Standards of Conduct Committee Chair statement: Pre-appointment hearing for Commissioner

Statement by Jayne Bryant, Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee;

“I have written today, 19 February, to advise Members of the Senedd that the Standards of Conduct Committee will be holding a pre-appointment hearing for the preferred candidate for nomination as Commissioner for Standards.

“The Commissioner will be appointed by the Senedd. On 7 October 2020, the Senedd delegated arrangements for the recruitment of the Commissioner to the Clerk of the Senedd.  The Committee was consulted on the arrangements and agreed to hold a pre-appointment hearing, prior to a nomination being put to the Senedd.

“The preferred candidate, Douglas Bain, will appear before the Committee on 23 February 2021.

“Mr Bain was selected following an open competition. The selection panel comprised  Manon Antoniazzi, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Member of the Standards of Conduct Committee, Paul Grice former Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament, and myself as Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee.

“A nomination will be put to the Senedd, in due course, for agreement in accordance with section 1 of the National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards Measure 2009.”