Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
21 April 2026
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Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee House of Commons
00:06 - 01:24
Speaker 1
Good morning, colleagues, and good morning to our witnesses as we continue our inquiry into standards, ethics, integrity in public life. Lady Anderson, we're delighted to see you, and congratulations on your appointment as, amongst other things, standards minister. We think that's an encouraging move, and a welcome to Ellen Atkinson and Simon Madden also from the cabinet office. I'm going to kick off the questions. I think we all know the importance of the Knowland Principles, we all know why standards in public life are important and we know the reason for an effective standards system.
I wondered, minister, if you might set out for us in sort of headline terms, if you will, your assessment of where you think things stand currently and what what you're identifying as room for change, enhancement, alteration.
01:24 - 02:33
Speaker 2
Thank you Mr Chairman. First of all I'd like to thank the committee for inviting me. I've been in post seven weeks today and I expect to be in front of you on many occasions. I really want to work collaboratively with the committee and with everyone in this space. I think there is a significant amount of work to do.
From my perspective, I consider this to be a once in a generation moment in terms of a stocktake. We haven't had a minister for standards before in terms of a dedicated minister for standards, which I am, and therefore it gives us the opportunity reflect on where we've come from, thirty one years of post Nolan principles, to see what is unfinished business and what we need to take forward. I think the work of your committee suggests that there is significant unfinished business still to be done. From my perspective I'm reviewing every aspect of the standards landscape that is in the purview of the government. Obviously there are other elements of standards that relate to this building of which I am hugely passionate.
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