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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Peers to get standards watchdog | Peers to get standards watchdog |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The House of Lords is set to get its own standards watchdog in the wake of cash for influence allegations, Lords leader Baroness Royall has said. | The House of Lords is set to get its own standards watchdog in the wake of cash for influence allegations, Lords leader Baroness Royall has said. |
| Peers would also be banned from advising companies on how best to lobby Parliament under the proposals. | Peers would also be banned from advising companies on how best to lobby Parliament under the proposals. |
| The recommended changes follow an inquiry by Lord Eames. | The recommended changes follow an inquiry by Lord Eames. |
| It was prompted by claims four Labour lords offered to try to amend laws for cash. All denied the allegations but two were suspended for misconduct. | It was prompted by claims four Labour lords offered to try to amend laws for cash. All denied the allegations but two were suspended for misconduct. |
| Peers do not get salaries and are entitled to take outside employment. | |
| Lord Eames recommends tightening up their code of conduct, which his report says should emphasise the duty to act in the public interest. | |
| It proposes an outright ban on "parliamentary consultancies" - peers accepting payment for advice "on how to lobby or otherwise influence Parliament". | |
| 'Inappropriate attitudes' | |
| It recommends the appointment of a House of Lords commissioner for standards to investigate allegations of misconduct and the misuse of facilities. | |
| The commissioner would report to the sub-committee on Lords interests, which would decide what action to take. | |
| Earlier this year, The Sunday Times said Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor offered to make amendments to legislation in return for cash payments. | |
| The newspaper claimed its reporters approached the men pretending to be lobbyists acting for a company which wanted help getting an exemption from laws on business rates. | |
| The peers denied the allegations, saying no money changed hands. | |
| But peers voted to suspend the pair from Parliament for six months for misconduct, after they were found by a Lords committee to be willing to change laws in exchange for cash. | |
| The newspaper also made allegations against Lord Snape and another Labour peer, Lord Moonie. | |
| The two were ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the privileges committee but were invited to apologise for "inappropriate attitudes" to their duties, which were brought to light during the investigation. | |
| There is a separate review on "options for the system of financial support" for peers which is being conducted by the Senior Salaries Review Body and will be published in a few weeks. |