Members rush to declare commercial interests

MEMBERS of the House of Lords have scrambled to declare paid and unpaid links to firms in the wake of the "peers for hire" affair.

This week, peers made 37 amendments to the Lords register of interests - more than twice the normal rate. Several declared paid directorships, regular jobs and sponsored overseas visits months later than they should have done under their own code of conduct.

A fresh version of the list, the second update this week, was posted on the Lords website last night. Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said: "It's only the threat of exposure and the allegations in the last week that have pushed peers to take the register seriously."

One of the changes came from Lord Taylor of Blackburn, who revealed he had lost his consultancy with the credit check company for which he boasted he had altered legislation. Experian said it was "surprised" by the Labour peer's remarks to undercover reporters over his role and had "agreed that Lord Taylor will retire with immediate effect".