Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
19 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Standing Order Rule Changes (Strengthening Committees’ Effectiveness)
As Martin Whitfield knows, we support the majority of the proposed changes, but I raise a specific concern about proposed new rule 6.3.4A, which states that the Parliamentary Bureau must ensure that a committee’s members are not all of the same sex. Does he accept that that rule will inevitably result in some women being pressured to join more committees than men and working harder for the same MSP salary? Does he think that that will be in line with equal pay laws?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-21053, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committ...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Unlike the previous two motions, our motions do not include our entire reports. If they had, they would perhaps have made the Business Bulletin the longest i...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
As Martin Whitfield knows, we support the majority of the proposed changes, but I raise a specific concern about proposed new rule 6.3.4A, which states that ...
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I am grateful for the intervention from Sue Webber, who was a member of the committee when we discussed the matter. She and other members will be aware from ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.