Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Official Report 370KB pdf

Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament (Amendment) Bill: Stage 1

We come to agenda item 8.

Convener, it would be appropriate for me to declare that, as the introducer of the bill that the committee is about to discuss, I will not take any part in the discussion.

Thank you. I take it that you do that as the convener of the relevant committee—I am struggling to remember its full name.

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

Thank you. It is in that capacity that you have made that declaration.

Members are invited to consider the delegated powers contained in the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament (Amendment) Bill. If members are content with the recommendations in the paper, they will form the basis of a report to Parliament and the committee will not discuss the draft report before it is published.

Is the committee content with the delegated power in section 17?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee agree to refer to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee the following questions? First, do we agree to ask whether any changes to standing orders are contemplated in implementation of the bill, in light of the resolution-making power in section 17, to include specific provision for appropriate parliamentary scrutiny of any such resolution? An example of such provision can be found in standing orders in respect of motions seeking modification of the parliamentary pension scheme or grants scheme.

Secondly, does the committee agree to ask whether any changes to standing orders are contemplated in respect of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament to change the registrable interests set out in the schedule to the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 to include specific provision for appropriate parliamentary scrutiny of any such resolution?

Members indicated agreement.