Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Minutes: 30 May 2024
Thursday, 30 May 2024
15th Meeting, 2024
Minutes
1. Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.
2. Cross-Party Group:
The Committee considered an application for recognition from the proposed Cross-Party Group on Brain Tumours, and took evidence from—
Beatrice Wishart, Convener of the proposed CPG on Brain Tumours, Scottish Parliament.
3. Cross-Party Group - approval:
The Committee agreed to accord recognition to the proposed Cross-Party Group on Brain Tumours.
4. Cross-Party Group - approval of name change:
The Committee approved a proposed name change from the Cross-Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Misuse to the Cross-Party Group on Substance Use.
5. Annual report:
The Committee considered and agreed its draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 13 May 2023 to 12 May 2024.
6. Cross-Party Group - complaint:
The Committee considered a complaint in relation to the Cross-Party Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation. The Committee found that breaches of Section 6 of the Code of Conduct had occurred in respect of the failure to submit an Annual Return and to provide advance notification of a meeting to the timescales set out in the Code. The Committee agreed to write to the Conveners of the Cross-Party Group on Commercial Sexual Reference Exploitation to remind them of their responsibility to ensure that the Group operates in compliance with the Code. The Committee also agreed to write to the complainant.
7. Standing Order Rule Changes (In Private): Elected Conveners
The Committee considered written evidence and agreed to incorporate further consideration of this issue into its forthcoming work on committee effectiveness.
8. ‘A Parliament for All’ (In Private): Report of the Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit
The Committee gave further consideration of recommendations in the Gender Sensitive Audit report and agreed to write to the Presiding Officer.
9. Procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills (In Private):
The Committee considered Standing Order procedures on consent in relation to UK Parliament Bills.