Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on:
- the Parliament’s procedures rules for MSPs' behaviour and conduct
- rules on lobbying,
- and elections and referendums
Next meeting
2nd Meeting, 2023
Agenda: Decision on taking business in private, Correspondence, Correspondence, Guidance on Committees, Parliamentary Privilege
09:30am, 02 February 2023
TG.60-CR3 The Fleming Room
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch, you can contact Katy Orr, the Clerk for the committee.
Address: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6924 Find out about call charges.
Email: [email protected]
If you're appearing as a witness at a committee, take a look at our witness guide for more information.
Members
Members of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Current Members
Martin Whitfield
Convener
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: South Scotland (Region)
Bob Doris
Deputy Convener
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn (Constituency)
Edward Mountain
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Collette Stevenson
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: East Kilbride (Constituency)
Alexander Stewart
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Mid Scotland and Fife (Region)
Substitute Members
Rhoda Grant
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Stephen Kerr
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Central Scotland (Region)
Rona Mackay
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Constituency)
Committee work
Current
Future
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee has agreed the following areas of work for the rest of 2021 and 2022.
This work programme might change but will be updated if any changes have been made.
For further details or questions, please contact the clerks to the Committee.
Code of Conduct
The Committee agreed to review the Code of Conduct for MSPs to propose changes to make some of the rules in the Code clearer. This work will take place over the course of the current parliamentary session, with the Committee focusing on individual sections or parts of the Code in turn.
Parliamentary Procedures
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Parliament has met in virtual or hybrid formats with either all or some MSPs participating by means of a virtual platform.
The Committee will look at how the procedures in virtual and hybrid meetings of the Parliament and committees can be improved to retain the key features of debate and allow greater participation by MSPs. As part of this work, the Committee will consider the introduction of proxy voting and other ways to support MSPs’ participation in parliamentary business. Proxy voting is where an MSP can vote on behalf of another MSP who is absent for a specific reason.
The Committee will also consider how the speed and quality of responses to parliamentary questions can be improved.
Freedom of Information
The Committee will monitor information on responses to Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Government and any developments in relation to Freedom of Information legislation.
Regulated Lobbying
The Committee will consider the implementation of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act and any further changes to the legislation.
Elections
The Committee will conduct work relating to Scottish elections, including inquiry work on voter turnout and voting patterns in disadvantaged communities.
Cross-Party Groups
The Committee will monitor the number of Cross-Party Groups established in the current parliamentary session.
Correspondence
Committee correspondence
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Scottish Local Government Elections Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals Bill
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Debate on shaping parliamentary procedures and practices for the future
Letter from Convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee to all MSPs, 16 December 2021
Official Reports
Official Reports
Meeting date: Thursday, January 19, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cross-Party Group, Correspondence, Cross-Party Group Annual Report
Meeting date: Thursday, December 22, 2022
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Complaint
Meeting date: Thursday, December 8, 2022
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cross-Party Group: Withdrawal of Recognition
Reports
Committee reports
Remit
To consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—
- the practice and procedures of the Parliament in relation to its business
- whether a member’s conduct is in accordance with these Rules and any Code of Conduct for members, matters relating to members interests, and any other matters relating to the conduct of members in carrying out their Parliamentary duties
- the adoption, amendment and application of any Code of Conduct for members
- matters relating to public appointments in Scotland
- matters relating to the regulation of lobbying
- matters relating to local government elections, Scottish general elections, implementation of the Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 and Freedom of Information and open government falling within the responsibility of the Minister for Parliamentary Business.