Scottish Government adviser to head Carwyn investigation
FURTHER details have been released about an investigation into First Minister Carwyn Jones.
Mr Jones referred himself for investigation after allegations that he broke the ministerial code.
A statement released yesterday says that James Hamilton, an independent adviser to the Scottish Government, has already begun his work. And that it is for Mr Hamilton to determine the scope of his investigation.
A spokesperson for the Permanent Secretary said: “On November 23, the First Minister referred himself for advice under the Ministerial Code in relation to answers given to Assembly Members in 2014 and 2017.
“James Hamilton, who is an independent adviser to the Scottish Government on Ministerial Code issues, agreed to carry this out, and has already commenced his work.
“The terms of reference set by the First Minister to Mr Hamilton are for him to provide advice on: the allegation that I breached the Ministerial Code in relation to answers I gave to questions on November 11, 2014 and November 14, 2017.
“The Ministerial Code does not prescribe the scope, format, or conduct of the process, and it is for Mr Hamilton to determine how to act on the matter which has been referred. A secretariat has been made available to Mr Hamilton, with appropriate safeguards to ensure due separation from the First Minister’s office and the rest of the Welsh Government in relation to this process and any material submitted.
“Anyone wishing to contact Mr Hamilton’s secretariat with material relevant to the terms of reference can do so via referralinvestigation@ wales-uk.com. Material related to the process will be stored independently of other Welsh Government internal systems.
“Mr Hamilton’s findings will be made public following the conclusion of his work.”
It follows allegations of bullying that have emerged since the death of Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant last month.
In 2014, Clwyd West Conservative AM Darren Millar asked Mr Jones if he had “ever received any reports or been made aware of any allegations of bullying by special and/or specialist advisers”.
Mr Jones stated in a written answer dated November 11: “No allegations have been made.”
This week in the Senedd, Mr Millar said that it was former cabinet secretary Mr Sargeant who had asked him to table those questions.
After coming under pressure from opposition parties, Mr Jones told Assembly colleagues he did “understand the need for questions and scrutiny” and had “no difficulty with that”.
He said that “no specific accusation of bullying was ever presented to me, either formally or informally, no evidence was given to me, nor was that word ‘bullying’ ever used in that way”.