Official Report 134KB pdf
Item 4 is cross-party groups. Do members have any comments on the paper that they have received?
It is noted, convener.
It appears that members are happy with it. Are members happy for the committee to be notified in this way annually?
Has the committee ever turned down an application for a cross-party group?
Not in our time—I do not know whether it has in the past.
Certainly not during the current session of Parliament.
I think we all agree that there is an incredibly large number of cross-party groups—I, like other members, am probably on far too many groups, which makes it difficult to service them. There is no limit on how many groups there can be.
Am I right in thinking that provided the groups comply with the relevant rules and regulations, it would be very difficult for us to turn down an application?
Yes. Do you think that the committee needs to be provided with additional information, or are you satisfied with what we have received?
With regard to the number of cross-party group meetings that were not quorate, I remind group conveners that they should ensure that they comply with the rules in that respect. It gives a group difficulty if the meeting is not quorate, because minutes cannot be taken and business cannot be conducted. It is difficult for MSPs when there are so many groups and we are all on so many of them.
Is there any requirement on a cross-party group to provide a report or audit of what it has done during the year?
There is a pro forma annual report.
I have never seen one.
Only 30 groups have done that this year.
Those annual reports go to the relevant committee; they do not come to us for scrutiny.
Meeting continued in private until 16:05.