1. We have received a memorandum from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards concerning a complaint by Mr Noel Adams against Mr Gregory Campbell, Member for East Londonderry. The complaint alleged that Mr Campbell had failed to register remunerated positions as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and as a member of Derry City Council from his election in 2001 until 13 March 2007, and that he had failed to declare his interest as a councillor at certain meetings of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in 2005. The Commissioner's memorandum is reproduced at Appendix 1.

2. In accordance with our usual practice, we have shown Mr Campbell a copy of the Commissioner's memorandum. He subsequently sought a meeting with the Clerk, an agreed note of which is reproduced at Appendix 2, together with a letter from the Commissioner to the Clerk concerning two points raised by Mr Campbell which related to the conduct of the inquiry.

3. We agree with the Commissioner that the complaint by Mr Adams cannot be upheld in the form in which it was made. We also agree that Mr Campbell was late in registering his membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly after both the 2001 and 2005 General Elections, and his membership of Derry City Council after the 2005 Election.

4. Mr Campbell has written to the Chairman apologising for both failures to register those interests in a timely fashion. His letter is reproduced at Appendix 3.

5. In his meeting with the Clerk, and in his letter to the Chairman, Mr Campbell explained the background to his failure to declare his pecuniary interest as a councillor in the public evidence session of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee held on 29 November 2005,[1] and has expressed regret for this failure. As to the alleged failure to declare a similar interest at the meeting on 7 December 2005, we accept his explanation that he is uncertain that he was present when the Committee dealt with the relevant agenda item, but also note his admission that had he been, he would have been unlikely to have declared it for the same reasons as he had not done so at the evidence session.

6. Declaration of relevant financial interests by select committee members, particularly in public evidence sessions, plays an important part in ensuring transparency in parliamentary proceedings. The responsibility for ensuring that Members comply with the requirements of the House in this respect rests with them alone. While, as in this case, the interest may be well known to the Committee itself, and possibly to the witnesses and others present, it cannot be assumed that those reading the transcript of evidence will be as aware of it, or aware of it at all.

7. It is important that all members recognise that it is their personal responsibility to take the initiative in declaring pecuniary interests in select committee proceedings whenever they are relevant. It is no defence to an allegation of failure to declare that they were not prompted to do so, whether by the Chair or otherwise. We encourage all select committee members to be vigilant over this matter, and if in any doubt to seek advice from either the committee clerk or the Registrar of Members' Interests.

8. The Commissioner concluded that, had Mr Campbell been willing to acknowledge and apologise for the several respects in which he had failed to comply fully with his obligations to register and declare interests, he would have been prepared to consider dealing with the matter under the rectification procedure.[2] As Mr Campbell has now done so, we do not recommend any further action against him. Had the Commissioner dealt with the matter under the rectification procedure, the relevant register entries would have appeared in a distinctive form. We have asked the Commissioner to ensure that they appear in the same form as they would have, had the matter been dealt with by him under the rectification procedure.

2   The procedure provided for in Standing Order No. 150(3) under which, in certain circumstances, the Commissioner may dispose of an established failure to comply with the rules without making a report to the Committee. Back