Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
The Committee met on 25 April and 2 May 2019 to consider a complaint from Kenny McCartney about Rachael Hamilton MSP. The complaint was that Rachael Hamilton failed to make an oral declaration of a registered interest when asking a Parliamentary Question.
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland investigated the complaint and found that Rachael Hamilton had not breached the Code of Conduct for MSPs.
The Committee is unanimous in the decision reached on the complaint. It agrees with the findings in fact and conclusion of the Commissioner that Ms Hamilton did not breach the statutory or the Code of Conduct requirement to make an oral declaration of her interests in relation to the Parliamentary Question that she asked on 29 November 2018 at First Minister's Questions.
It is unsatisfactory that details about this complaint appeared in the media before the Committee had received a copy of the Commissioner's report and undertaken its consideration. This is not the first time this has happened. The Committee must be able to carry out its work without external comment. We intend, therefore, to reflect on whether any further improvements can be made to protect the confidentiality of the complaints process.
6th Meeting, 2019 (Session 5), Thursday 25 April 2019
Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 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 undertook its initial consideration of a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
7th Meeting, 2019 (Session 5), Thursday 2 May 2019
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.