Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-15086, in the name of Kenneth Gibson, on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, on Sc...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In the absence of the convener, and as deputy convener, I am opening today’s debate on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on our “Repo...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

Does that mean that the member believes that the commissioner in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill should be taken out and that we s...

Michael Marra Lab

That is not a position that the committee has taken, and it is not contained in the recommendations of the report. The recommendations of the report, which I...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Does the member acknowledge that a range of different commissioners are being proposed? If he looked at the proposals for a future generations commissioner a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I ask members who are making an intervention to press their intervention buttons. I can give you the time back for those interventions, Mr Marra.

Michael Marra Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. The committee would certainly recognise that a wide range of different commissioners with different purposes is being proposed...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Ivan McKee to speak to and move amendment S6M-15086.3. 14:59

The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee) SNP

I thank the Finance and Public Administration Committee for bringing this important issue to the chamber and for its excellent report on the commissioner lan...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In relation to bills that propose a future commissioner, the Scottish Government’s amendment uses the phrase “been introduced”. Is the Government’s definitio...

Ivan McKee SNP

I will come on to talk about that point, but we have identified that it is for Parliament and its committees to take a view, in the context of the discussion...

Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

The minister will note that the committee recommended that the ministerial control framework should be published. Is the Government willing to do that?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back, minister.

Ivan McKee SNP

We have already sent the ministerial control framework to the committee, so it should be in receipt of it. It is worth emphasising the point about the wider...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Maggie Chapman to speak on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. 15:08

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

I speak in the debate as a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. I begin by thanking the Finance and Public Administration Committee for und...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am grateful to Maggie Chapman for taking an intervention. Can she confirm whether the SPCB has always been comfortable with some of the challenges, particu...

Maggie Chapman Green

I thank Martin Whitfield for that intervention. I do not know whether he is referring to operational challenges, but those are not within our remit. Our remi...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

On behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I welcome the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s report and offer my thanks to the committee for carrying...

Michelle Thomson SNP

Does Mr Hoy agree that the addition of scrutiny of public administration to the finance brief for the first time in this place has been very worth while and ...

Craig Hoy Con

Absolutely. One of the things that Government does not do often enough is look at Government itself. Organisations in the corporate environment do that each ...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Is it Craig Hoy’s understanding that “introduced” means the same as it does in standing orders? In other words, bills that the Government has introduced to P...

Craig Hoy Con

I heard what the minister said about that and Liz Smith will address that point on behalf of my party. Regardless of the interpretation of either the amendm...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind

Will the member accept an intervention?

Craig Hoy Con

I do not have time, unless I can get some time back.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

You can get the time back, Mr Hoy.

John Mason Ind

Does the member agree that there could also be an issue with groups that are already stronger in society demanding a commissioner, whereas weaker groups with...

Craig Hoy Con

The member takes me to my next point, which is that there are already strong channels through which organisations can communicate with the Scottish Parliamen...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Craig Hoy has made the point that all those third sector organisations and charities have an appropriate forum in which to raise their concerns. If that is t...

Craig Hoy Con

There is a difference between giving somebody a voice and the person who is listening to that voice responding to it. When I was shadow minister for social ...