Appendix: announcements relating to former
Members
Mr David Chaytor
25 January 2011
The Committee has agreed to a proposal from the Parliamentary
Commissioner for Standards that he should close his inquiry into
allegations referred to him by Mr Chaytor in May 2009. The Commissioner's
inquiry was suspended immediately it began, on 19 May 2009, to
await the outcome of possible criminal proceedings. Mr Chaytor
was convicted of a criminal offence on 3 December 2010 and was
sentenced to 18 months in prison on 7 January 2011.
The Committee will decide at a later date whether
it should recommend to the House any action consequent on Mr Chaytor's
conviction and sentence. Meanwhile, the Chair of the Committee,
Kevin Barron MP, has written to Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, the Chair
of the Administration Committee, inviting it to consider whether
the rules relating to passes for former Members should be amended,
to disqualify automatically any former Member who has been convicted
of a criminal offence and has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment.[9]
Mr Jim Devine
24 May 2011
The Committee has agreed to a proposal from the Parliamentary
Commissioner for Standards that he should close his inquiry into
allegations of misconduct relating to misuse of mileage allowances
by Mr Jim Devine. Other allegations relating to expenses have
been addressed in criminal proceedings, and Mr Devine has received
a substantial prison sentence. The Committee agrees that it is
not proportionate to mount an inquiry into a further aspect of
his expenses, particularly as the allegation of misuse of mileage
allowance has already been dealt with by an Employment Tribunal.
The Commissioner received a complaint on 14 May 2009
that Mr Devine failed to pass on mileage costs, paid under his
parliamentary expenses, incurred by his office manager. This inquiry
was accepted, but was suspended in August 2009, after the Metropolitan
Police Service had informed the Commissioner that they would undertake
an investigation into aspects of Mr. Devine's expense claims.
On 14 October 2010, judgment was given in an Employment Tribunal
in Scotland on his mileage claims. Mr Devine is now bankrupt,
and a sequestrator has been appointed by the Scottish courts.
On 10 February 2011 Mr Devine was convicted on two counts of false
accounting. On 31 March 2011 he was sentenced to 16 months in
custody. Mr Devine was deselected and barred by his party from
standing as its candidate in the 2010 election.[10]
Mr Elliot Morley
14 June 2011
The Committee has agreed to a proposal from the Parliamentary
Commissioner for Standards that he should close his inquiry into
allegations of misconduct relating to Mr Elliot Morley. Allegations
relating to Mr Morley's expense claims have been addressed in
criminal proceedings and Mr Morley has received a substantial
prison sentence. The Committee agrees it is not proportionate
to proceed with a further inquiry.
Mr Morley referred himself to the Commission following
reports in the Daily Telegraph on 14 May 2009. The Committee agreed
that the Commissioner should accept this self referral, but that
the investigation should be suspended until the police had decided
what action to take on the allegations. Following police investigations,
on 7 April 2011 Mr Morley pleaded guilty to two charges of false
accounting under the Theft Act 1968, relating to claims he had
made for the repayment of mortgage interest. On 20 May Mr Morley
was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment on each count, to run
concurrently.[11]
9 http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/standards-and-privileges-committee/news/mr-david-chaytor/ Back
10
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/standards-and-privileges-committee/news/mr-jim-devine/ Back
11
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/standards-and-privileges-committee/news/mr-elliot-morley/ Back
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