Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Official Report 898KB pdf

Standards Commission for Scotland (Appointment of Members)

The next item of business is consideration of motion S5M-03375, in the name of Liam McArthur, on the appointment of members of the Standards Commission for Scotland. I call Liam McArthur to speak to and move the motion on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

I speak to the motion in my name, on behalf of the SPCB appointment panel, to invite members of Parliament to agree to the appointment of Michael McCormick and Tricia Stewart as members of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000, members of the commission are appointed by the SPCB with the agreement of Parliament. The role of the Standards Commission for Scotland is to encourage high ethical standards in public life, and it does that by promoting and enforcing the codes of conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies.

The SPCB sat as a selection panel on 12 December 2016. I chaired the panel alongside Gordon MacDonald and David Stewart. On behalf of the SPCB, I thank Louise Rose, the independent assessor who oversaw the process and who has confirmed, by way of a validation certificate, that the appointment process conformed to good practice and that the nominations are made on merit after a fair, open and transparent process.

From a very strong field of candidates, we seek the agreement of the Parliament to appoint Michael McCormick and Tricia Stewart as members of the Standards Commission for Scotland. I also thank, on behalf of the SPCB, the outgoing members, Ian Gordon and Matt Smith, for their services to the commission and wish them well for the future.

Turning to the candidates, we believe that Michael McCormick and Tricia Stewart will bring to the Standards Commission for Scotland high levels of integrity and discretion and a strong commitment to encouraging and promoting high ethical standards in public life.

I am sure that the Parliament will want to wish Michael McCormick and Tricia Stewart every success in their new roles.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees, under section 8 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, to the appointment of Michael McCormick and Tricia Stewart as Members of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.