The commissioner found allegations that the firm had benefitted when Lord Deben spoke in
the Lords were unfounded.
The House of Commons is more powerful, and elected MPs in the Commons can impose their will on
the Lords.
Like other members of
the Lords, known as peers, he is entitled to claim travel expenses and an allowance of up to PS300 a day when he attends debates.
Digby Jones was originally appointed to
the Lords by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Senior Labour peer Lord Soley said rogue peers should be subject to immediate suspension from
the Lords when scandals break.
North East peers argue
the Lords carries out important work scrutinising Government legislation but its membership - which runs to 783 currently - should be trimmed back.
Tougher powers to punish peers are being examined after Lord Hanningford defended his right to regularly claim the daily attendance allowance despite spending little time in
the Lords.
It was revealed on Wednesday that Conservative peers Lord Bagri, Lord McAlpine and Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay had joined cross-bencher Baroness Dunn in informing
the Lords authorities that they were leaving the House.
A House of Lords spokesman said Lord Paul would not be undertaking duties in his role as a deputy speaker of
the Lords pending the investigation.
The Lords' privileges committee found that former minister Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor of Blackburn were prepared to help Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists to seek amendments to government legislation in return for cash.
Not only does he still sit in
the Lords following his prison term for arson - setting fire to the curtains of a hotel full of people because the staff had refused him any more strong drink.
The NLGN report says many major British cities have little or no voice within
the Lords.