Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
The Committee met on 25 October and 1 November 2018 to consider a complaint from Gail Ross MSP about Annie Wells MSP. The complaint is that Annie Wells sought political advantage by making advance public comment on the Equalities and Human Rights Committee's report on “Prisoner Voting in Scotland”.
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland investigated the complaint and found that Annie Wells had breached paragraphs 12, 15 and 16 of Section 7 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs .
Annexe B to this report containing the Commissioner's full report and appendices is incorporated in and forms part of this report.
The Committee is unanimous in the decisions reached on the complaint. Firstly, it agrees with the findings in fact and conclusion of the Commissioner that Annie Wells breached paragraphs 12, 15 and 16 of Section 7 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs.
Secondly, the Committee considers that the breaches justify the imposition of sanctions on Annie Wells.
The final decision on whether to issue sanctions lies with the Parliament. The Committee considered previous breaches of the Code of Conduct of a similar nature and agreed that the sanctions against Annie Wells should mirror the sanctions given for those breaches.
The Committee recommends that the Parliament agrees to exclude Annie Wells MSP from all meetings of the Parliament and all meetings of its Committees for a period of five sitting daysi.
18th Meeting, 2018 (Session 5), Thursday 25 October 2018
Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take item X in private.
Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take future consideration of a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, and its own draft report on the complaint, in private at future meetings.
Complaint (in private): The Committee considered a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
19th Meeting, 2018 (Session 5), Thursday 1 November 2018
Complaint (in private): The Committee continued its consideration of a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
Complaint: The Committee announced its decision at Stage 3 on a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
Complaint (in private): The Committee agreed its draft report.