Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee 3rd Report, 2015 (Session 4) Legislation and the Scottish Parliament

Published by the Scottish Parliament on 20 March 2015

SP Paper 697

Session 4 (2015)

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Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee 3rd Report, 2015 (Session 4) CONTENTS

Remit and membership Report Conclusions and recommendations Introduction Views we heard Improved information and consultation Clearer, more accessible information Improved consultations Publishing bills in draft form Pre-legislative scrutiny People giving evidence at committee meetings Improving accompanying documents Final comments on engagement Improved information and consultation – summary Time available to consider bills Overall time to consider bills Improved information on bill timetables Increasing the minimum gap between stages 2 and 3 Options for a new minimum gap Flexible gap Deciding the gap between stages 2 and 3 Gap between stages 1 and 2 Time available to consider bills – summary Making amendments easier to understand Purpose and effect notes Deciding on amendments in group order Improved information Packages of amendments Deadlines for lodging amendments Lodging deadline at stage 2

1 3 3 4 5 5 7 9 9 10 11 13 14 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 23 24 24 26 27 28 28 29

Lodging deadline at stage 3 Scottish Government convention for lodging amendments Making amendments easier to understand – summary Improving stage 3 Timing of the debate Link between stages 2 and 3 New issues at stage 3 Stage 3 amendments over more than one day Splitting amendments and the debate at stage 3 Improving stage 3 – summary Other changes to procedures Delegated powers memorandums covering all delegated powers Rules on producing delegated powers memorandums Timing of revised or supplementary documents Next steps Implementation Timing Monitoring Appendix 1: a short guide to the legislation process Appendix 2: views on the legislation process Appendix 3: list of proposed Standing Orders changes

30 30 31 32 32 33 35 35 37 40 40 41 41 42 43 43 43 43 45 46 47

Annexe A: Extracts from minutes

48

Annexe B: Oral and associated written evidence

51

Annexe C: Written evidence

52

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Remit and membership Remit:

1. The remit of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is to consider and report on— (a) the practice and procedures of the Parliament in relation to its business; (b) whether a member‘s conduct is in accordance with these Rules and any Code of Conduct for members, matters relating to members‘ interests, and any other matters relating to the conduct of members in carrying out their Parliamentary duties; (c) the adoption, amendment and application of any Code of Conduct for members; and (d) matters relating to public appointments in Scotland. 2. Where the Committee considers it appropriate, it may by motion recommend that a member's rights and privileges be withdrawn to such extent and for such period as are specified in the motion.

(Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament, Rule 6.4)

Membership: George Adam Cameron Buchanan Helen Eadie (until 9 November 2013) Patricia Ferguson (from 8 January 2015) Cara Hilton (from 19 December 2013 to 8 January 2015) Richard Lyle (until 27 November 2014) Margaret McDougall Fiona McLeod (until 18 December 2014)

Gil Paterson (from 8 January 2015) Stewart Stevenson (Convener) (from 7 November 2013) Dave Thompson (until 7 Novem