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IN THIS REVIEW OF SEWERYN BIALER'S "STALIN'S SUCCESSORS: LEADERSHIP, STABILITY, AND CHANGE IN THE SOVIET UNION", THE REVIEWER FINDS IT A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE SECRECY ABOUT HIGHER SOVIET POLITICS RESULTING IN OBSCURITY REGARDING MOTIVES FOR DECISIONS, DECISION MAKING PROCESS, AND POWER STRUCTURE FOR MAKING POLICY. THE REVIEWER'S DISAGREEMENT WITH 3 MAJOR THESES ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL.

CANADIAN HOUSE OF COMMONS HAS ALWAYS HAS "A SYSTEM" OF STANDING COMMITTEES, BUT UNTIL RECENTLY LITTLE USE WAS MADE OF THEM. AN INCREASING LEGISLATIVE BURDEN LED TO A REVIVAL OF COMMITTEES BETWEEN 1958 & 1962, BUT THEY WERE ILL-ADAPTED TO THE DEMANDS MADE UPON THEM: THEY WERE TOO LARGE, POORLY-ATTENDED, LACKED ADEQUATE POWERS AND WERE NOT AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THE NOLAN COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF PUBLIC LIFE WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1994 AND ISSUED ITS FIRST REPORT IN MAY 1995. AMONG ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THAT A CODE OD CONDUCT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN BRITISH MPS, ENFORCED BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, WITH THE ADVICE OF A PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR STANDARDS. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ACCEPTED AND A CODE OF CONDUCT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED BY THE HOUSE. THE CODE AND ITS ACCOMPANYING GUIDELINES HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WORKING PRACTICES OF MPS, ESPECIALLY IN RELATIONS TO THEIR OUTSIDE INTERESTS. ON WHAT GROUNDS CAN PAID OUTSIDE INTERESTS BE JUSTIFIED? HOW MUCH IS IT A QUESTION OF KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE "REAL WORLD?" HOW MUCH IS IT A QUESTION OF A NECESSARY SUPPLEMENT TO THE PARLIAMENTARY SALARY?