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On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In this afternoon’s debate on inheritance tax, Jim Fairlie accused me of misleading Parliament. I pointed to the fact that, last week, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity had omitted to draw to Parliament’s attention his entry in the voluntary section of the register of interests, before quoting at considerable length the National Farmers Union Scotland.
Today, the minister made a point of order in which he asked me to withdraw my comment. I have no intention of doing so. His entry in the register of interests, which was last updated in May this year, quite clearly states:
“I am a member of the National Farmers Union Scotland.”
Presiding Officer, it is one thing not to register an interest; it is quite another not to know that you have.
Section 1.3(c) of the ministerial code states:
“It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to the Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead the Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the First Minister”.
Thank you, Mr Leonard. The requirements for a declaration of interest are set out in the code of conduct for members, and whether a declaration should be made is a matter for each member, and not one for the chair to rule on.
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