Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, April 26, 2018

Official Report 864KB pdf

Standards Commission for Scotland (Appointment of Member)

The next item of business is consideration of motion S5M-11787, in the name of Kezia Dugdale, on the appointment of a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. I call Kezia Dugdale to move the motion on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

With the permission of members, I will try to get through this matter as quickly as possible. I speak as a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body appointment panel and I invite colleagues to agree to the appointment of Paul Walker as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

The Standards Commission was established by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000, and its role is to encourage high ethical standards in public life by promoting and enforcing the codes of conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies. It issues guidance to councils and public bodies and adjudicates on alleged contraventions of the codes that are referred to it by the ethical standards commissioner.

Under the act, the members of the commission are appointed by the corporate body, with the agreement of Parliament. The corporate body sat as a selection panel on 26 March, and the panel members were the Presiding Officer, Liam McArthur and me.

On behalf of the corporate body, 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.

We are seeking the agreement of Parliament to appoint, from a very strong field of candidates, Paul Walker as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. We consider that he would bring to the post a strong commitment to promoting and encouraging high ethical standards in public life. I am sure that the Parliament will want to wish him every success in his new role, if his appointment is agreed to.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees, under section 8 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, to appoint Paul Walker as a Member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

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