Chamber and committees

The convenors of all the parliamentary committees were asked in June 2001 to identify individuals who might be considered for appointment as an Independent Assessor.

None of the convenors of the parliamentary committees replied to the invitation to identify individuals who might be considered for appointment as an Independent Assessor.

The proposal to introduce strip stamps for spirits is a reserved matter. I understand that Customs and Excise will carry out an economic impact assessment after evaluating the responses to their consultation.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the formal consultation on the costs, benefits and practicalities of introducing a tax system for spirits.

Before the summer recess.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22755 on 25 February 2002.

Assessors have been appointed twice during the past three years. In 2000, the Minister for Finance invited nominations from the Conservative and Scottish National Parties by writing to their parliamentary spokesmen. He also asked the Convenor of the Equal Opportunities Committee for nominations. Decisions were announced by means of an answer to a written question S1W-13732 on 1 March 2001. A news release was also issued on the same date. In 2001, a system along the lines outlined in the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice was used. Nominations were invited from a wide group of organisations and individuals, including the Convenors of the Parliament's subject committees. Of the 27 applications received, 11 declared having undertaken political activities on behalf of the Labour Party and one on behalf of the SNP. The remaining 15 applicants had not undertaken any political activities.Details of an individual's political affiliations are not recorded because it would be inappropriate for an individual's voting preferences to be known.

Under the terms of the Scottish Ministerial Code, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister must be consulted about all major appointments and are bound equally by the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, as are all ministers.

Although none of the organisations approached submitted nominations, we understand that individuals were notified that a competition to fill these vacancies was underway. The range of applicants in terms of their backgrounds and geographical locations indicate that a large constituency of people were alerted to these vacancies. The applicants who applied for the Independent Assessor posts did so on their own behalf.

I refer to the member to the answer given to question S1W-22756.