Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Official Report
1228KB pdf
“Scotland Act: Standing Order rule changes”
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03309, in the name of Dave Thompson, on the report “Scotland Act: Standing Order rule changes”. I call Dave Thompson to speak to and move the motion on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
17:10
The Scotland Act 2012 will, over time, require a number of changes to the Parliament’s standing orders, so members can look forward to a number of speeches from me. However, I will keep this one short.
The changes that are outlined in the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s report reflect one of the changes that will be necessary in light of the commencement of the Scotland Act 2012. Over the next few months, the committee will return to the Parliament to make other changes, but it has given one amendment priority so that it can be brought into effect along with the changes to the standing orders that relate to the reform of the parliamentary week. Specifically, the changes to which the Parliament is being asked to agree relate to the provision in the act that will legally replace the term “Scottish Executive” with a term that is already in common use: “Scottish Government”.
The proposal to make the change was contained in the Scotland Bill and was supported by all parties in the Parliament. Given that support, I am pleased to speak to the motion on behalf of the committee. I have no specific comments to make on the numerous individual changes that are set out in the report, but I draw the Parliament’s attention to the fact that they include things such as “Executive” bills being renamed “Government” bills and parliamentary questions being addressed to “the Scottish Government”, not “the Scottish Executive”.
I will explain the background to the timing of the implementation of the changes, which is set out in the motion. As members will note, the implementation of the standing order rule changes is tied to the date on which the relevant provision of the 2012 act—section 12—is commenced. At present, I understand that the likely date of commencement is during the summer recess, most probably in July. The motion therefore ensures that there will be no gap between the relevant provision coming into force and the necessary amendments being made to standing orders. I am sure that all members will appreciate that that approach will ensure that there is no dubiety about the technicalities of those pieces of parliamentary business that continue throughout recess, such as the lodging of parliamentary questions.
On behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, I move,
That the Parliament notes the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 4th Report 2012 (Session 4), Scotland Act: Standing Order Rule Changes (SP Paper 157), and agrees that changes to Standing Orders set out in Annexe A to the report be made with effect from the date of commencement of section 12 of the Scotland Act 2012.