Plenary, 05 Jun 2008
Meeting date: Thursday, June 5, 2008
Official Report
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Presiding Officer's Ruling
I undertook to give further consideration to the final point that Jeremy Purvis raised earlier this afternoon, on the role of officials in relation to the notification of announcements.
With regard to the particular case to which Mr Purvis referred, I understand that, in addition to writing to the convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning also answered an inspired parliamentary question on the issue at 9.10 this morning, thereby complying with the guidance.
I have asked parliamentary officials to liaise with Government officials on the issue of communication. I hope that the matter can be considered speedily and the outcome delivered as soon as possible. It is always a matter of good practice for the Government to give as much notice as possible to Parliament on the occasion of such announcements.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. For clarity's sake, can you confirm that you are referring to written question S3W-13886, which was lodged yesterday? That could well be the inspired question to which you refer. When I checked on the Parliament's website at lunch time today, after I had received the cabinet secretary's letter, I found that the response was:
"Due for answer Wednesday, June 18, 2008".
If the question was answered at 10 past 9 this morning, one minute before the letter was sent to the clerk and the convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, my point still stands. If the Government is to provide information to allow all members of the Parliament to scrutinise such major announcements, an answer that has not appeared on the Parliament's website and a letter that has been sent to only one member of a committee, without any consideration of how it is to be distributed to other members, are not sufficient for us properly to scrutinise such major decisions.
Further to the point of order, Presiding Officer. I ask you to confirm for me, please, that paragraph 11 of "Good Practice Guidance by the Presiding Officer on Announcements by the Scottish Government", which you issued and which was agreed by all business managers, states:
"The Government may make an announcement by means of a response to a Parliamentary question lodged for written answer. This can be timed to be issued shortly before or to coincide with a media briefing."
That was agreed by the Parliamentary Bureau.
The minister is correct, and so is Mr Purvis. There are issues here, and I repeat that I have therefore asked parliamentary officials to liaise with Government officials on the issue of communication. I think that there is an issue of communication here. I ask members to be patient until the matter has been looked into to see whether we can improve that communication.