Justice 2 Committee, 16 Mar 2004
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Official Report
281KB pdf
Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill (Leak Inquiry)
Item 3 relates to the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill and in particular to our committee's draft stage 1 report on the bill. Members may recall that, as we met to finalise matters on the report, we were aware of an article in a Sunday newspaper that at first sight seemed to be indicative of a leak by a committee member. I remember stating at the time that I take a very dim view of such leaks. The committee resolved to refer the matter to the Standards Committee. In the interim, I received a letter from one of our members—Mike Pringle. I ask the clerks to distribute copies of the letter to members. With the agreement of Mr Pringle, I propose to read the letter aloud, so that it can be incorporated into the Official Report. The letter is dated 2 March 2004 and is addressed to me as convener. The letter states:
"Dear Annabel
I would firstly like to apologise to you as the Convener of the Justice 2 Committee and to the rest of the Committee if as a result of my conversation with a journalist of Scotland on Sunday I caused any concern or embarrassment.
When the supposed link was first suggested I took the opportunity to go on record saying that I did speak to someone from Scotland on Sunday when I discussed my opinions and some of my concerns with regard to the Anti Social Behaviour bill. I reiterate what I said then that I did not discuss directly or indeed give the journalist sight of the confidential draft report.
However I accept that having that discussion at that particular time was perhaps imprudent and that I might have exercised more discretion at what was a very sensitive time in the process. We can all learn by our mistakes.
Again, I am sorry that the Committee's and clerks' time has been wasted as a result of my actions.
I can assure you I will be more careful in future.
Yours sincerely
Mike Pringle MSP."
I thank Mike Pringle for writing to me in those terms. He was under no obligation to do so. I recall that, at the meeting to which the letter alludes, he was entirely candid and stated publicly that he had had a conversation with the journalist concerned. His letter effectively explains the nature of that conversation. I thought that it would be appropriate to make members aware of its contents at this meeting, so that they could decide how they wished to deal with the matter. Does any member wish to comment?
Mike Pringle's letter has clarified what happened, so I do not believe that it is necessary for the committee to take any further action. We initially thought that we might need to refer the matter to the Standards Committee, but I do not believe that that is necessary now. We should consider the matter closed.
I agree.
I share that view. The experience has probably been instructive for everybody. In the circumstances, I propose that the committee formally resolves that the letter terminates the matter and that we take no further action.
Members indicated agreement.
Thank you.
My final point is to say that we are, of course, looking forward to an enjoyable occasion next Tuesday at our youth justice seminar in Glasgow, which Dr Lesley McAra will facilitate. I understand that members will get a conference pack later this week. I hope to see all members next Tuesday.
Meeting closed at 17:38.