Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Official Report 1012KB pdf

Appointment of Member of the Standards Commission for Scotland

The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-16561, on the appointment of a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. I call Claire Baker to speak to and move the motion on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

I am delighted to speak to the motion inviting members of the Parliament to agree to the appointment of Malcolm Bell as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

As members might know, the Standards Commission is part of the ethical standards framework, and its role is to encourage high ethical standards in public life by promoting and enforcing the codes of conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies. The commission issues guidance to councils and public bodies and adjudicates on alleged contraventions of the codes that are referred to it by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

As members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, Jackson Carlaw, Christine Grahame and I sat as a recruitment panel on 13 January 2025. The panel’s unanimous decision was to recommend Malcolm Bell to the Parliament for appointment as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Malcolm Bell, who is in the public gallery this afternoon, brings a wealth of public sector experience, having served as a senior police officer and having been an elected councillor in and convener of Shetland Islands Council. He has also held a number of public appointments, including as vice-chair of NHS Shetland. Mr Bell is a member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and an honorary sheriff, and was recently appointed as a justice of the peace. I am confident that he will be an asset to the commission.

Will Claire Baker give way?

I will if there is time, and if it is appropriate to do so.

I just want to add my praise for Malcolm Bell, although I hope that that does not detract from members’ support for his nomination later today.

I first met him when he was chief inspector and area commander up in Shetland. He did great work as Shetland Islands Council convener and has, since his move to the mainland, continued to put great emphasis on public service. I can think of no better person to take on the role, and I commend his nomination to Parliament, as Claire Baker is doing.

I thank Douglas Ross for that contribution. The panel was unanimous in its decision, and I recognise that Mr Bell will bring a wealth of experience to the commission.

I close by thanking Ashleigh Dunn, who served as a member of the commission from 2017 to 2025. I wish her the very best for the future.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees, under section 8 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, that Malcolm Bell be appointed as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.