Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 January 2013
23 Jan 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
“Review of Cross-Party Groups”
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 we engage with wider Scotland, transfer knowledge into and out of the Parliament and share knowledge with interest groups to inform MSPs in their parliamentary duties. As such, they are incredibly well respected throughout Scotland and they work very well.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee undertook a review of cross-party groups not because there was a problem with them, but because of the high standard of their work and the high respect in which they are held. We decided to review the code of conduct so that we could maintain that level of integrity.
The convener has already alluded to some of the revisions to the code of conduct that the committee proposes. One of the important ones about which he talked is section 6.1.1 of the revised code, in which we set out the general purpose of cross-party groups. Some people would ask why that is necessary after all these years—we are in our fourth session of the Parliament—but it is necessary to write down what a cross-party group is for.
Also, at section 6.1.2, we state what cross-party groups are not: they are not official committees of the Parliament. It is important that we lay that down so that people who come to the Parliament and engage with it through the cross-party group mechanism understand the informality of the process.
In section 6.3.2, we talk about the need to outline the issues that the cross-party groups plan to consider over the next year. That is all about engagement with wider civic society and the rest of Scotland. We hope that, if the website says what the cross-party groups hope to consider over the next year, we will garner more information and knowledge through the cross-party groups and that there will be more participation in them.
In the same vein, section 6.4.9 says that the minutes and agendas will all be on the Parliament’s website. It seems amazing that we have not done that before now. That is about engagement and transparency.
Section 6.4.5 says that two MSPs must be at a cross-party group meeting to make it quorate. That is an important point. Cross-party groups are cross party. Therefore, cross-party representation must be present for them to be quorate and make decisions on various issues.
I hope that the well-respected cross-party groups will continue to inform and engage outwith and in the Parliament for a long time.
16:53
The cross-party groups are an incredibly important part of the Parliament. They are part of the way that we engage with wider Scotland, transfer knowledge into and out of the Parliament and share knowledge with interest groups to inform MSPs in their parliamentary duties. As such, they are incredibly well respected throughout Scotland and they work very well.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee undertook a review of cross-party groups not because there was a problem with them, but because of the high standard of their work and the high respect in which they are held. We decided to review the code of conduct so that we could maintain that level of integrity.
The convener has already alluded to some of the revisions to the code of conduct that the committee proposes. One of the important ones about which he talked is section 6.1.1 of the revised code, in which we set out the general purpose of cross-party groups. Some people would ask why that is necessary after all these years—we are in our fourth session of the Parliament—but it is necessary to write down what a cross-party group is for.
Also, at section 6.1.2, we state what cross-party groups are not: they are not official committees of the Parliament. It is important that we lay that down so that people who come to the Parliament and engage with it through the cross-party group mechanism understand the informality of the process.
In section 6.3.2, we talk about the need to outline the issues that the cross-party groups plan to consider over the next year. That is all about engagement with wider civic society and the rest of Scotland. We hope that, if the website says what the cross-party groups hope to consider over the next year, we will garner more information and knowledge through the cross-party groups and that there will be more participation in them.
In the same vein, section 6.4.9 says that the minutes and agendas will all be on the Parliament’s website. It seems amazing that we have not done that before now. That is about engagement and transparency.
Section 6.4.5 says that two MSPs must be at a cross-party group meeting to make it quorate. That is an important point. Cross-party groups are cross party. Therefore, cross-party representation must be present for them to be quorate and make decisions on various issues.
I hope that the well-respected cross-party groups will continue to inform and engage outwith and in the Parliament for a long time.
16:53
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,...