This is all meetings of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Session 6] held in 2025. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

26th Meeting

18 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Complaint (in private)
3. Complaint
4. Complaint (in private)
5. Standing Order Rule Changes

25th Meeting

11 December

1. Complaint (in private)

24th Meeting

04 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Document subject to parliamentary control
3. Complaint

23rd Meeting

27 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Katy Clark
  Member in charge of the Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Carole Ewart
  Director
  Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS)
3. Evidence Session (in private)
4. ‘A Parliament for All’ - Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit
5. Guidance on the Code of Conduct

22nd Meeting

20 November

1. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• David Hamilton
  Scottish Information Commissioner,
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Paul Mutch
  Deputy Head of Policy and Information
  Scottish Information Commissioner
and then from:
• Graeme Dey
  Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Jill McPherson
  Head of Freedom of Information Unit
  Scottish Government
• Ross Grimley
  Lawyer, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Evidence Session (in private)

21st Meeting

13 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Gordon Martin
  Regional Organiser and Lead Officer for CalMac Ferries
  National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
• Dr Kenneth Meechan
  Head of Information and Data Protection Officer
  Glasgow City Council
and then from:
• Chris Milne
  Former Chair
  Scottish Higher Education Information Practitioners (SHEIP) Group
• Fiona Stuart
  Privacy sub-committee member
  Law Society of Scotland
3. Lobbying (Scotland) Act
4. Independent Review of the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries in Scotland
5. Cross-Party Group complaint

20th Meeting

06 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Document subject to parliamentary control
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Graeme Dey
  Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Lorraine Walkinshaw
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Ben Worthy
  Reader in Politics and Public Policy
  Birkbeck College
• Dr Erin Ferguson
  Lecturer in Law
  University of Aberdeen
• Professor Kevin Dunion
and then from:
• Juliet Swann
  Nations and Regions Programme Manager
  Transparency International UK
• Alex Parsons
  Senior Researcher
  mySociety/WhatDoTheyKnow
7. Code of Practice

19th Meeting

30 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Documents subject to parliamentary control
3. Cross-Party Group
4. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill (in private)

18th Meeting

09 October

1. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill (In Private)

17th Meeting

02 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Graeme Dey
  Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa McKeever
  Parliament and Legislation Unit
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockehull
  Head of Elections Team
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Consideration of guidance

16th Meeting

25 September

1. Committee effectiveness (in private)

15th Meeting

18 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Lorraine Walkinshaw
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Cross-Party Group - approval of change of purpose
5. Work programme

14th Meeting

11 September

1. Committee effectiveness (in private)

13th Meeting

04 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Chris Highcock
  Elections Manager and Secretary
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
• Sarah Mackie
  Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
3. Evidence Session
4. Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
5. Review of Oral Questions

12th Meeting

26 June

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa Kemp
  Parliament and Legislation Unit Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Kenneth Pentland
  Elections Team
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa Kemp
  Parliament and Legislation Unit Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Kenneth Pentland
  Elections Team
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Cross-Party Group - approval of change of purpose

11th Meeting

19 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
Show witnesses
• Graham Simpson
  Member in charge of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Ben McKendrick
  Senior Clerk
  The Scottish Parliament
• Catriona Lyle
  Solicitor, Legal Services
  Scottish Parliament
3. Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
4. Evidence Session

10th Meeting

12 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa Kemp
  Parliament and Legislation Unit Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Leila Brosnan
  Shadow Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
3. Dual Mandates
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa Kemp
  Parliament and Legislation Unit Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jordan McGrory
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Evidence Session
5. Subordinate legislation: Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2025
Show witnesses
• Ailsa Henderson
  Chair
  Boundaries Scotland
• Kirsty Mavor
  Secretary
  Boundaries Scotland
6. Evidence Session

9th Meeting

22 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Ben Stanford
  Senior Lecturer in Law
  Liverpool John Moores University
• Professor Alistair Clark
  Professor of Political Science
  Newcastle University
• Dr Nick McKerrell
  Senior Lecturer in Law
  Glasgow Caledonian University
and then from:
• Annabel Mullin
  Director of Communications
  Elect Her
• Juliet Swann
  Nations and Regions Programme Manager
  Transparency International UK
• Willie Sullivan
  Director
  Electoral Reform Society
3. Evidence Session
4. Annual report

8th Meeting

15 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Committee effectiveness
Show witnesses
• Douglas Ross
  MSP
  Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
• Willie Rennie
  MSP
  Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Karen Adam
  MSP
  Scottish National Party
• Rhoda Grant
  MSP
  Scottish Labour Party
• Ash Regan
  MSP
  Alba Party
• Ross Greer
  MSP
  Scottish Green Party
and then from:
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Steven Macgregor
  Head of Parliament and Legislation Unit
  Scottish Government
• Ailsa Kemp
  Parliament and Legislation Unit Team Leader
  Scottish Government
3. Evidence Session

7th Meeting

08 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
Show witnesses
• Malcolm Burr
  Convener
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
• Peter Stanyon
  Chief Executive
  Association of Electoral Administrators
• Robert Nicol
  Chair of the Electoral Registration Committee
  Scottish Assessors' Association
and then from:
• Sarah Mackie
  Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Jenny Brotchie
  Acting Head of Scottish Affairs
  Information Commissioner's Office
3. Evidence Session
4. Correspondence

6th Meeting

24 April

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Committee effectiveness
Show witnesses
• Professor Philip Lord Norton of Louth
  Professor of Government and Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies
  University of Hull
• Professor Diana Stirbu
  Co-Director of the Centre for Applied Research in Empowering Society (CARES)
  London Metropolitan University
• Dr Stephen Holden Bates
  Senior Lecturer in Political Science
  University of Birmingham
• Dr Ruth Fox
  Director and Head of Research
  Hansard Society
4. Evidence Session: Committee effectiveness
5. Guidance on Chamber business

5th Meeting

03 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Committee effectiveness
Show witnesses
• Professor Paul Cairney
  Professor of Politics and Public Policy
  University of Stirling
• Dr Tom Caygill
  Senior Lecturer in Politics
  Nottingham Trent University
• Ken Hughes
  Former Assistant Chief Executive
  Scottish Parliament
• Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira
  Professor of Politics
  University of Leeds
3. Evidence Session

4th Meeting

20 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Committee effectiveness
Show witnesses
• Gemma Diamond
  Director of Innovation and Transformation
  Audit Scotland
• Dr Marc Geddes
  Senior Lecturer in Politics
  University of Edinburgh
• Sir David Natzler KCB
  Clerk of the House of Commons 2015-2019, Clerk of Committees 2008-09 and Clerk to the House of Commons Reform Committee (the Wright Committee) 2009-10
• Professor Meg Russell
  Director, Constitution Unit
  University College London
• Brian Taylor
  Former Political Editor BBC Scotland, Columnist The Herald
3. Evidence Session
4. Code of Conduct Rule Changes
5. Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016

3rd Meeting

20 February

1. Cross-Party Groups Compliance report (in private)
2. Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill (in private)
3. Committee effectiveness (in private)

2nd Meeting

30 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Groups Annual Report
3. Scottish Information Commissioner Evidence Session
Show witnesses
• David Hamilton
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Euan McCulloch
  Head of Enforcement
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Claire Stephen
  Head of Policy and Information
  Scottish Information Commissioner
4. Evidence Session - Scottish Information Commissioner
5. Committee effectiveness

1st Meeting

16 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Ian Bruce
  Ethical Standards Commissioner
3. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Daniel Johnson MSP
  Convener of the proposed Cross-Party group on France
  The Scottish Parliament
4. Cross-Party Group - approval
5. Public petitions: PE01949 Review the rules concerning Dual Mandate MSPs
6. Evidence Session
7. ‘A Parliament for All’ - Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit (in private)

This is all meetings of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Session 6] held in 2024. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

26th Meeting

12 December

1. Cross-Party Groups (in private)
2. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)
3. Review of Oral Questions (in private)

25th Meeting

28 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit
3. Cross-Party Group – complaint
4. Correspondence

24th Meeting

14 November

1. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill

23rd Meeting

07 November

1. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill

22nd Meeting

31 October

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• Detective Chief Inspector Craig Chisholm
  Police Scotland
4. Committee Adviser
5. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit

21st Meeting

19 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
3. Correspondence
4. Members' Bills

20th Meeting

05 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jamie Hepburn
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Lorraine Walkinshaw
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
• Chris Nicholson
  Solicitor and Head of Branch, Constitutional Reform and External Affairs
  Scottish Government
3. Evidence Session
4. Standing Order Rule Changes

19th Meeting

27 June

1. Committee Effectiveness (in private)
2. Cross-Party Groups (in private)

18th Meeting

20 June

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills (in private)
4. Committee Effectiveness (in private)

17th Meeting

13 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
3. Committee Effectiveness

16th Meeting

06 June

1. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill (in private)

15th Meeting

30 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Beatrice Wishart
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Brain Tumours
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Cross-Party Group - approval of name change
5. Annual report
6. Cross-Party Group - complaint
7. Standing Order Rule Changes: Elected Conveners (in private)
8. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit (in private)
9. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills (in private)

14th Meeting

23 May

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Complaint
3. Complaint (in private)

13th Meeting

16 May

1. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Michael Marra
  MSP, Scottish Parliament
  Scottish Parliament
2. Cross-Party Group - approval
3. Complaint (in private)

12th Meeting

09 May

1. Complaint (in private)

11th Meeting

02 May

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Angus Reid
  Elections Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
• Lorraine Walkinshaw
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
• David Maclennan
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
4. Instruments subject to negative procedure
5. Evidence Session

10th Meeting

25 April

1. Complaint (in private)

9th Meeting

18 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• Hannah Stevens
  Chief Executive Officer
  Elect Her
• Ahlam Hamoud Al-Bashiri
  Peer Education Co-ordinator
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Alice Kinghorn-Gray
  Campaigns Officer
  Electoral Reform Society
• James Adams
  Director
  RNIB Scotland
• Kay Sillars
  Regional Manager
  UNISON
and then from:
• Professor Alistair Clark
  Professor of Political Science
  Newcastle University
• Professor Toby James
  Professor of Politics and Public Policy
  University of East Anglia
3. Evidence Session

8th Meeting

28 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ailsa Henderson
  Commissioner
  Boundaries Scotland
• Colin Wilson
  Electoral Boundaries Review Manager
  Boundaries Scotland
and then from:
• Dame Susan Bruce
  Electoral Commissioner for Scotland
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Andy O'Neill
  Head of the Electoral Commission
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Louise Edwards
  Director of Regulation and Digital Transformation
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
3. Evidence Session
4. Complaint (in private)

7th Meeting

21 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Show witnesses
• Malcolm Burr
  Convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
• Andy Hunter
  Chair of the AEA Scotland and Northern Ireland Branch
  Association of Electoral Administrators
• Robert Nicol
  Vice Chair SAA Electoral Registration Committee and ERO for East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire
  Scottish Assessors Association
3. Evidence Session
4. Complaint

6th Meeting

14 March

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Ian Bruce
  Ethical Standards Commissioner
4. Evidence Session
5. Correspondence

5th Meeting

29 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Committee Effectiveness
Show witnesses
• Professor Adam Tomkins
  Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
• Johann Lamont
  Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
3. Evidence Session: Committee Effectiveness

4th Meeting

22 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Information Commissioner Evidence Session
Show witnesses
• David Hamilton
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Claire Stephen
  Head of Policy and Information
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Euan McCulloch
  Head of Enforcement
  Scottish Information Commissioner
3. Scottish Information Commissioner Evidence Session
4. Hybrid Proceedings

3rd Meeting

08 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. SPPA Committee
3. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit - (in private)
4. Work programme

2nd Meeting

01 February

1. Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill (in private)

1st Meeting

18 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
3. Cross-Party Group complaint
4. Work programme

This is all meetings of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Session 6] held in 2023. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

21st Meeting

14 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Oliver Mundell
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Work programme

20th Meeting

07 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Standing Order Rule Changes: Proxy Voting
3. Work programme

19th Meeting

23 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. The Minister for Parliamentary Business
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jill McPherson
  Freedom of Information
  Scottish Government
• Steven Macgregor
  Head of Parliament and Legislation Unit
  Scottish Government
3. Evidence Session

18th Meeting

09 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. The Electoral Commission
Show witnesses
• Dame Susan Bruce
  Electoral Commissioner for Scotland
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Shaun McNally
  Chief Executive
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Craig Westwood
  Director of Communications, Policy and Research
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Andy O'Neill
  Head
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
3. Evidence Session
4. Standing Order Rule Changes: Proxy Voting Pilot evaluation

17th Meeting

26 October

1. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit
Show witnesses
• Sarah Childs
  Professor of Gender and Politics
  University of Edinburgh
• Meryl Kenny
  Professor of Gender and Politics
  University of Edinburgh
• Susan Duffy
  Group Head of Engagement and Communications
  Scottish Parliament
2. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit (in private)
3. Correspondence: Parliamentary Privilege (in private)

16th Meeting

05 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group - Ukraine
Show witnesses
• Colin Beattie
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
• Miles Briggs
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
• Alex Cole-Hamilton
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Cross-Party Group Compliance
5. Post-legislative Scrutiny for Lobbying

15th Meeting

21 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Karen Adam
  MSP
  The Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Work programme
5. Public petitions: PE01949 (in private)
6. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)

14th Meeting

07 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Standing Order Rule Changes: Proxy Voting Pilot evaluation

13th Meeting

29 June

1. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills (in private)
2. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)
3. Standing Order Rule Changes (in private)

12th Meeting

15 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Correspondence
3. Correspondence
4. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills (Private)

11th Meeting

01 June

1. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit (in private)
2. Parliamentary Privilege (in private)
3. Public petitions: PE1949 (in private)

10th Meeting

18 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Annual report
3. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)

9th Meeting

11 May

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Complaint
3. Complaint (in private)

8th Meeting

04 May

1. Complaint (in private)

7th Meeting

27 April

1. Complaint (in private)

6th Meeting

20 April

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Standing Order Rule Changes
5. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland: Complaint

5th Meeting

23 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Information Commissioner Evidence Session
Show witnesses
• Daren Fitzhenry
  Scottish Information Commissioner
• Margaret Keyse
  Head of Enforcement
  Information Commissioner's Office
• Claire Stephen
  Acting Head of Policy and Information
  Information Commissioner's Office
3. Evidence Session
4. Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016

4th Meeting

09 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Ian Bruce
  Ethical Standards Commissioner
  Ethical Standards Commissioner
• Angela Glen
  Senior Investigating Officer
  Ethical Standards Commissioner
3. Correspondence
4. ‘A Parliament for All’: Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit
5. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
6. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)

3rd Meeting

23 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills
3. Parliamentary Privilege
4. Correspondence
5. Work programme

2nd Meeting

02 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Correspondence
3. Correspondence
4. Guidance on Committees
5. Parliamentary Privilege

1st Meeting

19 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Colin Beattie
  MSP, Convener of the proposed Cross-Party Group on Space
  The Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Correspondence
5. Cross Party Group Annual Report
6. Cross Party Groups
7. Correspondence

This is all meetings of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Session 6] held in 2022. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

25th Meeting

22 December

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Complaint
3. Complaint (in private)

24th Meeting

15 December

1. Complaint (in private)

23rd Meeting

08 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group - Withdrawal of recognition
3. Complaint

22nd Meeting

24 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Liam Kerr
  MSP, Deputy-Convener of the proposed CPG on Ice Sports
  The Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Future parliamentary procedures and practices
5. Correspondence (in private)

21st Meeting

10 November

1. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)
2. Correspondence (in private)
3. Correspondence (in private)

20th Meeting

27 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Correspondence

19th Meeting

06 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Emma Harper
  MSP, Proposed Co-Convener of the CPG on Scots Language/Scots Leid
• Jackie Dunbar
  MSP, Proposed Co-Convener of CPG on Scots Language/Scots Leid
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Proxy Voting Scheme
5. Correspondence

18th Meeting

29 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Correspondence
3. Correspondence

17th Meeting

08 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Mark Ruskell
  MSP, Convener of proposed CPG on Nature and Climate
  Scottish Parliament
• Michael Marra
  MSP, Co-Convener of the proposed CPG on Families Supporting Children's Learning
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Correspondence
5. Correspondence
6. Correspondence

16th Meeting

30 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Future parliamentary procedures and practices: Draft report (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)
4. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (in private)

15th Meeting

23 June

1. Future parliamentary procedures and practices (in private)

14th Meeting

09 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Declaration of interests
3. Cross-Party Group
4. Cross-Party Group - approval
5. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (in private)
6. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)
7. Future parliamentary procedures and practices

13th Meeting

26 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Katy Clark
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Europe
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Future parliamentary procedures and practices
Show witnesses
• Artemis Pana
  National Coordinator
  Scottish Rural Action
• Kimberley Somerside
  Policy and Engagement Officer
  Voluntary Health Scotland
• Bill Scott
  Senior Policy Advisor
  Inclusion Scotland
• Charis Scott
  Promotion and Engagement Manager
  Christians Against Poverty
• Liam Fowley
  (former) Vice Chair, the Board
  Scottish Youth Parliament
• Mhairi Wylie
  Chief Officer
  Highland Third Sector Interface and TSI Scotland Network
5. Future parliamentary procedures and practices
6. Annual report
7. Work programme

12th Meeting

12 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Colin Smyth
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill
5. Future parliamentary procedures and practices

11th Meeting

28 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Future Parliamentary Procedures and Practices Evidence session
Show witnesses
• Rt Hon. Karen Bradley
  MP and Chair of the Procedure Committee
  House of Commons
• Lord Gardiner of Kimble
  Senior Deputy Speaker
  House of Lords
and then from:
• Rt Hon. Laurence Skelly, MLC
  President
  Tynwald, the Parliament of the Isle of Man
• Denis Naughten, TD
  member of Dáil Éireann
  Dáil Éireann, the Houses of the Oireachtas
• Gerit Vermeylen
  Director of Legislative Service
  The Flemish Parliament
3. Future Parliamentary Procedures and Practices Evidence session
4. Lobbying Act Impact Assessment

10th Meeting

21 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Future Parliamentary Procedures and Practices Evidence session
Show witnesses
• Dr Ruth Fox
  Director
  Hansard Society
• Professor Meg Russell
  University College London
and then from:
• Dr Sarah Childs
  Royal Holloway, University of London
• Dr Andy Williamson
  Democratise
3. Evidence Session (in private)

9th Meeting

31 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Committee Substitutes
3. Future parliamentary procedures and practices
4. Code of Conduct Rule Changes
5. Correspondence

8th Meeting

17 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Paul O'Kane
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Care Leavers
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Correspondence
5. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill (in private)

7th Meeting

03 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• David Maclennan
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Cross-Party Group
Show witnesses
• Fergus Ewing
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Wood Panel Industry
  Scottish Parliament
4. Cross-Party Group - approval
5. Correspondence
6. Citizens' Assembly
7. Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill (in private)

6th Meeting

24 February

1. Work programme (in private)
2. Code of Conduct Rule Changes (in private)

5th Meeting

10 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
4. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
5. Future parliamentary procedures and practices (in private)

4th Meeting

03 February

1. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Foysol Choudhury
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Bangladesh
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Paul O'Kane
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Changing Places Toilets
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Paul Sweeney
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Migration
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Jeremy Balfour
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Older People, Age and Ageing
  Scottish Parliament
2. Cross-Party Group - approval

3rd Meeting

27 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Jamie Halcro Johnston
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Islands
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Douglas Lumsden
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Rugby Development in Scotland
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Graham Simpson
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Sustainable Transport
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Paul McLennan
  Co-Convener of the proposed CPG on Sustainable Uplands Management
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Future parliamentary procedures and practices
5. Standing Order Rule Changes (in private)

2nd Meeting

20 January

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Complaint
3. Complaint (in private)

1st Meeting

13 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Craig Hoy
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Beer and Pubs
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Paul Sweeney
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Maritime and Shipbuilding
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Beatrice Wishart
  Deputy-Convener of the proposed CPG on Poverty
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Graham Simpson
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Sustainable Transport
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Lauchlan Hall
  Senior Policy Adviser
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Future parliamentary procedures and practices

This is all meetings of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Session 6] held in 2021. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

12th Meeting

16 December

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Complaint
3. Complaint (in private)
4. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private)

11th Meeting

09 December

1. Complaint (in private)
2. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private)

10th Meeting

02 December

1. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Rachael Hamilton
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Gardening and Horticulture
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Gillian Mackay
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Stroke
  Scottish Parliament
2. Cross-Party Group - approval
3. Complaint (in private)

9th Meeting

25 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Penny Curtis
  Deputy Director, Elections and Freedom of Information Division
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
4. Standing Order Rule changes
5. Work programme
6. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private)

8th Meeting

18 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Louise Edwards
  Director of Regulation
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Chris Highcock
  Elections Manger and Secretary
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
• Dr Alistair Clark
  Reader in Politics
  Newcastle University
• Pete Wildman
  Chair, Electoral Registration Committee
  Scottish Assessors Association
and then from:
• Jess Garland
  Director of Research
  Electoral Reform Society
• Ethan Young
  Civic Participation Manager
  Inclusion Scotland
• Dr Catriona Burness
  Parliamentary and Policy Manager
  RNIB Scotland
4. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

7th Meeting

11 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Claire Baker
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Creative Economy
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Pam Gosal
  Convener of the proposed CPG on India
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Paul McLennan
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Wellbeing Economy
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Fulton MacGregor
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Social Work
  Scottish Parliament
3. Cross-Party Group - approval
4. Cross-Party Group
5. Work programme

6th Meeting

04 November

1. Complaint (in private)

5th Meeting

28 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• George Adam
  Minister for Parliamentary Business
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hockenhull
  Elections Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Craig McGuffie
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Guidance on Bills
7. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• James Dornan
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Ireland
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Jackie Baillie
  Co-Convener of the proposed CPG on Long Covid
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Liz Smith
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Outdoor Education
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Rona Mackay
  Convener of the Proposed CPG on Women, Families and Justice
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Sarah Boyack
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Culture and Communities
  Scottish Parliament
8. Cross-Party Group - approval
9. Cross-Party Groups

4th Meeting

07 October

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Tom Arthur
  Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth
  Scottish Government
• John St Clair
  Senior Principle Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
• Ian Thomson
  Team Leader - Public Bodies Unit
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Cross-Party Groups
Show witnesses
• Maurice Golden
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Circular Economy
  Scottish Parliament
and then from:
• Pauline McNeill
  Convener of the proposed CPG on Medicinal Cannabis
  Scottish Parliament
6. Cross-Party Group - approval
7. Guidance on the Code of Conduct
8. Work programme
9. Cross-Party Group
10. Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

3rd Meeting

23 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Parliament Election 2021
Show witnesses
• Louise Edwards
  Director of Regulation
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Andy O'Neill
  Head
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Phil Thompson
  Head of Research
  Electoral Commission, Scotland
• Malcolm Burr
  Convener
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
• Chris Highcock
  Secretary
  Electoral Management Board for Scotland
3. Scottish Parliament Election 2021

2nd Meeting

09 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
3. Cross-Party Group
4. Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland

1st Meeting

22 June

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Convener
3. Choice of Deputy Convener
4. Decision on taking business in private
5. Cross-Party Group
6. Legacy paper
7. Work programme