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 up 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 Karen Adam 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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