Also: Committee on Standards in Public Life, Nolan principles, Seven Principles of Public Life
Definition
The Committee on Standards in Public Life, set up in the United Kingdom in 1994 under Lord Nolan, whose first report in 1995 set out the "Seven Principles of Public Life": selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
In the early 1990s British politics was shaken by "sleaze" scandals, including the "cash for questions" affair, in which some members of Parliament were alleged to have accepted money to ask questions in the House of Commons. Public trust in politicians fell sharply. Prime Minister John Major responded in October 1994 by establishing a standing Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Lord Nolan, a senior judge, to examine concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office and recommend changes.
The committee's first report, published in May 1995, covered MPs, ministers, civil servants and executive agencies. Its most enduring contribution was a short list of seven principles, later known as the Nolan Principles, meant to apply to anyone who holds public office, from ministers to employees of publicly funded bodies. Its recommendations led to a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, a register of members' interests, rules on ministers' post-office employment, and an independent system for public appointments.
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