Chamber
Plenary, 25 Jan 2007
25 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 (Determinations)
I hope that the time allocated is enough to cover the many important issues that arise from the four reports.
My first point is one that the committee convener alluded to, perhaps because I have discussed it with him. We have four reports, three of 28 pages and one of 48 pages. All were published on the same day, and when we look at them, we realise that 24 pages in each report are identical. They cover the committee minutes, the act that governs the determinations, the membership list of the committee, blank pages and so on. Looking at the 10 or 12 paragraphs of each report, we see that the first eight paragraphs are identical as well.
I understand the argument for having separate determinations so that the Parliament can revise them individually. However, I fail to see how it is beyond the wit of man or woman to provide for that without having all these reports that contain the same information. I do not swallow the committee convener's argument that separate reports give the interested observer—of which there will clearly be a large number—an audit trail to follow the discussions. The committee has not applied that logic to its reports, as they contain many footnotes that refer to the Official Report, for example, which is of course not included in the reports.
My first point is one that the committee convener alluded to, perhaps because I have discussed it with him. We have four reports, three of 28 pages and one of 48 pages. All were published on the same day, and when we look at them, we realise that 24 pages in each report are identical. They cover the committee minutes, the act that governs the determinations, the membership list of the committee, blank pages and so on. Looking at the 10 or 12 paragraphs of each report, we see that the first eight paragraphs are identical as well.
I understand the argument for having separate determinations so that the Parliament can revise them individually. However, I fail to see how it is beyond the wit of man or woman to provide for that without having all these reports that contain the same information. I do not swallow the committee convener's argument that separate reports give the interested observer—of which there will clearly be a large number—an audit trail to follow the discussions. The committee has not applied that logic to its reports, as they contain many footnotes that refer to the Official Report, for example, which is of course not included in the reports.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motions S2M-5431 to S2M-5434 inclusive, in the name of Brian Adam, on behalf of the Standards and Public Appointment...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
The Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 received royal assent on 13 July last year. Certain sections of the act came into force the day ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
Remaining speakers will have four minutes each.
Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I hope that the time allocated is enough to cover the many important issues that arise from the four reports.My first point is one that the committee convene...
Brian Adam:
SNP
Is the member seriously suggesting that, instead of using footnotes rather than adding in information, the committee reports before the Parliament should hav...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
I am not suggesting that. I am saying that if footnotes are good for some matters, they are equally good for minutes, the act and the committee's membership ...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con):
Con
I am not sure whether I need to speak in the debate, because it is clear that an animated debate is taking place among Scottish National Party members. I am ...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
The procedure that is being adopted is correct, and the documents set out basically what the Parliament decided on previous occasions. There is perhaps the a...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
I congratulate the Standards and Public Appointments Committee on the completion of a useful exercise. I have a question that I hope will be answered in the ...
Brian Adam:
SNP
I thank all the members who have spoken for their contributions to the debate. Although we did not manage to attract any responses to our consultation exerci...
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
Does the member accept that it would perhaps have been easier if the consultation document had more explicitly flagged up the fact that the limit on income f...
Brian Adam:
SNP
Again, I am grateful to Mr Morgan for that suggestion, but he is wide of the mark. Only the slothful servant needs to be commanded in all things. I do not kn...
Chris Ballance:
Green
Will I get an answer to my question?
Brian Adam:
SNP
Let me deal with Mr Ballance's point about sponsorship. With regard to individuals who are employed by both a member and a political party, the member should...