Tag: Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

How could Holyrood committees work more effectively?

How could our committees work more effectively?

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The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is looking at what changes need to be made to ensure that these can deliver their key role in holding the government to account.

Ensuring committees are structured and equipped to deliver their key role in holding the Scottish Government to account is being considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

The inquiry will look at issues such as the size of membership, remit of committees and the impact, if any, of introducing elected conveners. It will also explore how committees evaluate their work and the approaches to pre and post legislative scrutiny.

Now the Committee has launched two call for views so that those who engage with committees can have their say on what changes need to be made.

Speaking as the call for views launched, Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “The Scottish Parliament is a relatively young legislature. But that does not mean that we do not need to reflect on our practices and procedures to make sure they are meeting the needs of the Scotland in which we find ourselves today.

“Committees play an essential role in the work of the Parliament. Scrutinising legislation and holding the Government to account are vital. But we want to know if there are changes that need to be made to make these work more effectively.

“We know, for example, that elected conveners are in place in other parliaments in the UK and beyond, but what impact might they make at Holyrood? And would changes to the remits structure and size of committees have an impact on how they do their work.

“We want to hear from you if you have worked with or given evidence to a committee about what practices and procedures you think needs to change.”

Committee effectiveness is about looking at how committees work and whether there are things which could help them work better.

The Committee will consider three themes a part of its inquiry:

  • Structure
  • Elected Conveners
  • Evaluation

The Committee is expected to hold oral evidence sessions over the next three months and publish its report with findings and recommendations in the autumn.  

More information can be found on the Committee’s webpage.

The call for views is open until 22 April 2025.

Have your say: https://ow.ly/68wF50Va33O

Views sought on proposals to recall MSPs

Should voters be able to recall MSPs? And if so, what criteria should be used?

Just two of the questions the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is asking about Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.

The work is part of the Committee’s consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill. The Bill, which was introduced by Graham Simpson MSP, proposes that systems should be introduced for the recall and removal of MSPs.

Now the Committee is asking whether these measures are generally supported and how the detail of the Bill would work in practice.

The recall process would be triggered if an MSP was excluded from Parliament for 10 sitting days or received a prison sentence of less than six months.

This would then mean that constituents in the constituency or region the MSP represents would be able to sign a petition calling for the MSP to lose their seat.

The Bill also proposes new grounds for the removal of MSPs, including when a Member has not attended the Parliament in person for 180 days without a good reason for their non-attendance.

Speaking as the Committee launched its call for views, the Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “According to the support documents accompanying this Bill, it has at its heart the integrity of the democratic process and the aim of improving accountability.

“Our Committee want to know what effect these proposals would have in practice.

“The recall process suggested within the Bill broadly mirrors the now well established process at Westminster. But the two electoral systems are not alike and a simple copy and paste approach will not work.

“So, we want to hear from people in constituencies and regions across Scotland about whether they feel that these measures, and the suggested approaches would work.”

Read the questions and submit your views on Citizen Space

Have your say: https://ow.ly/jCNC50V6TLB

Hybrid parliament here to stay, says Holyrood Committee

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.”