Ethics and Integrity Commission chair Doug Chalmers has highlighted the importance of governments implementing ethics advice in a letter to the prime minister.
Last week, Keir Starmer asked the committee to carry out a review of lobbying, disclosure and access to government as part of a new overhaul of standards in light of the recent Mandelson scandal.
Responding in a letter sent on Friday 13 March but published yesterday, Chalmers said the review is a “welcome” opportunity to “look again at the rules, processes and transparency that support high standards”.
But he also pointed out that the request covered areas where the watchdog’s predecessor committee, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, had previously made recommendations, “many of which have remained unimplemented by successive governments”.
Chalmers said the EIC will revisit these topics “and look to build on that work, whilst taking into account new evidence and wider changes”.
“Given the urgency of this review we will be focusing on areas that will have the greatest impact,” he said. “There may be some areas where we set out broad principles which prompt further evidence-based work.
“We intend to hear from the standards bodies which work in these areas, as well as seeking wider views so that we can make sound, workable recommendations that drive high standards in central government.”
Returning to the point about unimplemented advice, he added: “It is – of course – ultimately the adoption of the recommendations that emerge which makes the real difference.”
Stu Sterling, the watchdog’s chief executive, said he is looking forward to leading this work, which will become the first report of the new Ethics and Integrity Commission.
“Like the previous Committee on Standards in Public Life, we will be taking an evidence-based approach, hearing from those with experience and expertise of the issues and challenges,” Sterling said. “Our work starts now and we will aim to publish the report before the Parliamentary summer recess.
“In the meantime, we continue our work to support public authorities, by developing guidance on codes of conduct, whilst our review of public sector ombudsman services announced earlier this month continues to take evidence.”