Sanctions and confidentiality in the House’s standards system

On 21 April 2021, there will be a debate on reports from the Committee on Standards concerning sanctions and confidentiality in the House’s standards system:

• Sixth Report: Confidentiality in the House’s standards system, 19 June 2020, HC 474 2019-21
• Seventh Report: Sanctions in respect of the conduct of Members, 21 July 2020, HC 241 2019-21

The Committee revised its initial proposals following discussions with the Government:

• Twelfth Report: Sanctions and confidentiality in the House’s standards system: revised proposals, 30 March 2021, HC 1340 2019-21

The Committee has proposed restarting publication of details of non-Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme cases.

The Committee identified the existing sanctions that can be imposed on MPs and has suggested some new sanctions. The sanctions, who decides on the imposition of the sanction, whether it is a currently existing power and changes made to the Committee’s July 2020 proposals are set out in two tables published as an Annex to the Committee’s March 2021 report.

Motions relating to the Reports were published in the Future Business (Section A) of the Order Paper on 20 April 2021.