Official Report 311KB pdf
The second item on the agenda is consideration of the rules on membership of cross-party groups. Section 6.4.1 of the “Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament” requires that each CPG has at least one member of the Scottish Parliament from each of the parties or groups that are represented on the Parliamentary Bureau. In the previous session, a number of CPGs that sought to reregister experienced difficulties in securing full cross-party representation, and it is anticipated that the situation may recur in this session. Members are invited to consider whether they agree to a general modification to section 6.4.1 of the code of conduct to allow CPGs that have at least one MSP member from the majority of parties that are represented on the Parliamentary Bureau to register.
I invite comments from committee members.
I think that the proposal is very sensible. It continues to require members to demonstrate a breadth of political interest in establishing new groups.
I think that it will be welcome going forward.
I support the proposal. It is a sensible one and I endorse what Patrick Harvie has said.
I invite members to approve the general modification to section 6.4.1 of the code of conduct.
Members indicated agreement.