Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
8th Meeting, 2026
The Committee agreed to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private.
The Committee took evidence on the Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2025 (SSI 2025/353) from—
Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, Iain Hockenhull,Head of Elections and Lorraine Walkinshaw, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans moved—S6M-20958 — That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2025 (SSI 2025/353) be approved.
The motion was agreed to (by division: For 3, Against 2, Abstentions 0).
The Committee took evidence on the Commissioner's annual report from—
Ian Bruce, Ethical Standards Commissioner.
The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 4.
The Committee undertook its initial consideration of a report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
The Committee considered an annual update on Cross-Party Groups' compliance with the Code of Conduct. The Committee agreed to withdraw recognition from the Cross-Party Groups on: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions; Aviation; China; Co- Operatives; Epilepsy; Nuclear Disarmament; Older People, Age and Ageing; Scottish Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries; USA, and Japan.
The Committee further agreed that any Cross-Party Groups which had not held an AGM or submitted an Annual Return, or had been late in doing so, should be referred to its successor Committee for a decision in Session 7 should they seek to re-register and to write to the Cross-Party Groups to which this would apply.
The Committee considered and agreed draft Standing Order Rule changes and also agreed to write to the Presiding Officer.