Present:Mr D McClelland (Chairman)
Dr I Adamson
Mr R Beggs Jnr
Mr P Berry
Mr A Doherty
Mr K McCarthy

Apologies:Mr D O'Connor
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells

In AttendanceMr J Torney
Mrs M Miskelly
Mrs J McMurray

The Committee met at 10.00am in private session.

1. Chairman's Introduction

The Chairman welcomed Members to the sixteenth meeting of the Committee. He introduced Mrs Margaret Miskelly, who will be the Committee Clerk. He also welcomed John Torney who has returned to the Committee as Principal Clerk after a period of absence.

2. Declaration of Interests

The Chairman reminded members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each committee meeting. Mr Beggs declared that, in relation to item 7 on the agenda, a Portrush resident has advised him of a similar alleged misuse of mail.

3. Minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 3 July 2001.

The Committee adopted the minutes of proceedings of the meeting of 3^rd July 2001. (Proposed: Mr A Doherty, Seconded: Mr R Beggs)

Mr McCarthy joined the meeting at 10.05am.

4. Publication of Updated Register of Members' Interests.

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should proceed to update the Register of Members' Interests with a view to publishing the third edition of the Register by the end of October.

The Committee agreed that any Member who failed to complete and submit a Members' Interest Registration Form would have his/her entry in the new Register endorsed "No Return Submitted".

The Clerk was authorised to write to the Party Whips and Members about updating the Register and to place a related entry in the next Assembly All Party Notice.

5. Follow up to Appointment of Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

The Committee instructed the Clerk to write to the Clerk to the Assembly Commission recommending the appointment of Mr Tom Frawley as Assembly Commissioner for Standards on a temporary basis.

The Committee agreed to consider the issue of an open competition for the appointment of a Commissioner for Standards at a future meeting of the Committee.

6. Correspondence from Mr John Dallat MLA

The Committee considered a letter from Mr John Dallat MLA to the Committee Clerk, agreed on the action to be taken and instructed the Clerk accordingly.

7. Letter from Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance

The Committee noted that the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) wrote to the Clerk asking to be kept informed and involved in any consultative process initiated by the Committee within the context of legislation and the legislative process.

The Committee instructed the Clerk to reply to NIPSA advising that the Committee on Standards and Privileges currently has no role or remit in initiating or considering legislation.

8. Amendment to the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members.

The Committee noted that, as a result of a number of the recommendations contained in the Committee's Inquiry into the Appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards, a number of changes will need to be made to the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members.

The Committee noted that the Clerk is liaising with the Assembly's Legal Adviser on the changes to be made to the Guide.

The Committee agreed that the Clerk will present a paper and associated recommendations about changes to the Guide at the next meeting of the Committee.

9. Any Other Business

The Committee noted that the amendments to Standing Orders 57 and 64 resulting from the Committee's Inquiry into the Appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards were agreed by the Assembly on 3 July 2001.

10. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 25 September at 10.00 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting concluded at 10.26am.