Confidentiality
Confidentiality means keeping information private. It is very important in all ICGS cases.
If someone shares details about an investigation, it can:
- put other people’s wellbeing at risk
- cause unfair damage to someone’s reputation
- affect the fairness of the investigation
Confidentiality also helps people feel safe to make a complaint. If you make a complaint, or a complaint is made about you, your name will not be shared with anyone who is not involved in the complaint unless we are worried about someone’s safety.
If someone breaks confidentiality, it is taken very seriously. Breaking confidentiality can be an aggravating factor. This means it can make the final outcome or sanction more serious.
Is anyone outside of the ICGS told if I call the Helpline?
No. You can choose to stay anonymous when you call the helpline. You only need to give your name if you decide to make a formal complaint. The helpline advisors are trained to support people with concerns about bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
They will only share what you tell them with those outside the ICGS team if they are worried about your safety or the safety of someone else. If this happens, they may need to tell the police, health services, or certain people in Parliament who need to know.
What is a confidentiality statement?
Before taking part in the investigation, the ICGS team will give you a confidentiality statement explaining the rules. You will be asked to confirm you have received it. Confidentiality applies whether or not you sign it.
Who sees details about my complaint?
Only people who are directly involved in investigating and resolving a complaint will see information about it. This will normally include:
- the person who made the complaint (the complainant)
- the person the complaint is about (the respondent)
- any witnesses
- the ICGS Helpline
- the independent external investigator
- the ICGS team
- the decision-making body
- an independent sexual misconduct advisor (in cases of sexual misconduct)
- people who may need information for safety, legal, or duty of care reasons
The people involved will depend on who the respondent is. For example, if the complaint is about an MP and the case goes to full assessment, this may include the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) and their team. A complaint involving an MP may also include the Independent Expert Panel if the case is appealed or referred to them.
If any of the bodies involved in handling a case are worried about someone’s safety or welfare they may need to share information with the police, health services, or certain people in Parliament.
How will the information I provide be used?
The investigator will write a full assessment report. The report explains what evidence they used and relied on. The investigator will share the report with the complainant and the respondent and the decision-making body. The investigator will also collect all the evidence they received during the investigation. This includes:
- interview transcripts
- images or screenshots
- any other documents shared with them
This is called an evidence bundle. The investigator will send the evidence bundle to the decision‑making body. This includes evidence they used and evidence they did not use.
Who can I talk to about a complaint?
It is important that you get the support and advice you need. You can talk to people who can help you during the investigation and afterwards.
You may talk about the complaint with:
- a staff or trade union representative, or the Members’ and Peers’ Staff Association (MAPSA)
- a trusted person, such as a friend, colleague or family member
- your party whip (if you are an MP)
- your line manager, or another manager in your team
- professional advisers, such as legal or medical advisers, if you choose to
These people can support you and help you understand your options.
All parties to a complaint have to treat the matter as strictly confidential. Think carefully about:
- who you speak to
- where you speak to them
- how they keep it confidential
If you are unsure who you can discuss the complaint with, you can ask the investigator, relevant decision-making body or the ICGS team, who will be able to advise you.
Find out more about the support available.
How long do I need to keep things confidential?
While the investigation is happening
You must not do anything that could affect the fairness of the investigation.
This means you must not:
- talk about the case with witnesses or people who might become witnesses
- make public statements
- post about the case on social media
- speak to the press
- share details of the investigation with anyone who is not directly involved
If your complaint is not taken forward
If your complaint is not taken forward, you may share:
- the general reason why it did not move to Full Assessment
- your own personal experience (for example, what you saw, heard or felt)
You must not share anything you learn through the ICGS process.
Your outcome letter will explain clearly what you can and cannot share. If you have questions, you can speak to the ICGS Engagement Manager.
If your complaint goes to Full Assessment
Everything stays confidential indefinitely, unless a decision‑making body publishes a report about your case.
If a report is published, you may talk about what is written in the report. You must not share:
- details about the investigation
- any part of an informal resolution
What happens if someone breaks confidentiality?
During the investigation
If someone breaks confidentiality before the investigation is finished, it can affect the case.
The investigator can include this in their report, and it may lead to a more serious sanction.
After the investigation
If someone breaks confidentiality after the case has ended, what happens next will depend on:
- the person’s role
- how serious the breach is
In serious cases, it may lead to disciplinary action or become a legal matter.
Are the details of cases against MPs or former MPs published?
Reports about cases involving MPs or former MPs may be published.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) will usually publish a report when:
- the House gives a sanction
- an MP has to make an apology in the House
- a complaint is upheld
- a complaint is not upheld but the allegations are already public
The IEP only includes the information needed to explain its decision. The identities of complainants and witnesses usually stay private. Anything not included in the report stays confidential.
You can read more in the IEP’s guidance.
I am complaining about a House of Lords Member or their staff. How does confidentiality work?
Investigations about Members of the House of Lords, or their staff, follow the rules in the Enforcement Procedure for bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. These investigations are covered by parliamentary privilege. This means the details must stay confidential unless they are officially published.
During the investigation, the person who complained and the person the complaint is about will be told what the confidentiality rules are and how they apply to your case.
Read more in the House of Lords Enforcement Procedure (pdf, 737KB).
What is published by the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards?
In reports published by the Commissioners for Standards or the Conduct Committee, the complainant and any witnesses are usually kept anonymous, unless they choose to be named.
The Commissioner will usually publish a report when they dismiss an ICGS complaint against a Member of the Lords after an investigation. They may choose not to include the Member’s name, and in rare cases, they may choose not to publish a report at all.
If a case is settled through an agreed resolution, no report is published.
If a case is referred to or appealed to the Conduct Committee, it will be published in a report.
For cases involving Members’ staff, the Committee may decide not to publish their report or the Commissioner’s report.
Can information or details of complaints be released under Freedom of Information (FOI) requests?
No. Information about individual complaints is not released under Freedom of Information requests. Both Houses publish statistics about how the ICGS is used. These are published every quarter on Parliament’s website and in the Annual Report.
Great care is taken to make sure no information is published that could identify any individual.
Read the ICGS quarterly statistics and annual reports.
What do I do if the press finds out?
Everyone involved in a complaint must keep the matter strictly confidential.
This means you must not make any public comments.
If the media ask questions, both Houses will reply by saying they can neither confirm nor deny whether an ICGS complaint has been made.
If a journalist contacts you at any time:
- do not comment
- tell the investigator or the decision‑making body handling your case
The investigator will let the ICGS team know, and they will take any action needed.
If you are not able to contact the investigator, you can contact the ICGS team (email: ICGS@parliament.uk).
If your complaint is being investigated by the Lords Commissioners for Standards you should always contact the Commissioners for Standards office (email: lordsstandards@parliament.uk or phone: 0207 219 7152).
For those working for either House, if you are not able to make contact with the investigator, the ICGS team, you can contact the House of Commons media relations team.
Phone (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm): 020 7219 0969
Phone (at all other times): 020 7219 7395
Email: commonspressoffice@parliament.uk
You can also contact the House of Lords media team.
Phone (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm): 0207 219 8550
Email: lordspressoffice@parliament.uk
If the matter is urgent, please leave a voicemail or send an email and the media team will get back to you as soon as possible (both during and outside of office hours).
If a complaint becomes public, we also encourage you to seek support. Read more about the support services available.