Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Rules governing MSPs' conduct are set out in the Code of Conduct for MSPs.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee is responsible for recommending that changes are made to the Code of Conduct. If the Parliament agrees these changes, they come into force.
The Schedule of the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 ("the 2006 Act") sets out the registrable financial interests which MSPs and Scottish Law Officers are required to place on their registers of interests and to declare before taking part in any relevant proceedings in Parliament.
Section 2 of the Code of Conduct contains more detailed information which is designed to help members when registering their interests. This Section makes several references to a £300 threshold above which the registration of Gifts which meet the prejudice test is required.
This threshold or "specified limit" is set out in the Schedule to the 2006 Act, where it is expressed as "0.5% of a member's salary (rounded down to the nearest £10) at the beginning of the current parliamentary session." It is necessary therefore to update this figure for the start of Session 6.
The salary of an MSP at the start of Session 6 will be £64,470.i 0.5% of this amount, rounded down to the nearest £10, is £320.
The Committee recommends to the Parliament that each reference to £300 in Section 2 of the Code of Conduct be replaced with £320 as set out in Annexe A.
In Section 2: Categories of Registrable Interest of the Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament, make the following changes:
In paragraph 33, for "£300" substitute "£320"
In paragraph 34, for "£300" substitute "£320"
In paragraph 41, for "£300" substitute "£320"
In paragraph 47, for "£300" substitute "£320"
6th Meeting 2021 (Session 5), Thursday 4 March 2021
Code of Conduct Rule changes (in private): The Committee agreed a draft report and draft Code of Conduct Rule changes in relation to the Register of Interests.