Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme — House of Commons Debates on Sanctions in Individual Cases — 23 Jun 2020 at 18:02

The majority of MPs voted against MPs debating sanctions in respect of individual cases arising from Parliament's system for dealing with bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct by members of the Parliamentary community.

The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) was set up to tackle bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct on the part of anyone who is or was a member of the Parliamentary community^[1].

MPs were considering a motion which began:

• That the following Standing Orders, amendments to standing orders and amendments to the Code of Conduct be made:
• A. Independent Expert Panel
• (1) There shall be a Panel, to be known as the Independent Expert Panel for the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (the “ICGS”), whose members shall be appointed by the House in accordance with Standing Order (Appointment of Independent Expert Panel Members).
• (2) The Panel shall consist of eight members, of whom a quorum shall be four.
• (3) The functions of the Panel shall be:
• (a) to determine the appropriate sanction in ICGS cases referred to it by the Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards;
• (b) to hear appeals against the decisions of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in respect of ICGS cases involving Members of this House;
• (c) to hear appeals against a sanction imposed under paragraph (a);
• ...

Section D of this motion stated:

• D. Motions consequent on the ICGS
• (1) A motion may be moved by a member of the House of Commons Commission to implement a sanction in respect of an individual ICGS case determined by a sub-panel of the Independent Expert Panel.
• (2) The Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on a motion under paragraph (1) of this order not later than one hour after the commencement of such proceedings.
• (3) Business under this order may be proceeded with until any hour, though opposed.

The amendment supported by a majority of MPs in this vote was:

• in section D, paragraph (2), leave out
• “not later than one hour after the commencement of such proceedings.”
• and add “forthwith.”.
• [1] House of Commons, Official Record, 23 June 2020

Debate in Parliament |