§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases have been referred to the Adjudication Panel by the Standards Board for England in each month since its establishment; how many have been determined; how many have yet to be determined; how many of the cases relate wholly to a failure of a member of a parish council to complete the council's Register of Member Interests; if he will list the complaints made in the remaining cases; and what the decision of the Adjudication Panel w as in the determined cases. [160044]
§ Mr. RaynsfordA total of 195 cases have been referred to the Adjudication Panel for England between October 2002 and February this year. Of those 173 have been determined. The remaining 22 cases have yet to be determined. The following table shows the breakdown by month:
1709W
Number of cases 2002 October 1 November 19 December 25 Total 45 2003 January 15 February 38 March 13 April 9 May 26 June 10 July 4 August 2 September 11 October 7
Number of cases November 0 December 7 Total 142 2004 January 0 February 8 Total 8 128 cases related to breaches of the requirement to complete the Register of Interests by Parish Councillors. The following table shows the type of complaint made in the remaining cases and the outcome (in some cases more than one type of complaint is raised).
Nature of complaint Number Failure to promote equality—unlawful discrimination 3 Failure to treat others with respect 21 Compromise impartiality of authority employees 7 Disclosure of confidential information 6 Bringing office or authority into disrepute 37 Using position to confer or secure advantage or disadvantage 14 Failure to use resources in accordance with requirements 7 Failure to report another member 1 Failure to disclose a personal interest 19 Prejudicial interest—failure to withdraw 23 Total 138 In the 173 cases heard to date, the Adjudication Panel found that there had been no breach of the code in six cases, and declined to impose sanctions in a further six. In the other cases Members were disqualified, or suspended as tabled:
Period of disqualification or suspension Number of members Member disqualified up to 1 month 2 Member disqualified for 1 to 6 months 4 Member disqualified for 1 year 100 Member disqualified for 18 months 4 Member disqualified for 2 years 13 Member disqualified for 3 years 10 Member disqualified for 5 years 3 Member suspended up to 1 month 12 Member suspended 1 to 6 months 10 Member suspended for 1 year 3