WHAT have they got to hide? That will be the question on everyone's lips if MPs do not vote to disclose their outside interests and earnings.

A Commons select committee of MPs has rejected the aspect of the Nolan Report which proposed that MPs should be forced to declare these matters. But there will be a free vote next Monday.

MPs make our laws and must be seen to be acting with integrity and without being influenced by outside agencies.

It's difficult to imagine why MPs who also work as, say, lawyers, barristers or journalists, would be reluctant to disclose their earnings.

MPs who work as consultants for various firms might fight shy of doing so. But these are the very people who must declare their interests.

Labour and Liberal Democrats are introducing a ban on the "advocacy" amendment which will attempt to reverse the decision of the select committee. If successful, this would mean MPs with an interest in a particular subject who are paid consultancy fees would be stopped from introducing a private member's bill, asking oral and written questions or tabling amendments to legislation.

That would be a step in the right direction. Ideally, being an MP should be a full-time occupation. If not, at least MPs should come clean about their other earnings.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.