History
The committee was established in October 1994 by Prime Minister John Major in response to concerns that conduct by some politicians was unethical - for example, during the cash-for-questions affair.
The Committee's original terms of reference were:
| “ | To examine current concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office, including arrangements relating to financial and commercial activities, and make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life. | ” |
The term "public office" includes ministers, civil servants and advisers; Members of Parliament and UK Members of the European Parliament; Members and senior officers of all non-departmental public bodies and of national health service bodies; non-ministerial office holders; members and other senior officers of other bodies discharging publicly-funded functions; and elected members and senior officers of local authorities.
Read more about this topic: Committee On Standards In Public Life
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)