§ 221 Clause 59, page 38, line 35, at end insert ("57 or")
§ 222 Page 38, line 39, after ("officer,") insert ("the Commission for Local Administration in Wales,")
§ 223 Page 38, line 40, leave out ("a tribunal drawn from") and insert ("the president, deputy president or any tribunal of")
§ 224 Page 39, line 15, after ("information") insert ("or a document")
§ Lord WhittyMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 221 to 224. These amendments make amendments to Clause 59, which deals with the circumstances in which an ethical standards officer can disclose information. They are relatively straightforward changes which clarify the situation.
Amendment No. 225 deals with the creation of a criminal offence where an ethical standards officer discloses information and the Secretary of State or local authority has issued a notice that it would be against the public interest for the information in question to be disclosed. The noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, has tabled Amendment No. 225A. I have had some discussions with the noble Baroness and others. With the leave of the House, it is perhaps more appropriate to allow the noble Baroness to speak to her amendment before I respond.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 221 to 224.—(Lord Whitty.) On Question, Motion agreed to.