Beith welcomes Standards Committee ruling

12.00.00am GMT Fri 19th Mar 2010

Speaking after today's publication of the House of Commons' Standards and Privileges Committee's Report, Sir Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed, said

"I welcome the decision of the Standards and Privileges Committee in my case, which I referred to them for a ruling. They have accepted that, in turning down £48,030 to give up my low rent lease, I acted commendably in the public interest.

"I accept their finding that it would have been more transparent to pay over to the House the £5,000 which I accepted and set aside for decorating costs, and then to have claimed separately for the work.

"I am particularly pleased with their recognition that in both instances I reduced the costs to public funds and that my intention throughout was to act in the public interest."

The conclusion of the report states:

"Sir Alan Beith acted commendably in the public interest in refusing the principal offer. This must mitigate his decision to accept and retain the second, much lower offer. We believe that this latter decision was a misjudgement; however, we are persuaded that Sir Alan's intention throughout was to act in the public interest. We also note that the payment he received did not itself come from public funds, and that some of the costs of the legal obligations arising from the tenancy, such as periodic redecoration and rent during Dissolution periods, were borne by Sir Alan and not by the House. We recommend no further action in this case."

The Report notes than the block of flats in question is used by many members of the House of Commons of all political parties. Only the six Liberal Democrats who are the subject of the Report have referred themselves to the Committee on Standards and Privileges. The Report states at para 20:

"We are aware that other Members have received cash windfalls. However, they have neither been the subject of complaints to the Commissioner, nor have they sought to refer themselves."

A copy of the section of the report which considers Sir Alan Beith MP is attached. The full report can be found online at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmstnprv/491/49102.htm