misuse of expenses and parliamentary facilities.[1] Members' opinions, or the way they express themselves, do not fall within the scope of the code.[2]

The current Commissioners are Martin Jelley QPM and Akbar Khan.[3]

Past commissioners

Investigations

Reports by the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards!Name of Peer!Date!Allegation!Result
Lord Richards of HerstmonceuxFebruary 2017Minor breach (non-declaration of relevant interest)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct
Lord TopeFebruary 2019Improper use of House of Lords facilitiesComplaint dismissed
Lord Barker of BattleFebruary 2019Payment for providing parliamentary advice or servicesPaid advocacy on behalf of Russian companiesComplaints dismissed
Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Lord HainApril 2019Violation of the sub judice resolutionPaid advocacyAbuse of parliamentary privilege by naming Philip GreenComplaint dismissed
Lord Singh of WimbledonApril 2019Non-registration and non-declaration of a relevant interestComplaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct
Lord DebenJune 2019Inaccurate descriptions of interestsNon-declaration of relevant interestsComplaints dismissed
Baroness MeacherJune 2019Non-declaration of relevant interest (Chair of Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.
Lord Stone of BlackheathOctober 2019Harassment (Sexual and transphobic)Complaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents
Lord Black of BrentwoodDecember 2019Insufficient description of the role of companyFailure to declare relevant interestComplaints upheld.
  • Required to amend company description
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Lord Lea of CrondallJanuary 2020Harassment and discrimination based on age and sexComplaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents
Lord Stevens of KirkwhelpingtonFebruary 2020Failure to declare nature of consultancy work performed by one of Lord Stevens' companiesFailure to declare company that Lord Stevens held significant control overComplaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Baroness MeacherJune 2020Improper of House of Lords stationary on non-parliamentary activity (Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.
Lord Smith of KelvinJune 2020Failure to declare companies of which Lord Smith is a Director.Complaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Lord AdonisJune 2020Failure to declare his interest as Non-Executive Director of HS2 LtdFailure to declare a non-financial interest and advisory board position in the member's register of interestsComplaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Participation in the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill without making relevant declarationsComplaint dismissed.
Lord Stone of BlackheathJuly 2020Harassment and discrimination based on religion, age and sexComplaints upheld.
  • Required to continue attending training courses
  • Referral to the Lords' Standards Committee for further potential sanctions
Lord Lea of CrondallAugust 2020BullyingComplaints upheld.
  • Required to continue attending training courses
  • Written apology to the victim
Mr. Benedict Rich(Staff of Lord Lansley)October 2020Not specifying the consultancy work done in the register of interests.Complaints upheld. Required to correct register of interest.
Use of position in the House of Lords for the purpose of lobbyingComplaint dismissed.
Lord AhmedNovember 2020Sexual misconductRacismThe Committee recommended expulsion from the House of Lords. Lord Ahmed resigned prior to any sanctions being given.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lords Commissioner . parliament website . June 28, 2012.
  2. News: December 2017 . Houses of Lords standards commissioner dismisses complaint against Lord Kilclooney . .
  3. Web site: UK Parliament: House of Lords appoints new Commissioners for Standards . 2021-11-08.