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Standards of Conduct Committee |
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Meeting Venue: |
Committee Room 1 - Senedd |
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Meeting date: |
Tuesday, 12 June 2012 |
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Meeting time: |
10:35 - 10:44 |
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This meeting can be viewed on Senedd
TV at: |
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Concise Minutes: |
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Assembly Members: |
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Mick Antoniw (Chair) Llyr Huws Gruffydd Mark Isherwood Kirsty Williams |
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Witnesses: |
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Gerard Elias QC, Commissioner for Standards |
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Committee Staff: |
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Lara Date (Clerk) Sarah Bartlett (Deputy Clerk) Joanest Jackson Alys Thomas (Researcher) |
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1. Introduction and apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Review of the Standards Procedures : Consider stage 2 proposals including arrangements relating to lobbying activity
The Chair noted that the revised Complaints Procedure would be laid on 20 June.
The Commissioner updated the Committee on proposals for stage 2 of the Review of the Standards Procedures.
The Commissioner noted that this stage of the review would involve consideration of the Code of Conduct for Assembly Members, to include personal conduct and lobbying; use of Assembly resources; staff-Member relations; salaries and expenses and related matters; the relationship of Members with the Commissioner; and questions of confidentiality. This would also include consideration of matters relating to lobbying and penalties and sanctions.
The Commissioner expected nine months would be needed for wide consultation to identify any problems and issues, including consulting with all Members. The Commissioner would provide a report of his recommendations and reasons for them to the Committee by March 2013.
It was agreed that a review of the Assembly’s arrangements in relation to lobbying activity should be given immediate consideration as part of the review, even though it was noted that during his 18 months in office no complaint had been raised with the Commissioner in relation to lobbying. The Commissioner would conduct a comprehensive consultation, including internally with Members and the Government, over the summer period and report to the Committee on 9 October as to whether current arrangements were sufficiently robust.
In relation to sanctions the Commissioner had received some representations about reviewing the current arrangements and would welcome the Committee’s early views on what it considered appropriate. The Committee agreed that greater discretionary powers in the area of sanctions were needed.
3. Papers to note
Papers were noted.
3.1 SOC(4)-03-12 - Paper 1 - Letter from the Presiding Officer to the Chair
Transcript
View the meeting transcript.