Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

No one would claim that these are easy things. It seems clear from what the Secretary of State has just said that nothing in today's proceedings on the Bill will alter the parliamentary commissioner's responsibilities in any way. If some of the things that the parliamentary commissioner is now responsible for will fall to the compliance officer, there is clearly an opportunity for overlap or double dealing. I suspect that we can expect the compliance officer and the parliamentary commissioner to ensure that that does not happen; they will reach an agreement. Another issue that the Secretary of State has just raised relates to crime. A provision in new clause 79, which appears on page 662 of the amendment paper and is entitled "Relationships with other bodies", states:""The powers conferred by sections 9 to 9B (and Schedule 4) may be exercised…even if…the member is or has been the subject of criminal proceedings in relation to that conduct…whether or not convicted."" I hope that he will explain at some stage how the two things can go along together. I do not object to that, but it should be done explicitly.