Parliamentary Standards Bill

I support the noble Baroness’s wording of "from time to time". The words as they currently are in the Bill will set up an expectation which might be seized upon by Members of the other House in points of order to the Speaker requiring changes. "From time to time" more accurately reflects what will be the case. On the issue of members of the family, I refer the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, to Category 9 in the code of conduct for Members of Parliament, where, under "Shareholdings", it refers to: ""Interests in shareholdings held by the Member, either personally, or with or on behalf of the Member’s spouse or partner or dependent children, in any public or private company"." That has generally been the definition of "family" over a number of years as far as the House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges has been concerned.