Senedd Commissioner for Standards

Senedd Commissioner for Standards
Incumbent
Douglas Bain
since November 2019
TypeCommissioner
Reports toSenedd
AppointerSenedd Standards of Conduct Committee
First holderGerard Elias
Websitestandardscommissionerwales.org/the-commissioner/

The Senedd Commissioner for Standards is an officer of the Senedd. The work of the officer is overseen by the Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee.

The current commissioner is Douglas Bain.

Duties

The commissioner is in charge of regulating MSs' conduct and propriety.[1] One of the commissioner's main tasks is overseeing the Register of Members' Financial Interests, which is intended to ensure disclosure of financial interests that may be of relevance to MSs' work.[1]

The Senedd has no equivalent to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme to refer cases to.[2]

The Senedd Commissioner for Standards is appointed by a motion of the Senedd and is an independent officer of the House,[3] working a four-day week.

History

The post was established in 1995 with Sir Gerard Elias as the first commissioner, serving the Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee.

The current commissioner, Douglas Bain, began his tenure on 13 November 2019.[4]

List of commissioners

References

  1. ^ a b Senedd Standards Commissioner. "The Commissioner". Retrieved 2024-06-22. The main duties of the Commissioner are to: receive any complaint that the conduct of a Member of the Senedd has, at a relevant time, failed to comply with a requirement of a relevant provision; investigate any such complaint in accordance with the laid down procedures; report to the Senedd the outcome of any such investigation; and advise Members of the Senedd and members of the public about the procedures for making and investigating complaints.
  2. ^ "Harassment: Calls for independent Senedd complaints body". BBC. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  3. ^ "Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Office". Senedd Commissioner for Standards. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Plenary - Fifth Senedd (13/11/2019)". To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Notes that the National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards is vacant. 2. Appoints, Douglas Bain CBE TD, as acting Commissioner in accordance with Section 4(1) of the National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards Measure 2009, on the following terms: a) the appointment takes effect immediately; b) the appointment ends immediately when notice is given to the acting Commissioner by the Clerk of the Assembly; c) the acting Commissioner's Remuneration is to be a daily rate of £392 (or pro-rata for part of a day) for activities that relate directly to the role and responsibilities of the post plus reasonable expenses; d) all sums referred to in paragraph 2(c) are to be paid to the acting Commissioner by the Assembly Commission.