The Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament
Prepared pursuant to the recommendation of the Integrity reports.
- Purpose of the Code
- The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to assist all Members in the discharge of their obligations to Parliament and the public at large by:
- (a) establishing the standards and principles of conduct expected of all Members in undertaking their duties;
- (b) setting the rules of conduct which underpin these standards and principles and to which all Members must adhere; and in so doing
- (c) ensuring public confidence in the standards expected of all Members and in the commitment of Parliament to upholding these rules.
- II. Scope of the Code
- The Code applies to a Member's conduct which relates in any way to their membership of Parliament. The Code does not seek to regulate the conduct of Members in their purely private and personal lives or in the conduct of their wider public lives unless such conduct significantly damages the reputation and integrity of Parliament as a whole or of its Members generally.. The obligations set out in this Code are complementary to those which apply to all Members by virtue of the procedural and other rules of Parliament and the rulings of the Chair, and to those which apply to Members falling within the scope of the Ministerial Code.
- III. Duties of Members
- By virtue of the oath, or affirmation, of allegiance taken by all Members when they are elected to Parliament, Members have a duty to be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty the King, his heirs and successors, according to law.
- Members have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination.
- Members have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole; and a special duty to the public.
- Members should act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them. They should always behave with honor and integrity, including in their use of public resources.
- IV. General Principles of Conduct
- In carrying out their parliamentary and public duties, Members will be expected to observe the following general principles of conduct identified by the Ad Hoc Committee on Integrity in its report as applying to holders of public office. These principles will be taken into account when considering the investigation and determination of any allegations of breaches of the rules of conduct in Part V of the Code.
"Selflessness
Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example."
V. Rules of Conduct
- Members are expected to observe the following rules and associated Resolutions of Parliament.
- 1Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest.
- No Member shall act as a paid advocate in any proceeding of Parliament
- The acceptance by a Member of a bribe to influence his or her conduct as a Member, including any fee, compensation or reward in connection with the promotion of, or opposition to, any Law, Motion, or other matter submitted, or intended to be submitted to Parliament, or to any Committee of Parliament, is contrary to the law of Parliament.
- Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of Parliament in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. They shall always be open and frank in drawing attention to any relevant interest in any proceeding of Parliament or its Committees, and in any communications with Ministers, Members, public officials or public office holders.
- Information which Members receive in confidence in the course of their parliamentary duties should be used only in connection with those duties. Such information must never be used for the purpose of financial gain.
- Members are personally responsible and accountable for ensuring that their use of any expenses, allowances, facilities and services provided from the public purse is in accordance with the rules laid down on these matters. Members shall ensure that their use of public resources is always in support of their parliamentary duties. It should not confer any undue personal or financial benefit on themselves or anyone else, or confer undue advantage on a political organisation.
- Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of Parliament as a whole, or of its Members generally.
- The "Committee" may not investigate a specific matter under paragraph 16 which relates only to the conduct of a Member in their private and personal lives.
- VI. Upholding the Code
- The application of this Code shall be a matter for Parliament, and particularly for the Ad Hoc Committee on Integrity.
- 1The "Committee" may investigate a specific matter relating to a Member's adherence to the rules of conduct under the Code. Members shall cooperate, at all stages, with any such investigation by or under the authority of Parliament. No Member shall lobby a member of the "Committee" in a manner calculated or intended to influence its consideration of an alleged breach of this Code.
- The "Committee" will consider any report from the Ad Hoc Committee to it and report its conclusions and recommendations to Parliament. Parliamnet may impose a sanction on the Member where it considers it necessary.
This includes the registration of financial interests held by MPs and the investigation of complaints about MPs who have allegedly breached the Code of Conduct or related Rules.
Key responsibilities
- Overseeing the maintenance and monitoring the operation of the Register of Members' Financial Interests
- Providing advice on a confidential basis to individual Members and to the Committee on Integrity about the interpretation of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members
- Monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules and, where appropriate, proposing possible modifications of it to the Committee on Integrity
- Preparing guidance and providing training for Members on matters of conduct, propriety and ethics
- Receiving and investigating complaints about Members who are allegedly in breach of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules, and reporting her findings to the Committee on Integrity
- The "Committee" also presents an annual report to Parliament on the work of her office
