Wider committee reforms needed

MSPs have rejected plans to introduce elected conveners to Scottish Parliament committees, instead claiming wider reforms are needed to enable them to hold government to account.

Committees are currently chaired by a nominee of a political party based on share of seats, but outgoing Presiding Officer had asked the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee to look at introducing elected conveners, a system which has been established at Westminster.

The committee system at Holyrood has been criticised since the SNP won an overall majority because it enables the party to get legislation through committee scrutiny by outvoting the opposition.

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SPPA convener Stewart Stevenson said: “The Scottish Parliament’s committee system plays a crucial role in scrutinising legislation and holding the Scottish Government to account.  

“During our evidence we heard about the benefits that elected conveners had brought to the House of Commons. We also heard that change is needed in the Scottish Parliament committee system. But the Westminster system is very different and we are not convinced that these changes would have the same impact here. 

“Instead, it became increasingly clear that to the Committee that elected conveners are not the right first step to wider reform.  There are other issues which should be considered first. 

“There is no doubt that the time for reform is now, in readiness for the next session of Parliament.  That is why our Committee has agreed to begin a focussed discussion about the steps needed to strengthen committees’ ability to scrutinise legislation and policy, and hold the Government to account.”

The committee will now undertake an inquiry which will report by the end of the year, with the hope new procedures can be in place for the next session of parliament.