MINUTES

Apologies were received from Karen Gillon.

The meeting opened at 9.32am.

The Committee began by agreeing that it would deal with Agenda Item 4 in private session. As this item dealt with a complaint made against Tricia Marwick, she stated her intention to leave the meeting before the Committee dealt with the complaint.

1. Models for Investigation of Complaints

Following discussion of evidence and possible options in relation to developing a system of investigation of complaints for the Scottish Parliament, the Committee agreed that the two options to which it wished to give further consideration were:

• Investigation by an Independent Commissioner
• Investigation by a Standards Officer/Standards Adviser

2. Cross-Party Groups

The Committee approved the following Cross-Party Groups:

Sports;

Renewable Energy;

Shipbuilding.

In relation to the proposed Cross-Party Group on Pluralism in Education, the Committee agreed that the Clerks should seek further clarification from Brian Monteith MSP, the proposer of the Group, as to the precise purpose of the Group.

In relation to the proposed Cross-Party Group on CND, the Committee agreed the following:

• that the Clerks would seek further clarification from Dorothy-Grace Elder MSP, the proposer of the Group, as to the precise purpose of the Group;

• that the Clerks would seek information from Dorothy-Grace Elder as to whether all Conservative MSPs had been approached regarding membership of the proposed Group.

3. Post-registration monitoring of Cross-Party Groups

The Committee agreed to ask the Clerks to produce an issues paper for a future meeting.

At 10.45am, the Committee, as previously agreed, moved into private session to consider the complaint made against Tricia Marwick MSP

Sederunt: Tricia Marwick left the meeting.

4. Complaint against Tricia Marwick MSP – Initial Consideration

The Committee:

considered the complaint made against Tricia Marwick and Tricia Marwick’s written response to the complaint;

concluded that there was no evidence that Tricia Marwick had breached the Code of Conduct;

agreed that the Convener should respond to the complainant accordingly.

The meeting closed at 11.03am