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Standards Committee

Committee Recommends Sanction Following Complaint Against Mike Pringle MSP

CSTAN003/2006 | 21 September 2006

A ‘code of conduct’ complaint against Mike Pringle MSP has resulted in the Scottish Parliament’s Standards and Public Appointments committee recommending that the member be excluded from all meetings of Parliament for a period of one week.

The recommended sanction follows discussion of the committee’s decision on a report from the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner concerning a complaint that Mr Pringle leaked committee documents to a member of the press.

At a meeting this evening, committee convener Brian Adam MSP made the following statement:

“The complaint was lodged by Mr Robert Mackenzie, Deputy Head of the Glasgow Bureau of the Scottish Fingerprint Service.

“Mr Mackenzie complained that submissions made by him and by some of his colleagues which were sent to the Justice 1 Committee, as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into the Scottish Criminal Record Office and the Scottish Fingerprint Service, were disclosed (‘leaked’) to a journalist working for Scotland on Sunday prior to the publication of those submissions as part of a report by the Justice 1 Committee. Committee Members had previously been advised that the submissions were confidential until published as part of a report.

“Before the Commissioner’s investigation began, Mike Pringle MSP wrote to the Convener of the Justice 1 Committee confirming that he had shown the submissions to a journalist.

“Section 9.4 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs sets out confidentiality requirements in relation to Parliamentary material. This is specifically to discourage the practise of ‘leaking’ material prior to its official publication.

“Although Mr Pringle offered an explanation for his actions, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has concluded that the Member breached paragraphs 9.4.2 and 9.4.4 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs.

“The Standards and Public Appointments Committee has considered the Commissioner’s report and accepts the Commissioner’s findings on the facts of the complaint and agrees with his conclusion that Mr Pringle did breach the Code of Conduct for MSPs.

“On previous occasions throughout Sessions 1 and 2 of the Parliament, Committees have expressed strong disapproval of specific ‘leaks’ and more generally of the culture of ‘leaking’. This Committee wishes to state that it views very seriously indeed the leaking of Parliamentary material. “Accordingly, under paragraph 10.2.38 of the Code, the Committee will be making a report to the Parliament which will recommend that a sanction be imposed on Mike Pringle MSP.

“The Committee has now to decide which sanction or sanctions to recommend to Parliament. A possible range of sanctions is set out in section 10 of the Code and I invite Members to offer their comments on the complaint and an appropriate sanction.”

In addition, the Committee strongly suggested that Mr Pringle should reflect on his position in relation to his membership of the Justice 1 Committee.

The Committee’s report detailing its decision and the recommended sanction will be published on Friday.

A motion detailing the sanction in the name of Brian Adam MSP will be made to Parliament this week. The Business Bureau will then deal with the motion in accordance with Standing Orders.

The contact for members of the media is:

Richard Holligan: 0131 348 5605
E-mail: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk

For specific Committee information contact:
Sarah Robertson: 0131 348 5177 RNID
E-mail: sarah.robertson@scottish.parliament.uk

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