STANDARDS COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK ON CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MSPs

MSPs are already required to register and declare a range of financial interests, including paid employment, overseas visits and gifts. The new code is likely to add to these provisions by establishing a set of key principles which will underpin Members conduct. It is also likely that the code will provide practical advice on how to apply the existing legislative rules .

Welcoming the start of the Standards Committee’s work, Convener, Mike Rumbles MSP said:

"Through the Register of Members’ Interests, the Scottish Parliament made a good start to ensuring that MSPs act in accordance with the highest standards of probity. I am confident that this Code of Conduct will, in turn, see these standards become part of the very fabric of our Parliament.

"Every MSP owes it to the people of Scotland to repay the faith placed in them. We must all conduct ourselves in a fashion which will ensure the Scottish Parliament remains an institution for which we are justly proud. I am confident that the Code of Conduct will help in achieving that aim."

The Committee is expected to draw upon the recommendations of the Code of Conduct Working Group of the Consultative Steering Group. Its approach will also be consistent with the recommendations of the First Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee).

BACKGROUND NOTE

Membership of the Standards Committee is as follows

Convener: Mr Mike Rumbles MSP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD).

Ms Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab); Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab); Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con); Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP); Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab); and Tricia Marwick (Mid-Scotland and Fife) (SNP).

MSPs are already obliged to register a range of financial interests under the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Members’ Interests) Order 1999. This also contains provisions on the declaration of interests and prohibition of paid advocacy.