A number or changes have been made to the layout in this volume.

The following new sections have been added:

• 1.3.1 MSPs elected on 6 May 2021

• 1.3.2 MSPs not returned from Session 5

• 1.3.3 MSPs serving since 1999

• 6.4 Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme Trustees

• 6.5 Scottish Commission for Pubic Audit

The following sections have been incorporated into a different chapter within the publication:

• 6.1 Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament was previously 1.6

• 6.6 Membership of Other Bodies was previously 9.3

• 8.5 Official Inward Visits and Outward Delegations was previously 9.1

• 8.6 Official Gifts was previously 9.2

AGS - Auditor General for Scotland

asp - Act of Scottish Parliament

BIPA - British Irish Parliamentary Assembly

CALRE - Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies

CEEAC - Constitution, Europe, External Affairs Committee

CJ - Criminal Justice Committee

CLRAE - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe

Con - Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party

COSLA - Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

CPA - Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

CPPP - Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

CVDR - COVID-19 Recovery Committee

DPLR - Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

E - Emergency Bill

ECYP - Education, Children and Young People Committee

EFW - Economy and Fair Work Committee

EHRCJ - Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

EU - European Union

F - Female

FE - Further Education

FMQs - First Minister’s Questions

FOI - Freedom of Information

FPA - Finance and Public Administration Committee

G - Government Bill

Green - Scottish Green Party

HL - House of Lords, i.e. a House of Lords Bill

h:mins - hours and minutes

Hrs - Hours

HSCS - Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Ind - Independent Member, i.e. a Member of the Scottish Parliament not functioning within a political party

IRO - International Relations Office

Lab - Scottish Labour Party

LCM - Legislative Consent Memorandum

LD - Scottish Liberal Democrats

LGBTI+ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex +

LGHP - Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

M - Male

M - Member’s Bill

Mins - Minutes

MP - Member of the UK Parliament

MS - Multiple Sclerosis

MSP - Member of the Scottish Parliament

n/a - not applicable, or not available

No. - Number

NPA - No Party Affiliation

NZET - Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee

P - Private Bill

PA - Public Audit Committee

PBACM - Public Bodies Act Consent Memorandum

PE - Petition

PY - Parliamentary year (13 May 2021–12 May 2022)

RAINE - Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Ref. - Reference

S - Substitute Committee Member

S6 - Sixth Session of Parliament

S6M - Session 6 Motion

SCPA - Scottish Commission for Public Audit

SI - Statutory Instrument

SJSS - Social Justice and Social Security Committee

SNP - Scottish National Party

SP - Scottish Parliament

SPCB - Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

SPICe - Scottish Parliament Information Centre

SPPA - Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

SPSO - Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

SSI - Scottish Statutory Instrument

UK - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

US - United States of America

WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality

% - Percentage

There are two methods of electing Members to the Scottish Parliament. There are 73 constituency Members, based on the UK Parliament constituencies in existence prior to 2004, elected by the first past the post system. A further 56 regional Members, 7 for each of the 8 regions used in the European Parliament elections, prior to 1999, were elected using the Additional Member System. This is a form of proportional representation using party lists, which ensures that each party’s representation in the Parliament reflects its overall share of the vote.

In addition to the results below, SPICe has produced a detailed 2021 Election Results Briefing

There were no by-elections in the first parliamentary year of Session 6.

Of the 129 MSPs elected on 6 May 2021 86 were returning MSPs, who were serving at the end of Parliamentary Session 5, and 43 were either new MSPs or were returning to the Parliament following a break in service.

These tables provide a list of MSPs elected on 6 May 2021. They are listed alphabetically by party and then by surname, with a note of the constituency or region that they were elected to. The tables also indicate if they are a returning or a new MSP.

34 MSPs, who were serving at the end of Parliamentary Session 5, chose not to stand for re-election in 2021.

9 MSPs, serving at the end of Parliamentary Session 5, lost their seat in the Scottish Parliament at the 2021 election.

8 Members have served continuously since 1999. In addition, a further two Members have served during previous sessions but not continuously.

The 2021 election saw a record number of 58 female MSPs returned (45%). The previous highest proportion of female MSPs was in 2003, when the figure was 51 (40%).

The Presiding Officer is elected by other Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and is in charge of ensuring that the business of the Parliament is conducted effectively, on time, fairly, and within the rules and in an orderly manner. The Presiding Officer has no party allegiance whilst in the chair. There are also two Deputy Presiding Officers who must also act impartially when they are chairing parliamentary meetings; when they are not chairing parliamentary meetings they can play a full part in parliamentary business.

The Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers continue to serve in post during dissolution and until the election of the next Presiding Officer in a new session.

On 17 March 2020 the Parliament agreed to move motions S5M-21383 to S5M-21386 on the suspension and variation of Standing Orders to allow the election of an additional Deputy Presiding Officer. This was in response to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued in place until the end of Session 5. At the start of Session 6 the Parliament returned to having two Deputy Presiding Officers.

Presiding Officer

• Alison Johnstone (NPA) from 13 May 2021

Deputy Presiding Officers

• Annabelle Ewing (SNP) from 14 May 2021

• Liam McArthur (LD) from 14 May 2021

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is chaired by the Presiding Officer and is made up of four members elected by Parliament from its MSPs. It is responsible for ensuring that the Scottish Parliament is provided with the property, staff and services it requires. The SPCB considers and makes decisions on a wide range of issues concerning the running of the Parliament including the financing of the Parliament and allocation of the budget, the staffing of the Parliament, accommodation and the use and the security of parliamentary facilities.

The Presiding Officer and other members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body continue to serve in post during dissolution and until the election of replacement members in a new session. This is the case unless an MSP resigns from the SPCB, ceases to be an MSP (other than by dissolution of the Parliament), or the MSP is removed from the SPCB by a resolution of the Parliament.

Membership of the SPCB

• Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) from 20 May 2021

• Claire Baker (Lab) from 20 May 2021

• Jackson Carlaw (Con) from 20 May 2021

• Maggie Chapman (Green) from 20 May 2021

• Christine Grahame (SNP) from 20 May 2021

The Parliamentary Bureau consists of the Presiding Officer and representatives of each political party or group in the Parliament which has five or more Members. The representatives are nominated by the leader of each party. The main functions of the Parliamentary Bureau are:

• To propose the business programme.

• To propose alterations to the Daily Business List in the Business Bulletin if there should be changes in the advance programme.

• To propose the establishment, remit, membership and duration of any committee or sub-committee.

• To determine any question regarding the competence of a committee to deal with a matter and, if two or more committees are competent to deal with a matter, to determine which of those committees is to be the lead committee responsible for that matter.

Standing Orders allow Parliamentary Bureau members to arrange for another member to take their place at Bureau meetings by notifying the Presiding Officer in writing in advance.

A Deputy Presiding Officer may attend any meeting of the Parliamentary Bureau and may participate in the proceedings but may not vote unless he or she is chairing the meeting in place of the Presiding Officer, when he or she shall have a casting vote.

Members of the Parliamentary Bureau do not continue to serve during dissolution.

Membership of the Parliamentary Bureau

• Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) (NPA) from 18 May 2021

• George Adam (SNP) from 20 May 2021

• Neil Bibby (Lab) from 18 May 2021

• Patrick Harvie (Green) from 18 May 2021 - 5 July 2021

• Stephen Kerr (Con) from 18 May 2021

• Gillian Mackay (Green) from 5 July 2021

When taking the oath or affirmation, MSPs are able to repeat the oath or affirmation in a second language of their choice.

21 MSPs chose to repeat the oath or affirmation in a second language in Session 6.

Parliamentary year total: 468:04

The Scottish Parliament met in the Chamber throughout the parliamentary year however, in response to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, it also conducted hybrid meetings.

During the parliamentary year 13 May 2021 to 12 May 2022, the total time spent on parliamentary business was 468 hours 04 mins

Members' Bills

No time was spent on Members' Bills

Committee Bills

No time was spent on Committee Bills

Hybrid Bills

No time was spent on Hybrid Bills

Private Bills

No time was spent on Private Bills

Statutory Instruments

Other Motions relating to Legislation

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Motions for Debate

Debates without Motions

Oral Questions

Statements

Other Matters

Time for Reflection is the first item of business at a meeting of the Parliament on Tuesday where a person, on the invitation of the Parliament, addresses it (and the Scottish people) for up to 4 minutes. The pattern of speakers reflects the balance of beliefs in Scotland.

Time for Reflection may have more than one speaker, therefore, the total number of speakers may exceed the total number of Time for Reflections.

The Co-operation Agreement reached between the SNP and the Scottish Greens over the summer of 2021 and confirmed on Saturday 28 August 2021 had an impact on some aspects of parliamentary business, including parliamentary questions.

In relation to First Minsters Questions (FMQs), at the start of this parliamentary year, parties of five or more MSPs were all allocated leaders’ questions at FMQs. The cycle for FMQs at the start of this parliamentary year gave the Scottish Green Party a leader’s question at question three in four weeks out of six and a backbench question on one of the other weeks.

The Co-operation Agreement, which was agreed to in August 2021, resulted in the two Scottish Green Party co-leaders being appointed as Junior Scottish Ministers. This removed their entitlement to a leader’s question at FMQs. Instead, the Scottish Green Party were allocated a backbench question in three weeks out of six, and further, to call them at question three in two of those six weeks.

In relation to the Co-operation Agreement's impact on other parliamentary questions, Scottish Green Party backbench MSPs remained entitled to submit their names to the draws for Portfolio and General questions, and to request Topical, Urgent and SPCB questions.

Ministers from the Scottish Green Party could submit questions only on matters where they were not bound by collective responsibility or on topics not subject to the Agreement. Ministers from the Scottish Green Party were no longer able to submit General questions to avoid a situation where a Minister could be asking and answering questions at the same item of business.

The total number of General questions selected during the parliamentary year was 242.

This does not include General questions which were either not lodged or withdrawn.

The total number of First Minister’s questions selected during the parliamentary year was 223.

Normally the Presiding Officer selects up to 8 questions for answer at First Minister's Question Time. These questions are numbered in the Official Report and counted in table 3.3.1.(c). In addition to questions selected in advance, the Presiding Officer may also call other Members to ask a question at First Minister’s Question Time. These supplementary questions are asked by additional MSPs on different subjects, usually constituency matters. These supplementary questions are not numbered and not counted in the table 3.3.1.(b).

Portfolio oral questions were answered in a running rota of themes. The rotation repeats:

Week 1: Net Zero, Energy and Transport; Rural Affairs and Islands; Health and Social Care

Week 2: Social Justice, Housing and Local Government; Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice

Week 3: Finance and the Economy; Education and Skills

Week 4: Covid-19 Recovery and Parliamentary Business; Net Zero, Energy and Transport; Rural affairs and Islands

The Parliament continued the pilot allowing the Presiding Officer to group Portfolio questions on the same subject matter, so that these questions could be called consecutively.

The total number of Portfolio questions answered during the parliamentary year was 735. This does not include Portfolio questions which were either not lodged or withdrawn.

The total number of Topical questions selected during the parliamentary year was 76.

The total number of Urgent questions selected during the parliamentary year was 20.

Questions of an urgent or local nature can also be asked as supplementary questions during First Minister's Questions.

The total number of SPCB questions answered during the parliamentary year was 20

Total number of SPCB oral questions which were withdrawn during the parliamentary year was 2.

Motion S5M-24366, agreed on 17 March 2021, amended the Standing Orders to introduce urgent SPCB questions from 12 May 2021. The changes to Standing Orders were set out in Annexe A of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 8th Report 2021 (Session 5), Standing Order Rule Changes — Urgent Questions to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

The total number of Urgent questions selected during the parliamentary year was 1.

The total number of Written questions lodged during the parliamentary year was 7999. This does not include 21 Written questions that were withdrawn.

The total number of SPCB Written questions lodged during the parliamentary year was 21.

The total number of motions lodged during the parliamentary year was 4235. This does not include 5 motions that were withdrawn.

Committee motions are lodged on behalf of the Committee by the Convener.

Parliamentary Bureau motions are lodged on behalf of the Bureau by the Minister for Parliamentary Business.

SPCB motions are lodged on behalf of the Corporate Body by a member of the SPCB.

The following motions to suspend Standing Orders were agreed during the parliamentary year:

• Motion S6M-00350 on a variation of Standing Orders was agreed to on 10 June 2021.

• Motion S6M-01242 on suspension and variation of standing orders was agreed to on 15 September 2021.

• Motion S6M-02150 on the suspension and variation of the standing orders was agreed to on 16 November 2021.

• Motion S6M-02351 on the suspension and variation of standing orders was agreed to on 1 December 2021.

• Motions S6M-02651, S6M-02652 and S6M-02653, on suspension and variation of standing orders were agreed on 21 December 2021.

• Motion S6M-03154 on the suspension and variation of standing orders was agreed to on 9 February 2022.

• Motion S6M-03410 on suspension of standing orders was agreed to on 1 March 2022.

• Motion S6M-03519 on the suspension of standing orders was agreed to on 8 March 2022.

• Motion S6M-03905 on the suspension of standing orders was agreed to on 31 March 2022.

• Motion S6M-04208 on the suspension of standing orders was agreed to on 27 April 2022.

The total number of Members' Business debates during the parliamentary year was 96.

During the parliamentary year there were:

• 17 Legislative Consent Memorandums published

• 8 Supplementary memorandums published

• 18 Legislative Consent Motions lodged

• 18 Legislative Consent Motions passed

There were no Public Bodies Act Consent Memorandums or Motions lodged during this parliamentary year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Scottish Government Ministers gave a weekly COVID-19 update in Chamber. The total number of ministerial statements includes 31 COVID-19 updates

Committee announcements were introduced in 2018 at the recommendation of the Commission on Parliamentary Reform. They allow committees to make significant or urgent announcements and set out the findings from recently published committee reports during chamber meetings.

The total number of electronic votes during the parliamentary year was 260

This table shows figures for all electronic votes taken in the Chamber, including all votes on amendments.

There were no uses of the Presiding Officer's casting vote in the first parliamentary year of Session 6.

Standing Orders were changed to allow committees and the Chamber to meet remotely, with the first formal hybrid meetings of Parliament taking place in May 2020. Hybrid meetings involve some MSPs or witnesses ‘dialling in’ while some are present in the committee room.

The following table lists the MSPs and those committees of which they were members during the parliamentary year. Dates of service are given under each individual committee in section 4.3.

A committee usually has between five and fifteen MSPs as members. Committee members are selected having regard to the balance of political parties in the Parliament. Membership of committees is proposed by the Parliamentary Bureau. The whole Parliament approves suggestions as to which MSPs are to be members of what committee.

Each political party which has two or more MSPs may nominate one of its members to be the party’s substitute on each committee. The main role of the committee substitute is to stand in for a committee member of the same party if that member is unavailable for a committee meeting or is unable to act as a committee member at any other time because of illness, family circumstances, adverse travel conditions beyond the member’s control, a requirement to attend to other Parliamentary business or urgent constituency business. Substitute members (S) are therefore not full time members of committees.

This table lists the committees that each MSP was a member, or substitute member, of during the parliamentary year. It only includes MSPs that have been a member of a committee. It does not list members of the Conveners Group.

The members of a committee must choose a Convener from a particular political party decided by Parliament. The Parliament makes this decision following a recommendation by the Parliamentary Bureau. In addition, each committee normally has a Deputy Convener who will chair meetings in the Convener's absence. Deputy Conveners are chosen in the same way as conveners. The Standing Orders also include provision for the appointment of an Acting Convener in circumstances where a Committee Convener is absent for an extended period of parental leave, allowing the committee to appoint an Acting Convener on a temporary basis.

The Conveners Group is made up of all the conveners. It is chaired by the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer. The rules about how the Conveners Group works are set out in Chapter 6A of the Standing Orders.

Remit: The Group handles a range of matters, for example:

(a) approval of travel by committees or committee members

(b) approval of meetings of committees outside Edinburgh

(c) consideration of the biannual programme of committee meetings

(d) endorsement of funding for civic participation events and external research

(e) making recommendations to the Bureau on committee business to be scheduled in the Chamber.

Convener:

• Liam McArthur (LD) (from 29 September 2021)

• Alison Johnstone (NPA) (13 May 2021 – 29 September 2021)

Members:

• Clare Adamson (SNP) (from 23 June 2021)

• Claire Baker (Lab) (from 23 June 2021)

• Siobhian Brown (SNP) (from 23 June 2021)

• Ariane Burgess (Green) (from 22 June 2021)

• Jackson Carlaw (Con) (from 23 June 2021)

• Finlay Carson (Con) (from 22 June 2021)

• Joe FitzPatrick (SNP) (from 23 June 2021)

• Kenneth Gibson (SNP) (from 22 June 2021)

• Neil Gray (SNP) (23 June 2021 – 25 January 2022)

• Stephen Kerr (Con) (from 23 June 2021)

• Richard Leonard (Lab) (from 23 June 2021)

• Dean Lockhart (Con) (from 22 June 2021)

• Gillian Martin (SNP) (from 22 June 2021)

• Stuart McMillan (SNP) (from 22 June 2021)

• Audrey Nicoll (SNP) (from 22 June 2021)

• Martin Whitfield (Lab) (from 22 June 2021)

• Elena Whitham (SNP) (from 27 January 2022)

These tables are running totals for the parliamentary year.