No, they are saying that the person is not guilty, according to the criminal law. As happens very often in employment law, an acquittal will not exempt the individual from appropriate proceedings under employment legislation and the contract of their employment, because the standard of proof is lower, as everyone...

No, they are saying that the person is not guilty, according to the criminal law. As happens very often in employment law, an acquittal will not exempt the individual from appropriate proceedings under employment legislation and the contract of their employment, because the standard of proof is lower, as everyone...

There are a lot of new clauses and new schedules in this group, but on this occasion I have a better explanation for that than is often the case, and it is as follows. The Committee will recall—in technicolour—how important it was for us to reach agreement before the summer...

There are a lot of new clauses and new schedules in this group, but on this occasion I have a better explanation for that than is often the case, and it is as follows. The Committee will recall—in technicolour—how important it was for us to reach agreement before the summer...

May I thank all right hon. and hon. Members who have contributed to this important debate. I hope that its conclusion on Report will be provisions in the Parliamentary Standards Act as amended that will ensure that the new system of parliamentary pay, allowances and pensions command the respect of...

May I thank all right hon. and hon. Members who have contributed to this important debate. I hope that its conclusion on Report will be provisions in the Parliamentary Standards Act as amended that will ensure that the new system of parliamentary pay, allowances and pensions command the respect of...

Point taken. One of the amendments would remove the sunset clause, which I never wanted in the first place, so I am delighted to recommend it. I do not think that that will require further amendment.

Point taken. One of the amendments would remove the sunset clause, which I never wanted in the first place, so I am delighted to recommend it. I do not think that that will require further amendment.

I have had the benefit of being in the Chamber for the whole debate and I do not think that there has been any personal criticism of members of the Fees Office. Everybody understands that a system that was not fit for purpose developed and that officials in the Fees...

I have had the benefit of being in the Chamber for the whole debate and I do not think that there has been any personal criticism of members of the Fees Office. Everybody understands that a system that was not fit for purpose developed and that officials in the Fees...

Non-taxable?

Non-taxable?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

I will not invite you to declare an interest from the Chair in this matter, Mr. Gale, although I could. The provision is perfectly innocent. There is one class of Member—we are all elected as Members of Parliament. However, as the hon. Gentleman will recognise, some time ago the House...

I will not invite you to declare an interest from the Chair in this matter, Mr. Gale, although I could. The provision is perfectly innocent. There is one class of Member—we are all elected as Members of Parliament. However, as the hon. Gentleman will recognise, some time ago the House...

No part of the new clause states that there is a first class of Member, which is Labour and Conservative Members, a second class of Scottish and Welsh nationalists and anybody else, and then a third class, well below the salt, of Liberal Democrats. Attractive though that may be, it...

No part of the new clause states that there is a first class of Member, which is Labour and Conservative Members, a second class of Scottish and Welsh nationalists and anybody else, and then a third class, well below the salt, of Liberal Democrats. Attractive though that may be, it...

The role of the parliamentary commissioner is to enforce the various codes—Standing Orders—that the House has established to deal with, for example, declarations of interest. That is the most obvious example, but included in that would also be examples of advocacy in the House—cases where somebody has been taking money...

The role of the parliamentary commissioner is to enforce the various codes—Standing Orders—that the House has established to deal with, for example, declarations of interest. That is the most obvious example, but included in that would also be examples of advocacy in the House—cases where somebody has been taking money...

It is subject to any advice that we get from those at the Table, but the responsibilities of the John Lyon figure and the Standards and Privileges Committee are entirely a matter for the House, full stop. These changes do not deal with that. What is in the tin will...

It is subject to any advice that we get from those at the Table, but the responsibilities of the John Lyon figure and the Standards and Privileges Committee are entirely a matter for the House, full stop. These changes do not deal with that. What is in the tin will...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Colleagues will know—it is a well-trodden path—that if someone was convicted of a serious offence, they would normally come within the automatic disqualification. Let us say that the penalty imposed by the criminal courts was less than the 12 months in prison that would require automatic disqualification. Let us say...

Colleagues will know—it is a well-trodden path—that if someone was convicted of a serious offence, they would normally come within the automatic disqualification. Let us say that the penalty imposed by the criminal courts was less than the 12 months in prison that would require automatic disqualification. Let us say...

I did not do badly. The right hon. Gentleman used to represent Ealing; that is the problem.

I did not do badly. The right hon. Gentleman used to represent Ealing; that is the problem.

I will give way in one second. Various suggestions were made informally, including that we could perhaps ask the Judicial Appointments Commission to appoint the compliance officer. I should say, given that I am responsible at arm's length for the Judicial Appointments Commission and have a role in the appointment...

I will give way in one second. Various suggestions were made informally, including that we could perhaps ask the Judicial Appointments Commission to appoint the compliance officer. I should say, given that I am responsible at arm's length for the Judicial Appointments Commission and have a role in the appointment...

Day by day, those responsibilities will not overlap, but there must be the overlap that I am describing. I think that the Committee accepts that. Without that overlap, the system could be subject to outrageous abuse. That is unlikely, given what the House and Members, whether they have transgressed or...

Day by day, those responsibilities will not overlap, but there must be the overlap that I am describing. I think that the Committee accepts that. Without that overlap, the system could be subject to outrageous abuse. That is unlikely, given what the House and Members, whether they have transgressed or...

I am not quite as old as the right hon. Gentleman, but I am getting on that way. The terms of new clause 87 are linked to concerns about how even-handed the compliance officer and the appeal system will be. Many colleagues have raised questions informally with me, as I...

I am not quite as old as the right hon. Gentleman, but I am getting on that way. The terms of new clause 87 are linked to concerns about how even-handed the compliance officer and the appeal system will be. Many colleagues have raised questions informally with me, as I...

It is not our intention to do that. I cannot be absolutely certain that the wording does not take it further—that is why we are actively examining the matter. We will consult very quickly and come back with modifications, which I hope will accommodate the Committee's wishes.

It is not our intention to do that. I cannot be absolutely certain that the wording does not take it further—that is why we are actively examining the matter. We will consult very quickly and come back with modifications, which I hope will accommodate the Committee's wishes.

I cannot say precisely what discussions took place with the trustees. However, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman about conversations that I have had, particularly with my right hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig), on behalf of the chairman of the trustees, who is currently indisposed through...

I cannot say precisely what discussions took place with the trustees. However, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman about conversations that I have had, particularly with my right hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig), on behalf of the chairman of the trustees, who is currently indisposed through...

I accept entirely the burden of what the hon. Gentleman says. The issue is how to achieve that. Let us suppose that in such a case, the authority says, "We shouldn't have agreed this amount for training or for cleaning," and the Member says, "Sorry, but you did, and I...

I accept entirely the burden of what the hon. Gentleman says. The issue is how to achieve that. Let us suppose that in such a case, the authority says, "We shouldn't have agreed this amount for training or for cleaning," and the Member says, "Sorry, but you did, and I...