Kevin Barron report published
20 October 2016
The Committee on Standards releases its report into the conduct of Kevin Barron MP.
- Report: Kevin Barron
- Report: Kevin Barron (PDF 304KB)
- Written evidence: Kevin Barron
- Standards Committee
The Report
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards' detailed memorandum is appended to the report. Associated evidence is published on the internet.
The Committee is grateful to the Commissioner for her inquiry, which arose from a self-referral from Mr Barron in relation to allegations that he had breached the rules of the House by accepting payment, made to a charity of his choice, in return for arranging events in Parliament between 2011 and 2014.
The Committee agreed with the Commissioner that Mr Barron adhered fully to the rules on the disclosure of his relationship with the organisation making the payment and that he was not in breach of the 1995 resolution of the House which prevents a Member entering into a contractual agreement which controls or limits the Member's actions in parliament.
The Committee also agreed that Mr Barron was in breach of the code of conduct in accepting payment of any kind linked to the use of House facilities. Although he did not receive the payment himself, he was able to direct that it be given to a particular charity which made it a "direct or indirect financial or material gain" to himself.
The Commissioner found that that this was a minor and inadvertent breach of the rules and that the inquiry had raised no doubts over Kevin Barron's integrity and honesty. The Committee agreed and concluded that no further action is required.
The lay members of the Committee played a full and active part in the drawing up the Committee’s report, with which they are in agreement.