Hansard

The first new petition is PE1998, on ending legal loopholes for the monarchy. The petition has been lodged by Tristan Gray on behalf of Our Republic and calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to legislate to abolish adaptations and exemptions to legislation requested by the monarchy; to ensure that all future communications between the monarch, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament with representatives of the monarchy are fully transparent and public; to publish details of all cases where laws have been adapted at the request of the monarchy; and to prevent any such alterations to our laws from being implemented in the future. The Scottish Government’s response to the petition states that “seeking Crown consent is a requirement under the Scotland Act 1998” and that it is required “to follow the same rules that apply to UK Bills when it comes to seeking consent from the Royal Household.” I should also say, for the avoidance of doubt, that the 1998 act is outwith the responsibility of this Parliament. On the issue of sharing correspondence between the monarchy, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament, the response notes the importance of confidentiality in order “to hold free and frank discussions”. The Scottish Government also states that it “does not record how Bills have changed as they have been developed or where stakeholders have queried aspects of that legislation” —at all, I would presume. Do members have any questions or suggestions in view of that directive response from the Scottish Government?