3 The parliamentary guidance in place on 28 September 2020 was that “anyone who was experiencing COVID symptoms should not be on the estate and they should not travel to the estate if they have symptoms, if they were awaiting results of a COVID-19 test, again they should not travel until they receive the results of that test”. In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was guidance in place in England and Scotland that those with COVID-19 symptoms, or who had tested positive for COVID-19, should self-isolate for a period of 10 days. Since the Committee did not take evidence on that occasion, and in order that a balance of lay and elected members is maintained, we considered that it was fair for those two members to continue to participate in this case. Two lay members of the Committee were not able to attend the meeting at which an initial discussion of this case took place. We summarise the Commissioner’s advice briefly before setting out our decision.Ĥ. Full details of the Commissioner’s inquiry and his opinion are set out in his memorandum. Written evidence relating to the Commissioner’s inquiry is published on our webpages.ģ. 2 Ms Ferrier indicated to us that she did not wish to submit further written evidence or request to give oral evidence. The Commissioner has supplied us with a memorandum relating to these matters, which we publish as an appendix to this report. The Commissioner investigated whether Ms Ferrier had breached paragraphs 11 and 17 of the 2019 Code of Conduct for Members 1 by her actions in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, following developing symptoms of COVID-19, and subsequently receiving a positive test result for COVID-19, for which Ms Ferrier later received a conviction by the Glasgow Sheriff Court for “culpable and reckless conduct”.Ģ. This report arises from an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards following a self-referral from Margaret Ferrier MP.
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