Mr Jim Devine

The Committee has agreed to a proposal from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that he should close his inquiry into allegations of misconduct relating to misuse of mileage allowances by Mr Jim Devine. Other allegations relating to expenses have been addressed in criminal proceedings, and Mr Devine has received a substantial prison sentence. The Committee agrees that it is not proportionate to mount an inquiry into a further aspect of his expenses, particularly as the allegation of misuse of mileage allowance has already been dealt with by an Employment Tribunal.

The Commissioner received a complaint on 14 May 2009 that Mr. Devine failed to pass on mileage costs, paid under his parliamentary expenses, incurred by his office manager. This inquiry was accepted, but was suspended in August 2009, after the Metropolitan Police Service had informed the Commissioner that they would undertake an investigation into aspects of Mr. Devine's expense claims. On 14 October 2010, judgment was given in a Employment Tribunal in Scotland on his mileage claims. Mr Devine is now bankrupt, and a sequestrator has been appointed by the Scottish courts. On 10 February 2011 Mr. Devine was convicted on two counts of false accounting. On 31 March 2011 he was sentenced to 16 months in custody. Mr Devine was deselected and barred by his party from standing as its candidate in the 2010 election.