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
7th Meeting, 2024
Agenda: Decision on taking business in private, Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill, Evidence Session
09:30am, 21 March 2024
T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch, you can contact Catherine Fergusson, the Clerk for the committee.
Address: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5176 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)
Ivan McKee
Deputy Convener
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Glasgow Provan (Constituency)
Jackie Dunbar
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Aberdeen Donside (Constituency)
Stephen Kerr
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Central Scotland (Region)
Annie Wells
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Glasgow (Region)
Substitute Members
Alasdair Allan
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Constituency)
Edward Mountain
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Colin Smyth
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: South Scotland (Region)
Committee work
Current
Previous
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 Elections Representation and Reform Bill
Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business 2 February 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Letter from Convener to Conveners of the Cross Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Misuse 19 January 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Letter from Presiding Officer, 19 December 2023
Official Reports
Official Reports
Meeting date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Committee Effectiveness
Meeting date: Thursday, February 22, 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Scottish Information Commissioner
Meeting date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cross-Party Groups (Annual Monitoring Report)
Meeting date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
Meeting date: Thursday, December 14, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cross-Party Group
Meeting date: Thursday, December 7, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Minister for Parliamentary Business
Meeting date: Thursday, November 9, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Electoral Commission
Meeting date: Thursday, October 26, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
“A Parliament for All: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit”
Meeting date: Thursday, October 5, 2023
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Cross-Party Group on Ukraine, Cross-Party Groups (Compliance)
Reports
Committee reports
Remit
To consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—
(a) the practice and procedures of the Parliament in relation to its business;
(b) 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;
(c) the adoption, amendment and application of any Code of Conduct for members;
(d) matters relating to public appointments in Scotland;
(e) matters relating to the regulation of lobbying; and
(f) matters falling within the responsibility of the Minister for Parliamentary Business.
2. Where the Committee considers it appropriate, it may by motion recommend that a member’s rights and privileges be withdrawn to such extent and for such period as are specified in the motion.