Standards Commissioner’s power strengthened after Queen approves new law

10 December 2009

The National Assembly for Wales’ Commissioner for Standards will be able to promote, encourage and safeguard high standards of public life by Assembly Members and will get stronger powers to investigate complaints against Assembly Members.

For the National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards Measure today received Royal Approval.

The Measure was introduced by the Committee for Standards of Conduct.

“We felt that the Commissioner for Standards should encourage high standards in public life by Assembly Members and have strong legal powers to investigate any complaint of wrong doing”, said Committee Chair, Jeff Cuthbert AM.

“The Committee believes that the powers enshrined in the Measure will help to restore the public’s confidence in our elected representatives here in Wales.”

“This means that the Commissioner for Standards will now be fully independent and have the confidence of the public.”

The Assembly Measure will ensure that the Commissioner for Standards:

• is able to promote high standards of public life amongst Assembly Members.

• has the powers to enable him or her to investigate complaints rigorously

• is totally independent of the Assembly and therefore able to act with complete objectivity.