Committees of the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament committees (Scottish Gaelic: Comataidhean Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) are small groups of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who meet on a regular basis to scrutinise the work of the Scottish Government, conduct inquiries into subjects within their remit and examine legislation. Much of the everyday work of the Scottish Parliament is done by these committees.

Committees play a more prominent role in the functioning of the Scottish Parliament than in many other comparable parliamentary systems.[1] Partly this is intended to curb executive dominance, partly to empower backbench members as they carry out the work of scrutinising government, partly to encourage public and expert involvement, and partly due to the unicameral nature of the Scottish Parliament, meaning there is no revising chamber.[2]

Some key committees, known as Mandatory committees, are required by the Scottish Parliament's Standing Orders and are established at the beginning of each session and their remits determined by parliamentary rules.[3] Subject committees deal with a particular subject or area. Many of these Subject committees have been in place in one form or another since the formation of the Scottish Parliament, while others are quickly created and disbanded as circumstances require.[3] A third type of committee may also be established to consider particular issues or pieces of legislation, especially private bills that have been submitted to parliament.[4]

Committees usually have between five and ten MSPs as members, who are selected to reflect the balance of the political parties in parliament as a whole. Committee meetings are held in the committee rooms of the Scottish Parliament Building when parliament is sitting. Committees may also choose to meet at other locations throughout Scotland.[5]

Conveners Group

The Conveners Group is not a committee in the ordinary sense, but is a forum where committee conveners meet to discuss the operation of committees and to liaise with other parliamentary bodies. The Conveners Group makes recommendations regarding the scheduling of committee business in the debating chamber and has the authority to allow committee meetings to take place in locations other than the Scottish Parliament Building. The Conveners Group is chaired by the Presiding Officer or their deputy.[6]

Current committees

Mandatory

Mandatory committees are set down under the Scottish Parliament's Standing Orders, which govern their remits and proceedings. Mandatory committees are established at the beginning of each parliamentary session.

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions

The Scottish Parliament’s public petitions process allows members of the public to raise awareness of issues that may not otherwise be debated in parliament. The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee considers all petitions that meet stipulated guidelines. In addition, the committee aims to improve the way in which the public petitions system functions and also seeks feedback from petitioners about their experiences of petitioning the Scottish Parliament. The committee convener is Jackson Carlaw and David Torrance is deputy convener.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee examines issues relating to culture in Scotland, and scrutinises the Scottish Government's work in this area. The committee's remit includes issues relating to Scotland's links with countries and territories in the European Union and elsewhere. Issues relating to the impact on Scotland of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union are also considered. The committee also considers and reports on constitutional matters within the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Clare Adamson is the committee convener and Donald Cameron is the deputy convener.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform

The role of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee is to decide whether or not to grant powers to Scottish ministers to make secondary legislation. If that power is granted, it is then the job of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and any relevant Subject committee to examine and report on the secondary legislation as it is issued. The committee is convened by Stuart McMillan and the deputy convener is Bill Kidd.

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee considers and reports on matters relating to equal opportunities. It also considers human rights matters and the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between persons on the grounds of protected characteristics. The committee convener is Joe FitzPatrick and Maggie Chapman is deputy convener.

Finance and Public Administration

The Finance and Public Administration Committee scrutinises the Scottish Government's taxation, spending and borrowing plans. It undertakes analysis of tax revenue forecasts and receipts, the impact of any newly devolved financial powers and the estimated costs of proposed legislation. The committee convener is Kenneth Gibson and Daniel Johnson is deputy convener.

Public Audit

The remit of the Public Audit Committee is to consider and report on any accounts laid before parliament, any report made to parliament by the Auditor General for Scotland, or any other document concerning financial control, accounting and auditing in relation to public expenditure. The committee is convened by Richard Leonard and the deputy convener is Sharon Dowey.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee examines the rules and procedures that determine how the Scottish Parliament operates. It considers the rules on how MSPs should behave, including what interests they should register, and determines whether MSPs have followed these rules. Other duties include updating the code of conduct for MSPs, scrutinising appointments to public bodies, regulation of lobbying and the operation of elections to the Scottish Parliament. Martin Whitfield is the committee convener and Bob Doris is the deputy convener.

Subject

There are six committee rooms in the Scottish Parliament Building

Subject committees are formed at the beginning of each parliamentary session. These committees typically correspond with one (or more) of the directorates or ministries of the Scottish Government. Additional Subject committees can be created as the need arises, such as the committee established in 2020 to examine the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[7]

COVID-19 Recovery

The COVID-19 Recovery Committee considers and reports on matters relating to COVID-19 falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, matters relating to cross government coordination of COVID-19 recovery policies, and the operation of powers under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act, the Coronavirus Act and any other legislation in relation to the response to COVID-19. The committee convener is Siobhian Brown and Murdo Fraser is deputy convener.

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Committee considers and reports on matters relating to criminal justice falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and functions of the Lord Advocate other than as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland. Audrey Nicoll is the committee convener and Russell Findlay is the deputy convener.

Economy and Fair Work

The Economy and Fair Work Committee considers and reports on matters relating to the Scottish economy falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy. The committee is convened by Claire Baker and the deputy convener is Colin Beattie.

Education, Children and Young People

The Education, Children and Young People Committee considers and reports on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and matters relating to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry within the responsibility of the Deputy First Minister. The committee convener is Stephen Kerr and Kaukab Stewart is deputy convener.

Health, Social Care and Sport

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee considers and reports on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and matters relating to drugs policy. The committee is convened by Clare Haughey and the deputy convener is Paul Sweeney.

Local Government, Housing and Planning

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee considers and reports on matters relating to local government, housing and planning falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, and matters relating to the Local Government Boundary Commission and local governance review and democratic renewal within the responsibility of the Deputy First Minister. Ariane Burgess is the committee convener and Elena Whitham is the deputy convener.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee considers and reports on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, with the exception of matters relating to rural land use, wildlife crime and animal welfare. The committee convener is Dean Lockhart and Fiona Hyslop is deputy convener.

Rural Affairs and Islands [8]

Originally established as the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee in June 2021, the Parliament formally changed the name of the Committee on 1 February 2023 to reflect a change in its remit, when responsibility for scrutinising policy matters relating to rural land use, wildlife crime and animal welfare were transferred to the Committee from the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. They has previously come under the remit of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee as ministerial responsibility for these policy areas lies with the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport. From February 2023 the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's updated remit is: "To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands; and on matters relating to rural land use, wildlife crime and animal welfare falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport." The committee convener is Finlay Carson and the deputy convener is Liam McArthur.

Social Justice and Social Security

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee considers and reports on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, excluding matters relating to local government, housing and planning. Neil Gray is the committee convener and Natalie Don is the deputy convener.

Other

Issues not within the scope of the Mandatory or Subject committees, especially the examination of private bills, are considered by separate committees created solely for that purpose. Private bills typically relate to bills where the private interests of a person, group or organisation are the main focus of the bill (as opposed to being generally applicable across Scotland).

Such Private bills have been used to legislate for large-scale development projects such as infrastructure projects that require the use of land or property. Such committees have in the past been set up to consider legislation and issues relating to the development of the Edinburgh Trams, the Glasgow Airport rail link, the Airdrie–Bathgate rail link and extensions to the Scottish National Gallery.

Separate committees have also been established to consider Hybrid bills. These are bill that have both a general application in law across Scotland, but also majorly affect the private interests of a specific person, group or organisation.

Previous committees

First session

Audit
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill
Education, Culture and Sport
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Equal Opportunities
European
European and External Relations
Finance
Health and Community Care
Justice and Home Affairs
Justice 1
Justice 2
Local Government
National Galleries of Scotland Bill
Procedures
Public Petitions
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill
Rural Affairs
Rural Development
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector
Social Justice
Standards
Subordinate Legislation
Transport and the Environment

Second session

Adhoc Standards
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill
Audit
Baird Trust Reorganisation Bill
Communities
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill
Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill
Education
Enterprise and Culture
Environment and Rural Development
Equal Opportunities
European and External Relations
Finance
Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill
Health
Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Bill
Justice 1
Justice 2
Justice 2 Sub
Local Government and Transport
Procedures
Public Petitions
Standards
Standards and Public Appointments
Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Bill
Subordinate Legislation
Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill

Third session

Audit
Economy, Energy and Tourism
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture
End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill
Equal Opportunities
European and External Relations
Finance
Forth Crossing Bill
Health and Sport
Justice
Local Government and Communities
Procedures
Public Audit
Public Petitions
Review of SPCB Supported Bodies
Rural Affairs and Environment
Scotland Bill
Scottish Parliamentary Pension Bill
Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme
Standards and Public Appointments
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments
Subordinate Legislation
Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change
Ure Elder Fund Transfer and Dissolution Bill
William Simpson's Home (Transfer of Property etc.) (Scotland) Bill

Fourth session

Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Bill
City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Bill
City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Bill
Delegated Powers and Law Reform
Devolution (Further Powers)
Economy, Energy and Tourism
Education and Culture
Equal Opportunities
European and External Relations
Finance
Health and Sport
Infrastructure and Capital Investment
Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament (Amendment) Bill
Justice
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing
Local Government and Regeneration
National Galleries of Scotland Bill
National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc.) Bill
Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill
Public Audit
Public Petitions
Referendum (Scotland) Bill
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment
Scotland Bill
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments
Subordinate Legislation
Welfare Reform

Fifth session

COVID-19
Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations
Delegated Powers and Law Reform
Economy, Jobs and Fair Work
Edinburgh Bakers' Widows' Fund Bill
Education and Skills
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Equalities and Human Rights
Finance and Constitution
Health and Sport
Hutchesons' Hospital Transfer and Dissolution (Scotland) Bill
Justice
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing
Local Government and Communities
Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill
Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny
Public Petitions
Rural Economy and Connectivity
Social Security
Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland (Amendment) Bill
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments
Writers to the Signet Dependants' Annuity Fund Amendment (Scotland) Bill

References

"The role of committees". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
"Scottish Parliament committees – what are they and what do they do?" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
"Democracy in Scotland". BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
"Private Bills". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
Buchan, Jamie (26 November 2019). "NHS Tayside chiefs to be quizzed on finances, leadership and mental health in Perth". The Courier. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
"The Conveners Group". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
Davidson, Jenni (17 April 2020). "New Scottish Parliament committee to scrutinise Scottish Government response to coronavirus". Holyrood. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
Scottish Parliament (31 January 2023). "Motion S6M-07746". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 24 February 2023.

External links

Scottish Parliament official site of the Scottish Parliament

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[1] "The role of committees". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[2] "Scottish Parliament committees – what are they and what do they do?" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[CommitteeTypes-3] "Democracy in Scotland". BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[4] "Private Bills". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[5] Buchan, Jamie (26 November 2019). "NHS Tayside chiefs to be quizzed on finances, leadership and mental health in Perth". The Courier. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[6] "The Conveners Group". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[7] Davidson, Jenni (17 April 2020). "New Scottish Parliament committee to scrutinise Scottish Government response to coronavirus". Holyrood. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[8] Scottish Parliament (31 January 2023). "Motion S6M-07746". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 24 February 2023.