MSPs have been warned to abide by strict rules designed to prevent conflicts of interest after a Scottish Government minister was found guilty of failing to register a financial stake in a publishing company.

 

Roseanna Cunningham, the Fair Work Secretary, was found to have broken the parliament's code of conduct and laws covering the behaviour of MSPs following an investigation by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life.

Ms Cunningham failed to declare a £50 shareholding in the Scottish Left Review Ltd, which publishes a political magazine.

The breach was referred to the Crown Office, which decided to take no action.

MSPs on Holyrood's watchdog standards committee unanimously backed the Commissioner's findings but said in a report they did "not consider that the breach in question justifies any sanctions being imposed".

The report added: "This was clearly an oversight with no intention of avoiding registering."

Ms Cunningham, who disposed of the shares when the breach came to light, said she could not remember investing in the company.

In a statement, Stewart Stevenson, the convener of the standards committee, said: "While we do not consider that any sanctions are justified in this case, we remind every member of the importance of maintaining the Parliament's high standard of compliance with all the requirements of the 2006 Act and Code of Conduct, including the Register of Interests.

"It is the responsibility of every member to understand and meet these requirements and the Committee emphasises this to Roseanna Cunningham, and all other members of the Parliament."

He added: "The Register of Interests plays an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability.

"It is in place so that details of members' significant financial interests are publicly available, providing sufficient information to members of the public seeking to scrutinise the behaviour of members."

The Register of Interests, which is published on the parliament's website, includes details of financial interests and second jobs held by some MSPs, such as writing newspaper columns.