Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has signalled his party’s agreement with a draft report submitted by the Speaker to set up a Commissioner for Standards.

In a letter tabled in Parliament, Dr Busuttil said the Opposition believed high ethical standards and appropriate behaviour by elected officials were a poli-tical priority.

He urged the Speaker to call a meeting of the select committee handling the matter to move ahead on the general principles found in the report.

The select committee had suggested appointing a Commissioner for Standards and a standing committee on standards, ethics and proper behaviour in public life.

The commissioner will be approved by two-thirds of all MPs and will be charged to investigate and make recommendations. Whenever an MP is in breach of the code of ethics, the permanent committee will take action.

The commissioner will be granted the authority to review MPs’ declaration of assets and will also have a consultative role, allowing MPs the opportunity to seek the commissioner’s advice on whether their planned actions or events were in line with the code.