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Third sector anger at passes row |
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Monday, 02 June 2008 |
Scotland’s voluntary sector has expressed concern that employees of charity or campaigning organisations might lose access to parliamentary passes.
Currently, individuals working for groups and organisations like unions, environmental bodies, churches and corporate lobbyists are granted ‘regular visitor’ passes that allow limited access to the Parliament if they are sponsored by an MSP and pass a security check.
But some members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, which recently restricted access to the MSP block for these pass holders, have indicated they would like to reduce access even further, or do away with the regular visitor pass system altogether.
The Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, the umbrella body for Scotland’s third sector organisations says the passes are an important element of a functioning civil democracy.
Lucy McTernan, head of corporate affairs for the SCVO said:
"The regular visitor pass system is an important way to ensure that the Scottish Parliament remains transparent and accessible. No one is suggesting we are seeing brown envelopes being passed to MSPs by shady lobbyists. The visitor passes simply allow those whose job requires them to be a bridge between Parliament and wider civil society access to the reception areas of the Parliament without having to be escorted by a member of parliamentary staff.
“It is the same privilege accorded to parliamentary correspondents and journalists, and you can be sure that if they were having their passes taken away they would be complaining loudly about the freedom of the press. I am surprised that the issuing of 24 passes has caused such controversy.”
Privately, some in the voluntary sector claim that parties and individual MSPs are manipulating the passes issues to settle political scores. A number of individuals who have current or previous party political involvement, like SNP Councillor Grant Thoms and Lib Dem Holyrood candidate Alex Cole-Hamilton have been issued passes through their professional employment.
“Of course, some of them who stand as candidates and are involved in party politics use the passes to further their own careers. But the vast majority don’t, they use the passes to engage with MSPs on behalf of concerned communities and individuals. This really isn’t BAE and the Saudis leaning on a government, this is established organisations, whose views are regularly sought by MSPs and committees and government having proper access to the political process.”
But Nationalist MSP Tricia Marwick, who also sits on the SPCB, disputes the argument that regular visitor passes are essential for such groups to interact with MSPs.
“The Parliament is already very open and accessible as are MSPs. The last thing I would try and do is restrict access to the Parliament and if people want to come and see MSPs, I encourage that. But there is no doubt in my mind that regular visitor passes have become a badge of honour among some voluntary organisations to be treasured,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Parliament said:
“The Corporate Body continues to keep the position of Regular Visitor passes under review.”
One person has commented on this article. 1. Third sector anger at passes row
Chris, Unregistered What is required is to increase the number of people who can apply for such regular passes, and take them out of the gift of MSPs. The whole point of Holyrood is that it should be more accessible. We don't want a 'visitors' version of the media Lobby system
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