Ten Years after Nolan

In: Parliamentary affairs: a journal of comparative politics, Band 59, Heft 3, S. 454-457

Abstract

An introduction to a special section on, Ten Years After Nolan, discusses functions of the Committee on Standards in Public Life which is charged with overseeing the ethical dimensions of public office. Led by High Court Judge Lord Nolan, the standing committee was established in the wake of parliamentary scandals, especially allegations related to payments made by Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed in his pursuit of UK citizenship. Although the Committee has no direct powers, it is expected to introduce reforms to combat a weakening of ethical standards. Although several of the committees early reforms were implemented, its subsequent history has been uneven. The papers in this section address how the Committees recommendations have been assimilated & adapted in relation to areas of public life apart from Whitehall & Westminster. The contributors also explore significant organizational changes that have been carried into effect; differentiation to the issue of ethics in sub-central governments of GB; & how the government walks the line between politics & ethics. Areas for future research are suggested. J. Lindroth