The Bill, currently in draft form, seeks to establish a code of conduct for local government councillors and board members of certain public bodies. It also proposes the creation of a Standards Commission for Scotland with powers to investigate alleged breaches of the code.

Welcoming the Bill, committee convener Trish Godman said:

"Most of the members of this committee have served as councillors and are only too aware of the challenges facing local government.

"Our councils and public bodies must be seen to be of the highest possible ethical standards and this Bill play a key role in ensuring that this is the case. While it is likely that the committee will want to make some amendments to the Bill, it does come with the broad support of all the political parties.’

Tomorrow’s meeting will hear evidence from the Accounts Commission, the local government Ombudsman in Scotland and the STUC.

Last week representatives from COSLA, the Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators, and the Scottish Health Boards General Managers Group appeared before the committee.

The Ethical Standard Bill is due to be introduced formally in the Parliament after the Christmas recess.

BACKGROUND NOTES

The committee’s membership is as follows: Convenor: Trish Godman (Lab). Colin Campbell (SNP), Kenneth Gibson (SNP), Donald Gorrie (LD), Keith Harding (Con), Sylvia Jackson (Lab), Johann Lamont (Lab), Michael McMahon (Lab), Bristow Muldoon (Lab), Gil Paterson (SNP), Jamie Stone (LD).