The UK's sleaze watchdog has begun to examine whether the rules governing politicians, civil servants and quango chiefs are too tough and overly bureaucratic.

The committee on standards in public life was on Tuesday holding the first of its evidence sessions on the effectiveness of rules on standards of conduct in public bodies.

The inquiry, entitled "Getting the balance right: Implementing standards of conduct in public life", aims to report later this year.

Among the witnesses are Tony Wright, chairman of the public administration committee and Dame Rennie Fritchie, commissioner for public appointments.

Other witnesses include Steve Bundred of the Audit Commission, Sir Anthony Holland of the Standards Board for England and Judy Weleminsky, a former board member of the Child and Family Court Advisory Supervisory Services whose case prompted a rebuke for Lord Falconer over possible breaches of parliamentary privilege.

The chairman of the standards committee, Sir Alistair Graham, said the investigation would address "the difficult question of whether regulators have processes in proportion to achieving the standards of conduct we require from our public office holders".

The committee intends to assess whether there is a "tendency towards excessive bureaucracy and a box-ticking culture", he added.

The committee fears that too much red-tape could put people off entering public life.

"If there is excessive bureaucracy, and however well-intentioned it might be, this will act as a disincentive to excellent candidates being prepared to come forward for public service and distract office-holders from achieving high standards of behaviour and the resulting improvements in public service delivery," added Sir Alistair.

Further evidence sessions will be held in London before the committee heads to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Opening his first inquiry as chairman, Sir Alistair said the committee had received nearly 100 written submissions from across the public sector, from users of public sector services, and from citizens and stakeholders.

"The initiation of this inquiry should not be seen as making a judgement about standards of conduct in the areas we are looking at," he said.

"The committee is coming to these issues with an open mind."