Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Official Report 440KB pdf

Cross-Party Groups

Item 5 is on cross-party groups. The issue has come up because of the timing of committees starting and the desire among members and groups outwith the Parliament to start cross-party groups. We have been asked to consider the rules on the membership and registration of cross-party groups. As I said, that requires our attention because of the timescale.

The committee is invited to consider and agree a general modification to rule 6.8 of the code of conduct to allow cross-party groups that have at least one MSP member from the majority of parties that are represented on the Parliamentary Bureau. That is not a rule change; it is an indication of how we would apply our ability to waive certain parts and regulations. In this case, we are carrying on with the process that I understand began with the previous committee. Because of the change of the structure of the parties on the Parliamentary Bureau, we would like to give an indication to CPGs that we will continue to allow them to be registered where they have at least one MSP member from the majority of parties on the bureau. Would anyone like to comment on that?

As there are no comments, do members agree to that general modification?

Members indicated agreement.

I like committees that move this fast.