Lord Storey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Chairman of Committees whether employees of public affairs companies can hold a House of Lords staff pass.

Lord Laming

Yes. Members of the House of Lords may sponsor their staff for parliamentary photo-passes, provided the member certifies that the applicant for the pass genuinely provides parliamentary research or secretarial services for the member or acts as a carer or driver for them.

Members’ staff with parliamentary photo-passes are subject to the Code of Conduct for House of Lords Members’ Staff. This requires them to disclose in the Register of Members’ Staff Interests any employment they have outside the House of Lords. They must also register any financial interest in businesses or organisations involved in public affairs or parliamentary lobbying. The Code of Conduct prohibits members’ staff from making use of their access to the parliamentary estate to further the interests of an outside body from whom they receive payment.