Conduct Of The Honourable Member For Stockton South

EDM number 1473 in 1994-95, proposed by Frank Cook on 17/10/1995.

That this House notes that the honourable Member of Stockton South on 19th July made an allegation in the Chamber of corruption, harrassment, suppression and cover up against Cleveland County Council, identifying two county officials by name as being guilty of these charges; notes that these offences were said to have taken place from April 1988 until Summer 1995; notes that at any time during that period these allegations could have been brought to the attention of the police but were not; notes that the decision to submit these accusations to the District Auditor for investigation was taken by Mr Bruce Stevenson, Chief County Executive, immediately following their presentation to the House; notes that the District Auditor published his findings on Tuesday 17th October concluding that there is no evidence to support the allegation of corruption; notes that the Chief Executive took prompt and appropriate action upon the information given to him and that the disciplinary procedures appeal and grievance followed proper procedures with no evidence of reports being suppressed; notes that the honourable Member for Stockton South has stated on Radio Cleveland that he had hoped to make a statement in the House that day, but had found that it was procedurally unacceptable; and therefore calls upon the honourable Member for Stockton South to register his withdrawal of his accusations in proper form and to offer an apology to each party that he has maligned in such unjustified fashion.

This motion has been signed by a total of 11 MPs.