Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Official Report 910KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. There has been some discussion on the motion on committee membership that we are about to consider, including discussion that was prompted by our group about the role of committee members who also serve as parliamentary liaison officers.

We are being asked to approve a motion on committee membership prior to having seen an announcement from the Government about who will serve as its parliamentary liaison officers. A question will emerge again, as it did in the previous session: if a member sits on or even convenes a parliamentary committee that holds to account the minister who appointed them to the role of parliamentary liaison officer, who is accountable to whom?

Given that we are being asked to approve the motion on committee membership today, to which I have no objection at all, what opportunity will we have to prevent such potential conflicts of interest from emerging once the Government decides who will serve in the role of parliamentary liaison officers?

I thank you for the advance notice of your point of order, Mr Harvie, although I just received it a few minutes ago.

I do not believe that it is a point of order, as the matter is not covered by standing orders, but you have raised an important political point. I think that it is probably best dealt with immediately by the business managers in the Parliamentary Bureau. I ask that you bring it up at the Parliamentary Bureau next Tuesday. I will reflect on the matter that you have brought to my attention and I will report back to Parliament, or through the parliamentary business managers, on any decision. However, I am ruling that it is not a point of order for decision now.

On that point of order, I clarify that the nominations of the Scottish National Party group for committee places are a matter for the SNP group.

Yes. I think that the point of order that Mr Harvie raised was about parliamentary liaison officers; it was not about committee membership. I have ruled that it is not a point of order for now; it is a matter for political discussion between the parties.