Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Nadine Dorries Excerpts
Thursday 9th December 2010

(14 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nadine Dorries Portrait Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)
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Members might not be aware that, last Thursday, a piece of legislation was passed in the House which grants the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards the power to investigate any MP he wishes, if he thinks fit, without having received a prior complaint. This would of course result in the headline the following day, “Parliamentary sleaze watchdog investigates MP”. Will the Leader of the House please tell us why he saw fit to grant such powers to someone who is unelected and probably has the leakiest office in Westminster, and who also has close relations with the media?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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It was not I who granted those powers. The House decided, without Division, to approve the unanimous report of the Standards and Privileges Committee, which carried the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers.