Following the publication of the report, ‘A Parliament for All: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit’, the Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP asked the Committee to look at a number of recommendations.

The recommendations highlighted to the Committee include consideration of amendments to Standing Orders regarding gender balance on committees, and membership of parliamentary bodies and the provision of a proxy voting scheme.  

Recommendations highlighted to the Committee on 9 March 2023

Find about more about the report and its recommendations

The Committee has been scrutinising these recommendations and assessing whether and how they can be implemented.

It began its consideration of the recommendations in March 2023 and held an evidence session on 26 October 2023 with Susan Duffy, the parliamentary official who led on the Audit, and from Professor Sarah Childs and Meryl Kenny who were expert advisers on the Board overseeing the Audit.

The Gender Sensitive Audit recommendations relating to quotas for committee membership were considered as part of the Committee’s ‘Committee Effectiveness Inquiry’.

The Committee Effectiveness inquiry report ‘Strengthening committee’s effectiveness’ provides conclusions and recommendations on the Gender Sensitive Audit recommendations on quotas for committee membership.

Other Gender Sensitive Audit recommendations highlighted to the Committee have been consulted on separately.