Summary
This Report from the Commons Committee on Standards and
Privileges, ‘Conduct of Mr Derek Conway’ (HC
280), examines the conduct of Derek Conway, Member of Parliament for Old
Bexley and Sidcup.
Following a memorandum submitted by the former
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, this report is a consequence of a
complaint against Mr Derek Conway, MP, from a Mr Michael Barnbrook. The
complaint concerned the fact that Mr Conway was paying his son £981 a month
from his Parliamentary Staffing Allowance while his son was in full-time
education at Newcastle University. Also, that he had refused to disclose what
work his son was doing on his behalf or the hours his son worked.
There
appears to be no dispute over the fact Mr Conway employed his younger son as a
part-time assistant from 1 September 2004 to 24 August 2007. His job
description was based on a standard job description as set out by the
Department of Resources (DFA) and his contract of employment provided he worked
for 17 hours a week. He was originally employed on a salary of £10,000 per
annum, increased to £11,773, which was backdated to the start of his
employment. His basic salary was within the pay range set by the DFA. His son
was also given four one-off sums, intended as in lieu of an annual salary
uprating and bonuses for good work.
The Committee has set out the
following responses:
- Mr Conway paid bonuses to his son in excess of
the maximum permitted levels between 2005 and 2008.
- Based on the
Parliamentary Commissioner's assessment of the duties Mr Conway's son was asked
to perform, it was unlikely he required all the contracted hours he was being
paid for. The Committee therefore expresses scepticism that Mr Conway's son
worked the permitted contracted hours per week.
- There is no record of
the work Mr Conway's son is supposed to have done or a record of the hours kept
so any remuneration given was at the very least an improper use of the
Parliamentary allowances or, at worst, a serious diversion of public
funds.
- The salary paid to Mr Conway's son was, therefore, a misuse of
the Staffing Allowance and as a consequence Mr Conway should repay the overpaid
bonus funds, together with the associated pension contribution.
The
Committee stated that it regards this case as a serious breach of the rules and
recommends Mr Conway be suspended from the service of the House for 10 sitting
days, and also apologise to the House for his shortcomings by way of a personal
statement.
Mr Conway has since announced that he plans to stand down as
MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup at the next election.
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