Hansard

I thank all members who took part in the debate for their contributions. The bill is incredibly short and there is clear consensus about what we should do now, although there is a debate to be had about what we will do going forward. It is important that there is unanimity across the chamber about what the bill will do in changing the date of the Scottish Parliament election and the date of the local government election.

There has been discussion today—as there was at the committee—of the need for a permanent solution to the clash of Holyrood and Westminster elections. I think that all members touched on that, and John Wilson raised it in his intervention. If we assume that the bill will be passed and that the clash of elections will be avoided in 2020, the frequency of both parliamentary elections will mean that another clash will occur in 2025 and again every 20 years. We need to look for a permanent solution; otherwise, as Stuart McMillan said, we will have to take a sticking-plaster approach every time there is a clash.

When the powers come to this Parliament, it will be appropriate for us to look at all the issues, and I listened carefully to all the remarks that were made today. I am on record as saying at the committee that there is a strong argument for a five-year cycle. However, arguments for other cycles have been made today. I listened to Annabel Goldie’s suggestion of a different solution whereby, every 20 or so years, we would have two elections in the same year but at different times of the year, so that there was no direct clash. That suggestion is interesting.

It is important that the matter is decided by the next Parliament and that the issues are carefully considered. As Annabel Goldie said, the Government must consult carefully on the issues and take the widest possible view of the implications. Although elections are very pertinent to us as politicians, they are also important to the electorate and other organisations. If there were Holyrood and Westminster elections in the same year, that would be a significant drain on the resources of organisations that want to influence policy making and take part in that process.

It is important that, when the Parliament comes to discuss a permanent solution to the polling date clashes, there is the widest possible consultation. That is correct and it is great that we kicked that off today by saying not just that the choice is between four-year and five-year terms but that there is potential to shift the date of elections. However, there is a fair degree of history, as every Scottish Parliament election has been in May, so holding the election at another time would be a significant change.

Let us get back to the consensus and to the bill, which is about finding a solution for the 2020 clash and dealing with a subsequent clash for local government elections in 2021. The bill offers that solution. I welcome the tenor of the debate, which suggests that members across the chamber agree that the Government has got it right. I do not expect the Government to lodge any amendments at stage 2, but I take on board the convener’s point that there is a parliamentary process to go through. We expect the committee to give the bill the same consideration as all other bills get.

The bill is relatively short, but it is significant. I thank members for their contributions and invite them to support me in agreeing to the general principles of the bill.