Back to the Scottish Parliament Procedures Committee Minutes of Proceedings
Archive Home

Business Bulletin 1999-2011

Minutes of Proceedings 1999-2011

Journal of Parliamentary Proceedings Sessions 1 & 2

Committees Sessions 1, 2 & 3

Annual reports

PR/S2/07/1/M

1st Meeting, 2007 (Session 2)

Tuesday 23 January 2007

Present:

Mr Richard Baker
Karen Gillon (Deputy Convener)
Alex Johnstone
Chris Ballance
Donald Gorrie (Convener) 
Kate Maclean

The meeting opened at 10.20 am.

1. Work programme:  The Committee noted its work programme for the remainder of the session.  It agreed that an issue raised by Carolyn Leckie MSP during the Committee’s Chamber debate on 21 December, concerning political balance and committee memberships, should be included in a legacy paper for possible consideration by the Session 3 committee.

2. Legacy paper:  The Committee agreed to produce a legacy paper and to publish it as a Committee report.  It agreed that, in addition to the possible topics of inquiry listed in paper PR/S2/07/1/2, this should refer to a further review of oral questions in the Chamber, and give examples of methods the Committee has used for taking evidence and gathering information.           

3. Electronic voting in committees: The Committee considered a letter from the Conveners’ Group suggesting an amendment to Rule 11.8.3 to enable committees, without the need for a direction by the Parliament, to use the electronic voting system during Stage 2 proceedings.  The Committee agreed that committees should continue to vote by show of hands in all but exceptional circumstances, and that a change to the Rules could therefore not be justified at least until it was possible for electronic voting results to be displayed immediately after a division.  The Convener would reply accordingly to the Conveners’ Group.

The meeting closed at 11.16 am.

Andrew Mylne
Clerk to the Committee