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- APPC AGM on 14 May
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- APPC amends Code of Conduct
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Code of conduct
5 December 2005
APPC amends Code of Conduct
At its meetings on 5 December 2005, the APPC agreed a number of important changes to its Code of Conduct and Complaints, Disciplinary & Arbitration Procedures.
Code of Conduct
The following changes to the APPC Code of Conduct, resulting from the management committee’s regular review, became effective on 1 January 2006.
To add a new sub-clause to allow a political consultant who holds a parliamentary pass in a personal capacity (eg former MPs, spouses of current MPs) to continue to hold that pass provided that it is used only in that personal capacity and never whilst the consultant is acting in a professional capacity.
To add the following new clause
“Political consultants must ensure that they do not benefit unreasonably by actions of any third party that, if undertaken by the consultant, would be considered a breach of the Code”
The new clause was prompted by consideration of the activities of companies within the same group as an APPC member company, upon which APPC cannot impose the rules of the Code. Nonetheless, it does of course apply equally to all APPC members.
Complaints, Disciplinary & Arbitration Procedures
The Procedures have been amended to prevent a member resigning before the formal processes could be invoked, by adding
“If a member wishes to resign his membership of the Association when a complaint against him has been received by the secretary, his resignation will not become effective until such complaint has been disposed of.”
APPC in Scotland
At its meeting on 30 January, Illiam Costain McCade (Grayling) was elected chair of APPC in Scotland, with Jo Nove (Greenhaus) as secretary. Current interests include the Scottish Parliament’s consultation on MSPs’ code of conduct and the bill on the registration of interests of MSPs.
APPC in Wales
The Chair of APPC, Gill Morris, visited Cardiff in December to meet APPC members with offices there, as well as prospective members. As a result of the meeting, Helen Northmore Thomas (Grayling) has agreed to act as APPC liaison with political consultants in Wales.
Meetings Programme
The Chair of APPC, Gill Morris, has held meetings in February 2006 with Sir Alistair Graham, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and with Sir Philip Mawer, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The meetings were held jointly with the Public Relations Consultants’ Association.