Welcome to the Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Committee was given wide terms of
reference when it was established in October 1994. The following month
Mr Major said of the Committee: "It is to act as a running authority
of reference - almost you might say, an ethical workshop called in to do
running repairs."
This aspect of the Committee's work was reaffirmed in January 2000 as
part of the Cabinet Office's Quinquennial Review of the Committee,
which concluded that there was a: "...continuing need to monitor the
ethical environment and to respond to issues of concern, which may
arise."
To fulfill this role and in addition to its formal inquiries, reports and
research into public attitudes, the Committee devotes time throughout the
year to discussing current issues and concerns relating to standards in
public life. The Committee is always pleased to hear about possible areas
for inquiry, but the remit of the Committee excludes investigation
of individual allegations of misconduct. These considerations may,
and sometimes do, result in a full-scale inquiry. Even where no inquiry is
conducted, these are regarded by the Committee as a useful check on current
standards and the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the arrangements in place
to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life.
To contact the Committee please write to:
The Secretary
Committee on Standards in Public Life
35 Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BQ
Phone: +44 0207 276 2595
Email: public@standards.x.gsi.gov.uk
