Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Official Report 440KB pdf

Convener

Item 2 is to choose a convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Labour Party are eligible for nomination as convener of this committee, and it is my understanding that Martin Whitfield is the party’s nominee.

Martin Whitfield was chosen as convener.

Congratulations, Martin.

I thank Alexander Stewart for opening the meeting and for bringing to the chair not just his age but his vast experience of committees in the past. I welcome all the members who are new to the Parliament, such as Paul McLennan and me, as well as those who have—shall we say?—a few more years of experience. We will look to them for guidance in the committee’s work.

In my view, this is a very important and powerful committee, which has a huge responsibility to the Parliament and the people of Scotland. From the outset, I wish to put on public record my recognition of the lack of gender balance on the committee, which has occurred in the process of creating the membership of the committee rather than as the act or intention of any of its members. With the permission of members, I intend to write to the Parliamentary Bureau about that matter and raise it at the Conveners Group as a matter of urgency. The effect of the situation that we find ourselves in might directly affect aspects of the committee’s responsibility, particularly with regard to standing orders rules 6.4.1(b) and (d). I have every confidence in each member of the committee, but I am concerned that, in fulfilling our responsibilities, we will not be able to carry the confidence of those whom we serve or who seek to rely on the committee. I hope that the members of the committee are in agreement with that action and I am happy to discuss it in more detail when we turn to our programme of work later.