A modern parliament that is committed to embracing technology and change to become more accessible and inclusive for the people it serves. That is the vision for the Scottish Parliament in a new report published yesterday by Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The report makes it clear that the hybrid parliament, where Members and committee witnesses can take part virtually, should be here to stay. But this must be supported by on-going investment in technology and infrastructure.
The report follows an inquiry by the Committee which looked at ways in which scrutiny and debate can be conducted in hybrid format as well as exploring wider changes to procedures to improve scrutiny.
Measures in the report include a recommendation to introduce proxy voting for those on parental leave or ill.
Speaking as the report published, Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “Parliament cannot stand still. During the pandemic we saw a huge amount of change across the country.
“Working from home, zoom video calls and remote learning became the norm for many of us, including Parliament. It is important we continue to evolve and take advantage of the technology around us.
“But these changes need to be about more than just technology. Our practices and procedures should be fit for the Scotland of today and ready for the Scotland of tomorrow. We must challenge ourselves to innovate and introduce new measures and be willing to look closely at how we work
“Our report recommends the introduction of a proxy voting pilot scheme for MSPs. This will ensure your MSP can still represent you even when circumstances rightly mean they cannot cast their vote.”
Deputy Convener Bob Doris MSP said: “This Parliament was founded on principles of accountability, equality and accessibility and we heard throughout our inquiry about the benefits of having a hybrid system which allows a broader range of people to engage with their Parliament, including those who may have been previously excluded.
“We cannot shy away from embracing change which makes us a more accessible and reflective Parliament of the people of Scotland. However, we must also ensure that the Parliament itself remains a place to come together, share ideas and debate the issues of the day.
“This is why our report makes clear that we must continue to invest to in technology that supports the Members in their work.”