| sanctions |
Penalties which may be imposed for breaches of parliamentary rules, as in the Code of Conduct for MSPs, and as provided in legislation, the Standing Orders and the Code. Examples are exclusion from proceedings of the Parliament and withdrawal of rights and privileges. |
| schedule 4 |
The schedule to the Scotland Act 1998 which sets out laws which the Parliament cannot change. |
| schedule 5 |
The schedule to the Scotland Act 1998 in which reserved matters are listed. |
| schedule 6 |
The schedule to the Scotland Act 1998 which describes devolution issues and how they are dealt with in the courts. |
| Scotland Act 1998 |
The main legislation of the UK Parliament giving effect to the government's devolution policy in Scotland, enacted on 19 November 1998 (1998 chapter 46). A large amount of subordinate legislation has been made by the UK government under the Act. |
| Scotland Office |
The department of the UK government that represents Scottish interests in matters that are reserved to the UK Parliament under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998. It is headed by the Secretary of State for Scotland and is part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Further information is available on the Scotland Office website. |
| Scottish Administration |
The term used to denote both the political and administrative sides of the Scottish government. As defined in section 126 of the Scotland Act 1998, it includes members of the Scottish Executive, junior Scottish Ministers, certain non-ministerial office-holders (such as the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and the Keeper of the Records of Scotland) and their staff. The definition of the Scottish Administration can be changed by an order in council to add non-ministerial office-holders. |
| Scottish Affairs Committee |
A select committee of the House of Commons appointed to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Scotland Office, including relations with the Scottish Parliament and Administration and expenditure of the offices of the Advocate General for Scotland (but excluding individual cases and advice given within government by the Advocate General). It consists of 11, mostly Scottish, MPs. |
| Scottish budget |
A general term for the Scottish Executive’s expenditure plans and other financial proposals, which would be contained in the annual budget bill. |
| Scottish Commission for Public Audit (SCPA) |
A body established by the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, which has various functions relating to the accounts and audit of Audit Scotland. It consists of the convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Audit Committee and 4 other MSPs appointed by the Scottish Parliament in accordance with standing orders. The SCPA is comparable in some respects to the House of Commons’ Public Accounts Commission. |
| Scottish consolidated fund |
The fund created by the Scotland Act 1998 into which payments are made by the Secretary of State or sums received by the Scottish Administration, and out of which the spending of the Scottish Administration and other statutorily defined bodies comes. |
| Scottish Constitutional Convention (SCC) |
The body composed of a number of Scottish political parties and other public groups and organisations which, from 1989 until 1995, produced the detailed proposals for a devolution scheme which informed the UK government's policy from 1997. |
| Scottish Executive |
As defined in section 44 of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish Executive is the group of senior Ministers in the Scottish government. It comprises the First Minister, other Ministers appointed by the First Minister under section 47 of the Scotland Act 1998, and the 2 Scottish Law Officers (that is, all Ministers in the devolved government other than junior Scottish Ministers). These members of the Executive are known collectively in the Act as ‘the Scottish Ministers’. Informally, the term is frequently used to mean the Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Law Officers and the junior Scottish Ministers, and their staff. |
| Scottish government |
An informal, descriptive term for the Scottish Executive or more widely, for the Scottish Administration. |
| Scottish Grand Committee |
A standing committee of the House of Commons, consisting of all MPs for Scottish seats, together with some additional members. It has a range of functions under standing orders, from holding Ministers to account through questions and debates to scrutiny of certain types of Scottish legislation. |
| Scottish Information Commissioner |
The independent commissioner, appointed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, who is responsible for enforcing and promoting the right to access public information created by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, both of which came into force on 1 January 2005. More information is available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website. |
| Scottish Law Officers |
The Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland are the Law Officers in the devolved Scottish government. (Both were formerly ministerial posts within the UK Government). Both are members of the Scottish Executive, but need not be MSPs. Although they can speak in debates and respond to parliamentary questions, they cannot vote in the Scottish Parliament unless they are MSPs. |
| Scottish ministerial code |
A document first issued in August 1999 and revised in August 2003 by the Scottish Executive which contains a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for its Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers. |
| Scottish Ministers |
The collective term used in section 44(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 for the members of the Scottish Executive who exercise statutory functions, including those transferred from UK Ministers of the Crown. Apart from functions conferred specifically on the First Minister or the Lord Advocate, functions conferred on the Scottish Ministers can be exercised by any member of the Scottish Executive. The First Minister is responsible for allocating, and defining the remit of, ministerial posts. The term ‘the Scottish Ministers’ is also applied colloquially to any Ministers or junior Scottish Ministers. |
| Scottish Office |
The name of the former department of the UK government, under the Secretary of State for Scotland, which dealt with many areas of Scottish government prior to the establishment of devolution. At devolution, it was succeeded at UK level by the Scotland Office and most of its officials transferred to the newly established Scottish Executive. |
| Scottish Parliament (SP) |
The legislature created by the Scotland Act 1998, section 1(1), which states simply: 'There shall be a Scottish Parliament'. Comprising 129 MSPs elected by a form of proportional representation, it has power to pass primary legislation over a wide area of Scottish affairs, and to hold to account the devolved Scottish Administration. |
| Scottish Parliament electronic information resource (SPEIR) |
The Parliament’s intranet. Speir in Scots means to inquire, or, as a noun, inquiry or questioning. |
| Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) |
The office within the Access and Information Directorate comprising the Research Services and Information Services teams, that provides research and information services to parliamentary committees, MSPs, their staff, and other offices within the Parliament. In the House of Commons, these services are provided by the Department of the Library. |
| Scottish Parliament logo |
The Scottish Parliament's official logo comprises two parts: the words ‘The Scottish Parliament’ and a badge made up of the Saltire and a crown. |
| Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) |
The statutory body which performs various functions set out in the Scotland Act 1998, including arranging for the provision of the Parliament’s staff, property and services. Its members are the Presiding Officer and four MSPs appointed in accordance with the Standing Orders (rule 3.6-3.10). It is also known as the parliamentary corporation. |
| Scottish parliamentary pension scheme (SPPS) |
A pension scheme for MSPs, Ministers and various parliamentary office holders. It was initially established primarily by the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1082), which makes special provision for the First Minister and the Presiding Officer. If it wishes, the Parliament can amend the scheme by Act or resolution. |
| Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme Committee |
An ad hoc committee of the Parliament, of 4 members, the remit of the committee is to
inquire into and report with recommendations for a Committee Bill on a replacement for the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme rules and the Grants to Members and Officeholders Order. |
| Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner |
The independent commissioner, appointed under the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, who investigates complaints that MSPs have breached the Code of Conduct. |
| Scottish Public Services Ombudsman |
An office established by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 to look into complaints about Scottish government departments, local authorities, housing associations, other public bodies, and the National Health Service in Scotland. In its functions, it replaces the following ombudsmen: the Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland, the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland (Local Government Ombudsman), and the Housing Association Ombudsman for Scotland. More information is available on the website of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. |
| Scottish statutory instrument (SSI) |
The main legislative form for legislation made, confirmed or approved by the Scottish Ministers and others, within devolved competence. Like UK statutory instruments, they are subject to specific requirements in terms of their form and publication. SSIs are numbered consecutively for each calendar year (e.g. 2000 no. 23 or 2000/23) and are published on the Office of Public Sector Information website. |
| secondary committee |
A committee within whose remit an item or matter falls, but which is not the designated lead committee. The secondary committee, if it wishes to report on the item or matter, does so to the lead committee rather than to the Parliament. |
| secondary legislation |
Legislation made by a Minister or other person or body under powers granted in an Act. Secondary legislation is also called subordinate legislation or delegated legislation. It is most often in the form of rules, regulations or orders and is often made by statutory instrument. |
| Secretary of State for Scotland |
The head of the Scotland Office and the senior Minister of the UK Government dealing with Scottish matters. The Secretary of State for Scotland has been a member of the UK Cabinet since the 1920s. Before devolution, the Secretary of State for Scotland was the political head of the Scottish Office. |
| section |
A piece of text in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, consisting of one or more sentences gathered together under a section title. Sections are numbered. Some Acts also contain schedules, which are set out at the end of an Act. In a Westminster bill, the equivalent to a section is known as a clause. |
| Security Office |
The office within the Access and Information Directorate that is responsible for protecting the Parliament’s assets and property, and for establishing a safe and secure environment throughout the parliamentary complex. It also provides a messenger service for MSPs in committees and during plenary sessions. |
| selection of amendments |
The power of the Presiding Officer at Stage 3 of a bill to decide which of the admissible amendments lodged for Stage 3 are to be debated. Selection criteria are set out in the Scottish Parliament’s Guidance on Public Bills. |
| selection panel |
A group of MSPs, established by rule 3.11 of the Standing Orders, whose purpose is to nominate a person for appointment by the Queen. The panel consists of the Presiding Officer, the convener of a committee and between 4 and 7 other MSPs appointed by the Presiding Officer, having regard to the balance of political parties in the Parliament. |
| Senior Management Team |
SMT is the main management group for the Scottish Parliament. It consists of the Clerk, the 5 Directors and 9 other senior members of Parliament staff. Its function is to advise the Clerk on a variety of management issues, including the development and implementation of policies across the organisation. |
| session |
The period from the date of first meeting of the Parliament following a general election until it is dissolved. This period is normally just under four years, unless there is an extraordinary general election. Note that a session of the UK Parliament is usually of approximately a year’s duration (unless before or after a general election, for example), and that the Westminster equivalent of a Scottish Parliament session is usually described as ‘a parliament’ (a period of a maximum of five years). |
| Session 1 Committees |
Mandatory committees: Audit Committee; Equal Opportunities Committee; European Committee (succeeded by European and External Relations Committee on 5 March 2003); European and External Relations Committee; Finance Committee; Procedures Committee; Public Petitions Committee; Standards Committee; Subordinate Legislation Committee. Subject committees: Education, Culture and Sport Committee; Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee; Health and Community Care Committee; Justice and Home Affairs Committee (became Justice 1 Committee in January 2001); Justice 1 Committee; Justice 2 Committee; Local Government Committee; Rural Affairs Committee (became Rural Development Committee in January 2001); Rural Development Committee; Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee (became Social Justice Committee in January 2001); Social Justice Committee; Transport and the Environment Committee. Bill committees: Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill Committee; National Galleries of Scotland Bill Committee; Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill Committee; Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Bill Committee; Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee. |
| Session 2 Committees |
Mandatory committees: Audit Committee; Equal Opportunities Committee; European and External Relations Committee; Finance Committee; Procedures Committee; Public Petitions Committee; Standards Committee (succeeded by Standards and Public Appointments Committee on 18 March 2005); Subordinate Legislation Committee. Subject Committees: Communities Committee; Education Committee; Enterprise and Culture Committee; Environment and Rural Development Committee; Health Committee; Justice 1 Committee; Justice 2 Committee; Local Government and Transport Committee. Sub-Committees: Justice 2 Sub-Committee. Adhoc Committees: Adhoc Standards Committee. Bill Committees: Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee; Baird Trust Reorganisation Bill Committee; Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee; Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee; Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee; Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee; Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee; Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill Committee; Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Bill Committee. |
| Sewel convention |
A convention developed by the UK Government to the effect that Westminster will not normally legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the Parliament. Subsequently extended to include Westminster legislation to alter the extent of the Parliament’s legislative competence or the devolved competence of the Executive. Named after Lord Sewel, junior Scottish Office minister during the passage of the Scotland Bill. See also Legislative Consent Memorandum, Legislative Consent Motion. |
| Sewel motion |
See Legislative Consent Motion |
| shadow |
An informal term for opposition frontbench posts or structures mirroring those in the government (as in shadow minister, shadow cabinet). It is derived from Westminster parliamentary practice. |
| Short money |
The colloquial name for the scheme of financial assistance for opposition parties in the House of Commons. Therefore it is sometimes loosely used as a colloquial term for the scheme of assistance for registered non-Executive political parties in the Scottish Parliament that was established initially under the Scottish Parliament (Assistance for Registered Political Parties) Order 1999. |
| simple majority |
When the number of members voting for a proposition is more than the number of members voting against it. No account is taken in this context of those voting to abstain, or not voting. Most Parliamentary decisions that are taken by division require only a simple majority. See also absolute majority. |
| sitting day |
Under the Standing Orders, a day when the Office of the Clerk is open, but not when the Parliament is in recess or dissolved. Meetings of the Parliament normally take place on a sitting day during the normal parliamentary week. Committee meetings are not restricted to sitting days. |
| Solicitor General for Scotland |
The junior Scottish Law Officer. The Solicitor General for Scotland is a member of the Scottish Executive, but not a member of the Scottish Cabinet. |
| SPCB Question Time |
Under rule 3.9 of the Standing Orders, a period of up to 15 minutes when oral questions to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body are taken. Questions may be answered by any member of the SPCB. Questions are selected at random by computer. |
| SPCB's further expenditure plan |
A spending plan provided by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to the Parliament’s Finance Committee and to the Scottish Executive by 20 August each year (or by the first sitting day thereafter). It is provided under the written agreement between the SPCB and the Committee (SP Paper 156, June 2000) and reflects any changes in the SPCB’s provisional expenditure plan. |
| SPCB's provisional expenditure plan |
A spending plan provided by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to the Parliament’s Finance Committee and to the Scottish Executive by 1 March each year (or by the first sitting day thereafter) under the written agreement between the SPCB and the Committee (SP Paper 156, June 2000). |
| special adviser |
A temporary civil servant appointed by the First Minister or the Deputy First Minister to advise Ministers on matters where the work of government and the work of the government parties overlap. Unlike permanent civil servants, special advisers do not have to behave with political impartiality, and must leave their posts if the First Minister or Deputy First Minister who appointed them leaves office. |
| special rules |
The rules of legislative procedure in rules 9.14-9.21 of the Standing Orders which apply to particular types of bills (such as members’ bills, committee bills and emergency bills) and, in cases of conflict, supersede the general rules of rules 9.2-9.13. The rules for private bills are in chapter 9A. |
| SPICe The Information Centre |
An office within the Access and Information Directorate that provides facts, analysis, briefings; research; news and current affairs; impartial expertise and other information services. |
| sponsorship |
A registrable interest, for the purposes of the Code of Conduct for MSPs and related legislation, where an MSP receives any financial or material support on a continuing basis to assist him or her as an MSP. |
| staff of the Parliament |
The Clerk of the Parliament and other officials provided by the SPCB for the Parliament’s purposes. As such, they are public servants rather than civil servants. |
| staff of the Scottish Administration |
Civil servants appointed by the Scottish Ministers or by office-holders in the Scottish Administration. They are members of the unified UK Civil Service, the management of which is a reserved matter, although various functions are delegated to the First Minister. It does not include Scottish Parliament staff, who are appointed by the SPCB. |
| Stage 1 |
In the procedure for a public bill, Stage 1 is the consideration of, and decision on, the bill's general principles (rule 9.6). |
| Stage 2 |
In the procedure for a public bill, Stage 2 is a consideration and amendment of the details of a bill by a parliamentary committee (or committees) or in a committee of the whole Parliament (rule 9.7). |
| Stage 3 |
In the procedure for a public bill, Stage 3 is the final consideration and amendment of a bill and the decision whether it should be passed or rejected (rule 9.8). |
| stages of private bills |
The various formal stages of consideration of a private bill by the Parliament: Preliminary Stage, Consideration Stage, Final Stage and, if necessary, Reconsideration Stage (rules 9A.7-9A.11). |
| stages of public bills |
The various formal stages of consideration of a public bill by the Parliament. Stage 1 is a consideration of, and a decision on, a bill’s general principles. Stage 2 is a consideration and amendment of the details of a bill by a parliamentary committee (or committees) or in a Committee of the Whole Parliament. Stage 3 is the final consideration and amendment of a bill and a decision whether it should be passed or rejected. There may also be a Reconsideration Stage if necessary (rules 9.5-9.8). |
| stages of the budget process |
The 3 stages of the annual budgeting process in the Parliament, based on the report of the Financial Issues Advisory Group, and set out in the written agreement between the Parliament and the Scottish Ministers (SP Paper 155, June 2000). Stage 1 is a consideration of spending strategy, to enable the Parliament to express its views on the Scottish Ministers’ future expenditure priorities. Stage 2 is a consideration by the Parliament of the Scottish Ministers’ detailed spending proposals for the next financial year. Stage 3 is parliamentary consideration of the annual budget bill. |
| Standards and Public Appointments Committee |
A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 7 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on 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; the adoption, amendment and application of any Code of Conduct for members; and matters relating to public appointments in Scotland. 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. The committee must be established within 21 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election. Until 18 March 2005, this committee was known as the Standards Committee. Merged with the Procedures Committee on 27 September 2007. |
| Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee |
Formed as a result of the merger between the Standards and Public Appointments Committee and the Procedures Committee on 27 September 2007. A mandatory Committee of 7 members. The remit of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is to consider and report on the practice and procedures of the Parliament in relation to its business; 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; the adoption, amendment and application of any Code of Conduct for members; and matters relating to public appointments in Scotland. 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 (SOs) |
The rules of procedure which govern the proceedings of the Parliament and many aspects of the internal operation of the Parliament and its proceedings. The initial set of standing orders was contained in a UK statutory instrument (SI 1999/1095), but, following a review, the Parliament itself agreed a new set on 9 December 1999, which came into force on 17 December 1999. These have subsequently been revised on a number of occasions, always following recommendations by the Procedures Committee. |
| statement |
An oral contribution during a meeting of the Parliament that does not arise out of a question or motion before the Parliament. It does not include points of order, Time for Reflection or remarks from the Chair. The main examples are personal statements and ministerial statements.
In a more technical sense, ‘statement’ has the same meaning for the purposes of the Standing Orders as it has in section 17(1) of the Defamation Act 1996, that is, words, pictures, visual images, gestures or any other method of signifying meaning. |
| statement on legislative competence |
See Executive statement on legislative competence.
See Presiding Officer's statement on legislative competence. |
| statute law repeals bill |
A bill whose purpose is to repeal spent enactments (i.e. legislation that has become obsolete or otherwise unnecessary), in accordance with recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission. Such bills have special legislative procedures (rule 9.19). |
| statute law repeals committee |
A committee established by the Parliament to consider a statute law repeals bill. |
| statute law revision bill |
A bill whose purpose is to revise statute law both by repealing laws no longer in force or which have become unnecessary and by re-enacting provisions of UK Acts or Acts of the Scottish Parliament which have otherwise become spent (rule 9.20). |
| statute law revision committee |
A committee established by the Parliament to consider a statute law revision bill. |
| statutory instrument |
The principal legislative form for legislation made by Ministers and others under powers delegated by an Act. Statutory instruments are subject to specific requirements in terms of their form and publication. See also Scottish statutory instrument. |
| sub judice rule |
This rule requires that a matter in relation to which legal proceedings are active (as defined in rule 7.5.2) may not be referred to in proceedings of the Parliament, except in so far as is permitted by the Presiding Officer. The rule does not itself prevent the Parliament from legislating about any matter. |
| sub-committee |
A body established by a parliamentary committee, with the approval of the Parliament, to consider and report to the committee on a matter within its remit. Normally, only members of the committee (other than committee substitutes) may be members of its sub-committees. The duration of a sub-committee is decided by the Parliament on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau. |
| subject committee |
A committee, other than a mandatory committee, established by the Parliament to deal with a particular subject. Currently there are 8 subject committees. |
| subordinate legislation |
Legislation made by a Minister or another authorised person, using powers granted under primary legislation, such as an Act of the Scottish or UK Parliament. Acts often require that subordinate legislation is made in the form of a statutory instrument which means it must be made and published in a specific form. Most statutory instruments are subject to some form of parliamentary scrutiny and control. See also affirmative instrument and negative instrument. |
| Subordinate Legislation Committee |
A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 7 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on subordinate legislation laid before the Parliament, any Scottish Statutory Instrument not laid before the Parliament but classed as general according to its subject matter, and, in particular, to determine whether the attention of Parliament should be drawn to any of the matters mentioned in Rule 10.3.1; proposed powers to make subordinate legislation in particular Bills or other proposed legislation; general questions relating to powers to make subordinate legislation; and whether any proposed delegated powers in particular Bills or other legislation should be expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation. The committee must be established within 21 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election. |
| super-affirmative procedure |
This procedure provides for a greater degree of parliamentary scrutiny than is the case with instruments subject to ordinary affirmative resolution procedures. With orders subject to super-affirmative procedure, the Parliament is given the opportunity to comment on the proposals for a draft instrument before the instrument is laid and Ministers have to make a statement on how the Parliament's comments have been reflected in the instrument when it is formally laid. |
| Support Fund - Employees and Contingencies |
Under the members' allowances scheme, the fund from which a number of employee and local office support costs are met. |
| suspension of the Standing Orders |
A mechanism to allow normal procedures to be dispensed with or varied, using rule 17.2. Rules may only be suspended or varied where so doing is consistent with the terms of the Scotland Act 1998 which specifies a number of things that the Standing Orders must do. |
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