Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18936, in the name of Ben Macpherson, on behalf of the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee, ...

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) SNP

As convener of the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee, I am pleased to open the debate. The strategic review was commissioned by the Parliamen...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Given that the findings were unanimous and followed on from the unanimous findings of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, does the member agree ...

Ben Macpherson SNP

I do, and I urge Parliament not to support the amendment. I will say more about that in due course. Before I turn to the detail of our deliberations and our...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind

Ben Macpherson talks about the existing landscape, but does he accept that, for most people, having a standards commission and a commissioner for ethical sta...

Ben Macpherson SNP

In some ways, I can see why members and others might look at the distinction between the two bodies critically. However, our committee heard quite good evide...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Only yesterday, in passing the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 3, we brought into existence the role of victims and witnesses...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back for interventions, Mr Macpherson.

Ben Macpherson SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I thank Martin Whitfield for a constructive intervention. The committee took into consideration the processes that were put fo...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I think that the committee’s report is a must-read for all MSPs. Although we lodged an amendment to the motion, Scottish Labour welcomes and notes the report...

John Mason Ind

Will the member give way?

Sarah Boyack Lab

I will not because I am very tight for time—perhaps, if I have time later, I will. The recommendations on induction and training in the next session of the ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Thank you, Ms Boyack. I advise members that we have a bit of time in hand, so I imagine that members will be able to get the time back for any interventions....

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am speaking today as a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. I begin by thanking the SPCB Supported Bodies Lan...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Is the SPCB concerned that, if a new committee is created to, in effect, apply the two tests for a new commissioner, the SPCB would be required to give evide...

Maggie Chapman Green

I will come on to say more about the potential new committee in a moment. The corporate body wants to ensure that the office-holder landscape is coherent and...

Ben Macpherson SNP

As a point of clarity, it is worth emphasising that the committee’s recommendation was not necessarily that a new committee be established. That was a potent...

Maggie Chapman Green

Yes, that is understood, and that is why I couched my comments in such a way as to refer to what would happen should that committee be established. However, ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Kenneth Gibson to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. 15:48

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

I am delighted to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. As members know, the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee w...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Kenneth Gibson SNP

I am happy to take an intervention from the defender of the committee structures.

Martin Whitfield Lab

I have great respect for Kenneth Gibson, but I find his comment about an amendment to a motion—albeit on the back of a committee debate, which was occasioned...

Kenneth Gibson SNP

That is desperate stuff. Let us be honest: if the member’s colleague who is sat next to him, Sarah Boyack, did not have a proposal to create a commissioner, ...

The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee) SNP

I welcome the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee’s report and recommendations on how the SPCB-supported bodies landscape can be improved. It is...

Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

For clarity, and bearing in mind Kenny Gibson’s comment about how a deadline helps to get things delivered, when is the deadline for that work to be completed?

Ivan McKee SNP

Stephen Kerr is absolutely right. He should be aware that there are 18 workstreams across the PSR strategy, and we have spent the summer putting together the...

John Mason Ind

I take the minister’s point—he has said it before, and he is absolutely right—that that is a relatively small amount of money in the scheme of things. Howeve...

Ivan McKee SNP

John Mason makes that point very well. I acknowledged at the start of my contribution that the debate has much wider significance across the public service r...

Martin Whitfield Lab

With regard to the concept of a human rights commissioner, will the Scottish Government follow the process that it has taken with the victims and witnesses c...