Formal Minutes
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Members present:
Keith Vaz, in the Chair
Michael Ellis
Dr Julian Huppert
Steve McCabe
Mark Reckless
Mr David Winnick
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Draft Report (Police and Crime Commissioners: power to remove
Chief Constables), proposed by the Chair, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph
by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 8 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 9 read, as follows:
We were disappointed that, shortly after we took evidence from
Mr Johnston, he took to Twitter to criticise a member of the Committee
for asking questions that he believed had been prompted by Gwent
MPs, describing the proceedings as "sad really". Mr
Johnson even described Mr Ruane as a "plant of Gwent MPs".
This disdainful attitude towards scrutiny by Parliament, as well
as an indication of a clear over-sensitivity to criticism, from
a politician elected by less that 8% of the electorate, who had
managed to side-step the statutory arrangements for local scrutiny
of his decision to sack the Chief Constable, is further evidence,
if any were needed, that the checks and balances on police and
crime commissioners are too weak.
Amendment proposed, in line 7, to leave out "too".—(Mark
Reckless.)
Question put, That the amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 2 Noes, 2
Michael Ellis Dr Julian
Huppert
Mark Reckless Mr David
Winnick
Whereupon the Chair declared himself with the Noes.
Amendment accordingly negatived.
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraph 10 read, amended and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report
be the Sixth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chair
make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That embargoed
copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order No. 134.
Written evidence was ordered to be reported to the
House for printing with the Report (in addition to that ordered
to be reported for publishing on 2, 9 and 16 July 2013).
[Adjourned till Tuesday 3 September 2013 at 2.30
p.m.
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