Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 January 2013
23 Jan 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
“Review of Cross-Party Groups”
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I hope that I will not need four minutes.
First, I thank Dave Thompson and his committee for their valuable work reviewing the cross-party group arrangements for the Parliament. As someone who was recently elected to the Parliament, the work and the commitment of cross-party groups are new to me. As convener of the CPG on China, I have come to learn the value of CPGs to the Parliament, to the general public and to those with very specific interests—in my case, interest in China in the round.
The report is right to indicate that we need to take care that CPGs do not become another means for lobbyists to influence the work of the Parliament and to try to gain unfair access to those who have the right to make decisions within this chamber and elsewhere. The report sets out a healthy approach to the relationships that should exist across the Parliamentary groups and their work within the cross-party arrangements.
The request for annual returns from all CPGs is common sense. If the CPGs are to work effectively, one would expect that there would be an annual report from them, setting out what has been achieved and what the vision is for their future work.
The ability for the Parliament to request specific information about the support that groups receive from the private sector is an important power to offer and the introduction of draft minutes opens up that whole environment to further comments.
First, I thank Dave Thompson and his committee for their valuable work reviewing the cross-party group arrangements for the Parliament. As someone who was recently elected to the Parliament, the work and the commitment of cross-party groups are new to me. As convener of the CPG on China, I have come to learn the value of CPGs to the Parliament, to the general public and to those with very specific interests—in my case, interest in China in the round.
The report is right to indicate that we need to take care that CPGs do not become another means for lobbyists to influence the work of the Parliament and to try to gain unfair access to those who have the right to make decisions within this chamber and elsewhere. The report sets out a healthy approach to the relationships that should exist across the Parliamentary groups and their work within the cross-party arrangements.
The request for annual returns from all CPGs is common sense. If the CPGs are to work effectively, one would expect that there would be an annual report from them, setting out what has been achieved and what the vision is for their future work.
The ability for the Parliament to request specific information about the support that groups receive from the private sector is an important power to offer and the introduction of draft minutes opens up that whole environment to further comments.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-05402, in the name of Dave Thompson, on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Commi...
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to open this debate on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s review of cross-party groups. As CPGs are formed within the...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Graeme Pearson, with up to four minutes.16:46
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I hope that I will not need four minutes.First, I thank Dave Thompson and his committee for their valuable work reviewing the c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Mr Pearson, could I stop you for a moment? Will members who are having conversations please do so outwith the chamber? Thank you. Mr Pearson, please continue.
Graeme Pearson
Lab
The one observation that I offer from experience is that the complete absence of an ability to fund some measure of small hospitality can be, to some extent,...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I echo the words of the convener and Graeme Pearson.The cross-party groups are an incredibly important part of the Parliament. They are part of the way that ...
Helen Eadie (Cowdenbeath) (Lab)
Lab
I am happy to close the debate on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.As members will be aware, the vast majority of MSPs w...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Name them!
Helen Eadie
Lab
No names, no pack-drill. If I have learned anything in my life, I have learned to avoid pack-drill.To me, the fact that the vast majority of MSPs are members...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before we move to the next item of business, I remind members that they should not conduct conversations in the chamber during debates or use mobile devices,...