ICGS roles and responsibilities
The ICGS is a scheme made up of different teams and bodies across Parliament who work together to make sure complaints are handled fairly and consistently.
ICGS Helpline
The ICGS Helpline is delivered by Victim Support, an independent charity that is trained to provide specialist support to members of the parliamentary community.
All advice will be independent and politically impartial.
Find out more about the ICGS Helpline.
ICGS team
The ICGS team looks after a complaint from the start until a decision is made.
When someone makes a complaint, the ICGS team looks at it first to see if it is eligible. This stage is called Initial Assessment. They may ask for more information before they decide what to recommend.
After this, they pass the complaint to an independent investigator. The independent investigator then decides if the complaint can move forward to investigation. If a complaint moves forward, the next stage is called Full Assessment.
During Full Assessment, the ICGS team supports the investigator. The ICGS team also supports the person making the complaint through the whole process.
Independent investigators
Complaints about staff from either House, joint departments, MPs, or MPs’ staff are considered or investigated by an independent investigator from outside Parliament.
Complaints about Members of the House of Lords or their staff are investigated by the independent Lords Commissioners for Standards. They are usually assisted by an independent investigator. Find out more about the Lords Commissioners for Standards.
The ICGS team chooses an investigator based on their availability and their specialist skills. Some investigators have experience in areas such as sexual misconduct or discrimination.
At Initial Assessment, an independent investigator from outside Parliament looks at your complaint, and the recommendation from the ICGS team, to decide if it can go forward.
During Full Assessment, the investigator:
- collects evidence
- reviews all the information
- writes a report which makes a recommendation about whether each allegation should be upheld
Decision-making bodies
Decision‑making bodies are the people or organisations in Parliament who are responsible for the person making the complaint (the complainant) or the person the complaint is about (the respondent).
They read the investigator’s report and decide what action needs to be taken.
They also make sure any action or sanction is carried out.
Different groups in Parliament have different decision‑making bodies.
For complaints about House of Commons, House of Lords and joint department staff
The decision-making body for complaints about House of Commons, House of Lords and joint department staff will be the designated person in the relevant HR team.
The decision-making body takes any necessary management or disciplinary action.
For complaints about MPs
The decision-making body for complaints about MPs is the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards:
- oversees the investigation
- applies lower-level sanctions
- refers the case to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) for higher-level sanctions
For complaints about MPs’ staff
The decision-making body for complaints about MPs’ staff is the MP.
The MP takes any necessary management or disciplinary action.
Read our guidance for MPs as decision-making bodies.
For complaints about Members of the House of Lords
The decision-making body for complaints about Members of the House of Lords is the Lords Commissioner for Standards.
The Lords Commissioners for Standards:
- oversee and manage all investigations
- recommend sanctions or remedial action
For complaints about Lords members’ staff
The decision-making body for complaints about Lords members’ staff is the Lords Commissioner for Standards.
The Lords Commissioners for Standards:
- oversee and manage all investigations
- recommend sanctions or remedial action
For complaints about contractors
The decision-making body for complaints about contractors is the senior contract owner.
The senior contract owner takes any necessary action.
For complaints about other parliamentary passholders
The decision-making body for complaints about other parliamentary passholders is the relevant employer.
The relevant employer takes any necessary management or disciplinary action.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) looks into possible breaches of the House of Commons' Code of Conduct for MPs. The PCS also oversees ICGS investigations where MPs are accused of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct. The PCS reviews the investigation and makes findings based on the evidence.
Find out more about how the PCS exercises oversight (pdf, 288KB).
The Independent Expert Panel
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) is appointed by the House of Commons. They are completely independent from MPs and from the House Service.
The IEP:
- hears appeals from complainants or respondents who want to challenge a decision made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) in an ICGS case
- decides sanctions in more serious ICGS cases involving MPs or former MPs, when the PCS sends the case to them
- hears appeals from MPs who want to challenge a decision made by the Committee on Standards about a breach of the MPs’ Code of Conduct
House of Lords Commissioners for Standards
The House of Lords Commissioners for Standards carry out independent and impartial investigations into possible breaches of the House of Lords Codes of Conduct for Members of the House of Lords and Members’ staff.
They look into any alleged breaches of rules on:
- registering and declaring interests
- the ‘exclusive benefit’ rule and the ban on providing paid parliamentary advice or services
- use of parliamentary facilities, services, and financial support
- how Members treat people they meet through their parliamentary work, including bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct
If you make a complaint about bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, the Commissioners will investigate it. They are usually supported by an independent ICGS investigator.
Find out more about the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards.
House of Lords Conduct Committee
The Conduct Committee reviews and oversees the Codes of Conduct for Members and Members’ staff and the work of the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards. The Committee receives reports from the Commissioners for Standards for some complaints made under the Codes.
The Committee looks at appeals, and reports certain cases to the House, including, in cases where a complaint is upheld, recommending an appropriate sanction. The Committee comprises nine members, with five members of the House, and four lay members.