Terms of Reference
On 25 October 1994, Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Major MP, announced the setting up of the Committee on Standards in Public Life with the following terms of reference:
'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.'
'For these purposes, public office should include: 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'. Hansard (HC) 25 October 1994, col 758 (external link)
On 12 November 1997 the terms of reference were extended by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP: 'To review issues in relation to the funding of political parties, and to make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements'. Hansard (HC) 12 November 1997, col 899 (external link)
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has been constituted as a standing body with its members appointed for up to three years. Sir Christopher Kelly succeeded Sir Alistair Graham as Chair on the 1st January 2008. Sir Alistair Graham succeeded Sir Nigel Wicks as Chair on 26 April 2004. Sir Nigel succeeded Lord Neill as Chairman on 1 March 2001 and Lord Neill succeeded Lord Nolan, the Committee's first Chairman, on 10 November 1997.
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