21:58
The next item of business is a committee announcement. I call Ruth Maguire, deputy convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, to make an announcement on pastoral support for MSPs.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee wishes to draw members’ attention to a matter relating to when an MSP is subject to a complaint.
As MSPs, we are office-holders rather than employees of the Parliament. However, there might be times when it would be appropriate for MSPs to have access to the pastoral support that any organisation should provide for its workers. Depending on the terms of a complaint, it might not be appropriate for a member to share information about a complaint or to seek support from those to whom they would ordinarily turn, such as individual colleagues, or from party structures. We understand that, when they are subject to a complaint, they might not find support from those usual structures.
The committee has advised the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body that the current telephone support line is wholly inadequate for the circumstances in which a member might find themselves when subject to a complaint. The Ethical Standards Commissioner’s evidence to the committee last week was both powerful and unambiguous: members navigating a complaints process require robust, professional and trauma-informed support, and the present arrangements fall substantially short of that standard. Crucially, the commissioner confirmed that he raised those concerns directly with the SPCB earlier in this parliamentary session. The failure to respond meaningfully to those warnings represents a clear and troubling gap in the Parliament’s duty of care to its own members.
As a committee, we wish to draw the attention of members to the fact that the SPCB is considering the issue. We hope that positive progress will be reported soon.