A quick look at what’s going on in our Parliaments this week.

Holyrood

The Scottish Parliament is in recess. MSPs return in early August for 3 weeks before breaking again before the Referendum.

The Senedd

Some interesting events this week, not least a motion to create an independent investigator into breaches of the Ministerial Code. This is something that Liberal Democrats have been calling for for years but the rest of the opposition parties have finally caught up in the wake of the scandal over Alun Davies. He breached the Ministerial Code by lobbying a organisation over which he had ministerial oversight about plans in his constituency. As the BBC reports:

In a statement on Tuesday, the first minister said managing the responsibilities of being a minister and an AM was a “constant challenge”, adding “it is clear to me that the Ministerial Code was breached”.

Despite saying Mr Davies had not “exercised sufficient care”, Mr Jones said the decision on whether the Circuit of Wales should go ahead was not part of the environment minister’s portfolio.

The first minister added: “Natural Resources Wales have been clear that their views were not altered or influenced as a result of the minister’s engagement as a constituency assembly member.

“I have addressed this issue with the minister directly and he has apologised to me.”

So, he was guilty but isn’t going to have to face any consequences. It seems odd that the First Minister is the one to decide such things.

Also in Cardiff, Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts is leading a cross party debate on reinstating standing areas at football stadia.

Westminster – House of Commons

Theresa May’s statement announcing inquiries into child abuse is a key event today. Tomorrow it’s Nick Clegg’s turn at the Despatch Box for Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions.

The Modern Slavery Bill gets its first reading this week and Labour have an Opposition Day on housing supply and education.

Eurosceptics will be able to hold court on Thursday when the UK’s criminal justice opt outs are discussed.

There are interesting adjournment debates on RAF jet safety, meningitis B vaccinations and residential home closures.

In Westminster Hall, Andrew George has a debate on research and development for global health. There are also debates on such subjects as caste discrimination, the humanitarian situation in Iraq, organ transplants, learning disabilities and the UK media and Welsh rugby.

House of Lords

The Lords are considering the Serious Crime Bill, the Deregulation Bill, the Armed Forces Bill and there are debates on the BBC World Service and the contribution of UK legal systems to our standing overseas.

Photo of the Senedd by Laurence Edmondson