Update call for MSP conduct rules

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A committee of MSPs has recommended new joint procedures be drawn up to tackle on-going concerns about members lying in parliament.

The standards committee said the move would clarify the roles of the MSP and ministerial codes of conduct.

The issue came to a head when Alex Salmond was accused of misleading parliament at question time, although he was later cleared.

The review of procedures was sparked by a request from the presiding officer.

The committee - which held its inquiry in private - also said the first minister should continue to be responsible for enforcing the ministerial code.

'Clarify roles'

It said the first minister's accountability would not be enhanced if individual MSPs had powers to refer complaints against ministers directly to the code's independent advisers.

The committee report concluded: "Members thought there would be merit in developing a joint protocol between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government which clarified the respective provisions of standing orders, the code of conduct for MSPs and the Scottish ministerial code, insofar as it relates to conduct in parliament and, in particular, procedures relating to the accuracy of contributions in parliamentary proceedings.

"The protocol could also clarify the roles of the presiding officer and the first minister in relation to the codes, and set out the Scottish Parliament's expectations of the Scottish ministerial code in this context, something which has not been done previously."

The report added: "Given the parliament's constitutional purpose of holding ministers to account, such a protocol should be more focused on ministers."

Earlier this year, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott complained that Mr Salmond misled MSPs when he said a question mark over funding concerns for the Inter Faith Council had been settled.

He was later cleared of breaching the ministerial code in an investigation by former presiding officers Lord Steel and George Reid, who found he acted in good faith and presented an accurate account.

The episode led the current presiding officer, Alex Fergusson, to ask the procedures committee to look into how the rules of conduct were policed.

The committee report also pointed out the presiding officer had no remit to rule on the accuracy of comments made by ministers in parliament, but should continue exercise judgement in dealing with interventions which allege discourteous behaviour in the chamber.