Schedule 3 — Devolved Public Bodies

Part of Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 – in the Scottish Parliament at 3:45 pm on 21 June 2000.

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Photo of Trish Godman Trish Godman Labour 3:45, 21 June 2000

I would like to add to what Bristow Muldoon said, because those who are not members of the Local Government Committee may not know which bodies have been added. As Bristow said, we added en masse such groups as the Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People, school boards, children's panels and university senates. Some university senates were established by papal bull, which makes it very difficult for this Parliament to undo the arrangements and bring them under the terms of the bill.

Although the committee was clear that as many bodies as possible should be listed, including LECs, we appreciate that a review will take place to consider LECs as a separate issue. As Donald Gorrie said, we also wanted the bill to cover MSPs, but we realise that we have a Standards Committee, which will consider the standards for MSPs in the light of the standards that will apply to councillors if the bill is passed today. Although I accept that there are some areas of dispute, we must be clear that some of the bodies on the list are really not acceptable.