Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament (Amendment) Act 2016

5 Overseas visits

For paragraph 7 of the schedule (overseas visits) there is substituted—

“Overseas visits

7 (1) Where the circumstances are as described in sub-paragraph (2) or (4).

(2) Where the member makes, or has made, a visit outside the United Kingdom and that visit meets the prejudice test.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a visit the travel and other costs of which—

(a) are wholly met—

(i) by the member;

(ii) by the member’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant;

(iii) by the member’s mother, father, son or daughter;

(iv) by the Parliamentary corporation; or

(v) out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund; or

(b) were approved prior to the visit by the Parliamentary corporation.

(4) Where a member makes, or has made, a visit outside the United Kingdom in connection with any of the member’s political activities (as a member or as a member of a registered political party or both) (an “overseas political visit”) and—

(a) the costs of the visit exceed £1,500; or

(b) those costs exceed £500 (but do not exceed £1,500) and the aggregate value of them and any aggregable benefit or benefits exceeds £1,500.

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) does not apply to a visit the travel and other costs of which—

(a) are wholly met—

(i) by the member;

(ii) by the Parliamentary corporation; or

(iii) out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund; or

(b) were approved prior to the visit by the Parliamentary corporation.

(6) In sub-paragraph (4)(b), “aggregable benefit” means any of the following that is accepted by the member from the same person as met the costs of the visit and in the same calendar year as the member accepted it—

(a) any other overseas political visit having a value exceeding £500 (but not exceeding £1,500);

(b) any remuneration that is registrable by virtue of paragraph 2, having such a value and consisting of—

(i) the payment to the member of any expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the member in connection with the member’s political activities (as a member or as a member of a registered political party or both);

(ii) a benefit in kind deriving from the payment by a person (other than the member) to a third party of expenses attributable to the member in connection with those activities;

(c) any gift to which paragraph 6(3)(b)(i) and (c) applies;

(d) any controlled transaction (construed in accordance with paragraph 6A) having a value not exceeding £1,500.”.