Mr David Laws: fifteenth report of session 2010-12: Vol. 1 Report, together with formal minutes

House of Commons papers 1023-I 2010-12

Corporate Author:

Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges

Author:

Kevin Barron (chairman)

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

The Committee looked at the key issue that Mr Laws rented accommodation from a partner from June 2001 and continued to do so after the rules were changed in 2006 to prohibit explicitly such an arrangement. Mr Laws referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and has cooperated with the Commissioner's investigation. He has accepted the Commissioner's key judgments and realises his error in not ensuring that his claims were above reproach. The Committee also noted the nature of Mr Laws' rental agreement, claims for rent and building work, and claims for telephony. In its conclusions and recommendations the Committee noted that Mr Laws main home designation was incorrect from April 2005 but that his claims for food up until and beyond July 2006 were legitimate. Mr Laws has apologised and repaid the sum of his full ACA claims for 1 July 2006 to 31 July 2009. The Committee looked at whether there needs to be a stronger sanction than repayments. It notes that Mr Laws has already resigned from the Cabinet and his behaviour since May 2010 has been exemplary, referring himself to and co-operating with the Commissioner, repaying allowances from July 2006 in full. However Mr Laws was guilty of serious breaches of the rules over a considerable time. So they recommend Mr Laws should be suspended from the service of the House for a period of 7 sitting days and that Mr Laws should apologise to the House by way of a personal statement.

Extent	[2], 14p.	ISBN	9780215559562
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