COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday,
12th March
2008
Room 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mrs Carmel Hanna (Chairperson)
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chairperson)
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mrs Claire McGill
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
In Attendance:
Dr Kevin Pelan (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Brian Wilson
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the twenty second meeting of the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed to hold the meeting in public session.
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Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
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Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 th February 2008.
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 2:02pm
Mr Brolly joined the meeting at 2:03pmAgreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 27 th February.
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Matters Arising.
There were no matters arising.
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Review of the Code and Guide: MLAs’ Employment of Family Members – options for registration.
The Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee had agreed at its previous meeting to propose mandatory registration for the employment of family members.
Members discussed a paper outlining options on the level of detail which would be required for registration.
Agreed: Members agreed to propose mandatory registration under a new Category specifically designed for that purpose in the Register of Members’ Interests.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk reword the description of the proposed new category to reflect that it would cover immediate and wider family relationships.
Agreed: Members agreed to propose an amendment to the purpose of the Register of Members’ Interests.
Agreed: Members agreed to propose that MLAs be required to register their relationship to the family member employed and a brief job description.
Agreed: Members agreed that it would not be necessary to provide examples of the various family relationships which should be registered.
Agreed: Members agreed to propose that MLAs be required to register their employment of other MLA’s family members.
Agreed: Members agreed to propose that the employment of former spouses/partners/civil partners be registered for one financial year.
Agreed: Members agreed that there should be a link in the Register of Interests to guidance on appropriate salary bands for posts filled by family members of an MLA, short but informative job descriptions, and the skills and experience required for the job should be highlighted.
Agreed: Members agreed work experience and brief periods of casual employment should not be registered if the total annual payments to the individual concerned do not exceed 1% of the Members’ annual salary.
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Review of the Code and Guide: Category 4 (Sponsorships).
Members agreed to defer consideration of this issue until the next meeting.
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Review of the Code and Guide: Category 9 (Shareholdings).
Members agreed to defer consideration of this issue until the next meeting.
The meeting moved into closed session at 3.16pm .
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Legal Advice.
The Committee considered legal advice relating to two issues.
Mr Ross left the meeting at 3.19pm.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 3.20pm.
Mr Ross rejoined the meeting at 3.21pm.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 3.24pm.Agreed: The Committee agreed the contents of a draft letter to a Member in respect of one of the issues and agreed that it be forwarded to the Member.
Mr Brolly left the meeting at 3.32pm.
Mrs Hanna, Mrs McGill and Mr Savage left the meeting at 3.33pm.
Mr Clarke (Deputy Chairperson) assumed the Chair at 3.33pm.
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Report by the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
Members discussed a report by the Interim Commissioner for Standards on a complaint against an MLA.
Agreed: Members agreed to adopt the conclusions of the Interim Commissioner in relation to the complaint.
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All Party Groups and All Party Assembly Groups.
Members noted the registration forms for a number of All Party Groups and All Party Assembly Groups.
Rev Coulter declared an interest as a member of the All Party Group on International Development.
Agreed: Members agreed the approval of the registered All Party Groups and All Party Assembly Groups.
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Any Other Business.
The Clerk informed Members that the Chairperson’s meeting with the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards in Public Life had been postponed.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th April at 2:00pm in Room 135.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.40pm.