Chamber and committees

Contact with Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay and representatives of the Royal Household forms part of the normal business of government. A record of such exchanges is not held centrally. Communications between the Scottish Government and the Head of State or the heir to the throne are conducted in confidence, in keeping with established constitutional practice. Where legislation in the Scottish Parliament is subject to a requirement for Crown Consent (in accordance with paragraph seven of Schedule three to the Scotland Act 1998, and Rule 9.11 of Standing Orders) the granting of consent is signified by a member of the Scottish Government and is recorded in the Official Report.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03730 on 15 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

1. So far, the Scottish Government has met with 10 religious organisations, three anti-sectarian groups and 28 equality groups in relation to the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Bill. It has met with eight religious organisations and four equality groups in relation to the consultation on equalising marriage rights.

Of those organisations, the government has met with religious organisations on 22 occasions, with anti-sectarian groups on seven occasions and with equality groups on 42 occasions regarding the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Bill. It has met with religious groups on 10 occasions and with and equality groups twice regarding its consultation on equalising marriage rights.

2. The Scottish Government has met with the following organisations and groups:

Religious Organisations

Anti-Sectarian Organisations

Equality Groups

3. The First Minister has been involved in one meeting with Bishop Tartaglia of Paisley where both the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill and the consultation on equalising marriage rights were discussed.

In developing policy the Scottish Government seeks a range of advice, including legal advice. It is not, and has not been, the practice of Scottish Ministers to disclose legal advice.

The Government’s proposals on the franchise were set out in the consultation paper Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill which was published in February 2010.

This is an operational matter for Historic Scotland and I have asked them to reply directly to you.

The proposed franchise was explained in the Scottish Government’s consultation paper Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill published in February 2010.

We have held regular discussions with the UK Government, at Ministerial and official level, regarding the Welfare Reform Bill.

We have set out the aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill which we consider require legislative consent in the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum which we have lodged with the parliament.

The strategy will be published by the end of 2011.