REPORT BY IAN MACDONALD QC

Motion Text

That this House notes that a significant reason for the practice of employing senior lawyers to conduct inquiries, is to rely on their integrity and probity; further notes that when the report by Mr Ian MacDonald QC into recruitment fraud in Hackney was substantially complete, he asked for an indemnity from the council tax payers of the borough against the consequences of the report containing false or reckless statements; and draws to the attention of the Lord Chancellor and the Bar Council the concern of this House at this departure from the principle that Queens Counsel are accountable for their own integrity and probity, and are not to make untrue statements or give facts which they have not checked.