Commons harassment system plans ‘ready before Christmas’
A NEW system will be established to provide advice and action on bullying and harassment in Parliament, the Commons Leader has said.
Andrea Leadsom told MPs that proposals for the system should be published before MPs break for Christmas.
Making a statement in the Commons around a new independent complaints and grievance policy, Ms Leadsom said a cross-party working group looking at the issue had met for the first time on Tuesday.
She said many staff members had expressed a need for HR training and better support for staff, and a new system would take into account “the specific needs of Parliament” and go beyond just mediation.
“The working group has agreed that a new system should provide support, advice and action on a wide spectrum of complaints around bullying and harassment,” she added.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure the solution is transparent, fair and effective.
“And this fairness must also apply to MPs and peers, because we do recognise that right across both Houses, we have many model employers who genuinely care about and look after their staff extremely well.
“We’re working to a tight timeframe, but we have all acknowledged that it’s right that we address this issue with urgency.
“The publication of the final proposal will balance the need for fast action with the need for due diligence.
“The working group, including staff representatives, are considering the timetable carefully and aim to report back to the House before the House rises for Christmas recess.”
Ms Leadsom said face-to-face counselling would be available in Parliament from Monday.
The existing complaints helpline has also been rolled out to staff in the Lords, she added.
Mrs Leadsom later said that allegations against MPs must be “as far as possible transparent”, amid backbench calls for the accused to know the details.
She voiced concerns about some “spurious, wrong, malicious and appalling” accusations made against some MPs, noting they have caused “considerable upset and hurt”.
And she added that attempts to consider allegations against MPs and staff must be treated in a “completely fair and as far as possible transparent way”.
It balances the need for fast action with the need for due diligence. Andrea Leadsom describes the final proposal to tackle harassment in Parliament.