Committee on Standards in Public Life

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The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom Government.

The committee was established in 1994 by Prime Minister John Major in response to concerns that conduct by some politicians was unethical - for example, allegations of taking cash for putting down parliamentary questions.

The Committee's original 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.’

Public Office covers Ministers, civil servants and advisers; Members of Parliament and UK Members of the European Parliament; Members and senior officers of all non-departmental public bodies and of national health service bodies; non-ministerial office holders; members and other senior officers of other bodies discharging publicly-funded functions; and elected members and senior officers of local authorities’

In 1997 Tony Blair extended the Committee's 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 on Standards in Public Life is constituted as a standing body with its members appointed for up to three years.