Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to pages 51-2 of the Committee on Standards in Public Life July 2018 report, MPs' Outside Interests, what recent discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on guidance on the registration of outside interests by candidates at parliamentary elections; and whether he plans to update that guidance.

The recommendations in that Committee on Standards in Public Life report are primarily a matter for the House of Commons, and are currently being considered by the House.

In relation to the single recommendation on future outside interests of elected representatives, I would note that it is already the case that the press and public may ask questions of candidates on their intended outside interests if elected. And, indeed, such scrutiny is taking place in the current Parliamentary by-elections.