Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
The Committee met on 25 October and 1, 15 and 22 November 2018 to consider a complaint from Mr Ricky Taylor about Peter Chapman MSP. The complaint was that Peter Chapman may have breached the Code of Conduct for MSPs by failing to disclose his shareholding in Aberdeen Northern Marts Group (ANM Group) when making representations on behalf of the company to members of the Garioch Area Committee of Aberdeenshire Council.
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland investigated the complaint and found that Peter Chapman had not breached 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 decision reached on the complaint. It agrees with the findings in fact and conclusion of the Commissioner that there is no evidence to suggest that Peter Chapman’s actions amounted to paid advocacy, as prohibited by Section 4 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs and by the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act.
The Committee looked carefully at the paid advocacy provisions of the 2006 Act and the Code of Conduct.
While the Member did advocate on behalf of ANM Group in his capacity as an MSP, we agree with the Commissioner that there is no evidence to demonstrate that Peter Chapman - whose shares in ANM Group are of a fixed value – agreed to act on behalf of ANM Group in return for, or in expectation of, receiving a payment or benefit in kind from them. In addition, there was no evidence of a connection between the Member’s action and the level of interest due to him in respect of his shareholding.
18th Meeting, 2018 (Session 5), Thursday 25 October 2018
Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 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.
21st Meeting, 2018 (Session 5), Thursday 15 November 2018
Complaint (in private): The Committee continued its consideration of a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
22nd Meeting, 2018 (Session 5), Thursday 22 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.