Plenary, 15 Jan 2009

Meeting date: Thursday, January 15, 2009

Official Report 751KB pdf

---

Presiding Officer's Statement

Before I suspend the meeting, I will make a brief statement to the chamber.

I have said on numerous occasions that the Presiding Officer never has been, is not and cannot be responsible for the veracity of what is said in the chamber. That said, I note that such points of order are on the increase, which indicates to me a growing sense of frustration among members. I strongly believe that Parliament is, ultimately, ill served by that type of exchange. I also believe that all members must play their part in ensuring that we have the highest standards of probity, scrutiny and accountability. I have, therefore, today written to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee asking it to launch an inquiry into the wider issue of the veracity of members' responses and how that is best policed.

Meeting suspended until 14:15.

On resuming—