MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON TUESDAY 20 JUNE 2000

Present:Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Mr R Beggs Jnr (Deputy Chairman)
Dr I Adamson
Mr A Doherty
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McNamee
Mr D O'Connor
Mr E Poots

Apologies:Dr D O'Hagan

In Attendance:Mr J TorneyMs D Kay
Mrs C DarrahMrs D Williams

The Committee met at 5.55 p.m. in private session.

Mr D O'Connor joined the meeting at 5.56 p.m.

The Chairman welcomed Ms Devra Kay from the Committee Office in the House of Commons and informed members that she would be assisting Assembly Secretariat staff until the summer recess.

Mr P McNamee joined the meeting at 5.58 p.m.

1.Declaration of Interests

The Chairman reminded members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.

2.Amended Minutes of the Meeting of 6 June 2000

The Chairman informed members that the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 6 June had been amended to record the discussion about the sensitive nature of the issues referred to the Committee and the need for confidentiality.

The minutes were proposed by Mr A Doherty and seconded by Mr P McNamee as an accurate record of the last meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman advised the Committee that two members had notified the Clerk of changes to their entries in the Register of Members' Interests since the last meeting of the Committee.

At 6.01 p.m. Dr I Adamson joined the meeting.

The Chairman informed members that the Clerk had prepared a report on his meetings with officials who work in support of the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee and the Scottish Parliament's Standards Committee. Copies of the report and information on the processes and procedures used by the Westminster Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate complaints against members had been circulated. Draft terms of reference for the Committee enquiry and a draft press release would be available for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman advised members that he had received a letter from the Chairman of the Committee on Procedures, Mr Conor Murphy, regarding the preparation of additional Standing Orders relating to Members' Interests. Members agreed that the Clerk should prepare a draft response for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee.

A detailed discussion took place on five other issues referred to the Committee for consideration. Appropriate action to be taken on each was agreed by the Committee.

The Committee will meet on Tuesday 27 June at 10.00 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings. The meeting will be closed.

(i)Members were content with the current arrangements for the issuing of briefing material for Committee meetings.

(ii)The Chairman reminded members that the duty of compiling the Register of Members' Interests rested with the Clerk of Standards who is also the Clerk of this Committee. The Chairman advised members that the existing Register was published on 1 June 1999 and an updated Register was now due for publication. The Committee agreed that:

1. The Clerk should proceed with the publication of the updated Register.
2. The Chairman will issue a press release to accompany the publication of the Register.

The meeting concluded at 6.39 p.m.