Parliamentary News Release

034/2003

Thursday 29 May 2003

PRESIDING OFFICER GEORGE REID UNVEILS REMIT AND MAKE-UP OF PARLIAMENT’S NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEES

The Presiding Officer George Reid today praised all the parties for their willingness to co-operate and reach agreement on remits, make-up and convenerships of the 16 newly-formed Parliamentary Committees.

He said that the early commitment was an important step forward in delivering “fair shares” in the Parliament and “a place for all” on Committees.

Mr Reid said: “The parties had to give and take on delivering the Committee remit and membership. Real concessions were made in order to meet the needs of the Greens, SSP and Independents.

“ It is now imperative that we get down to business and we can say with clarity that our Committees are prepared for the challenge. The diversity of the new Parliament is reflected in the Committee Convenerships, with the Greens and SSP allocated deputy Convenerships. These parties, together with the Independents, also have representation on 14 Committees.”

He added: “The Committees are the power house of the Parliament. It is only right that that the full spectrum of MSPs’ opinion should be heard in Committee just as they are heard in the Chamber.”

Background

There are eight Mandatory Committees which are stated within the Standing Orders:
1. Audit
2. Equal Opportunities
3. European and External Affairs
4. Finance
5. Procedures
6. Public Petitions
7. Standards
8. Subordinate Legislation

The subject Committees this session will be:
1. Communities
2. Education (to include Young People)
3. Enterprise and Culture (to include Lifelong Learning, Tourism and Sport)
4. Environment and Rural Development
5. Justice 1
6. Justice 2
7. Health (to include Community Care)
8. Local Government and Transport

The Convenership and make up of the Committees will be as follows:

Audit Committee

Convener: Conservative
Deputy Convener: SNP
Members:
3 Labour
1 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 7

Equal Opportunities Committee

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: Liberal Democrat
Members:
4 Labour
1 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
2 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

European and External Affairs Committee

Convener: SNP
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Finance Committee

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: SNP
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Procedures Committee

Convener: Liberal Democrat
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
3 Labour
1 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 7

Public Petitions Committee

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: Conservative
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Standards Committee

Convener: SNP
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
3 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
Total Number of Members: 7

Subordinate Legislation Committee

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: SSP
Members:
3 Labour
1 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 7

Communities

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: Liberal Democrat
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Education

Convener: Liberal Democrat
Deputy Convener: Conservative
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Enterprise and Culture

Convener: SNP
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Environment and Rural Development

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: Green
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Justice 1

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: SNP
Members:
3 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
Total Number of Members: 7

Justice 2

Convener: Conservative
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
3 Labour
1 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 7

Health

Convener: SNP
Deputy Convener: Labour
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

Local Government and Transport

Convener: Labour
Deputy Convener: SNP
Members:
4 Labour
2 SNP
1 Conservative
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Green or independent or SSCUP or SSP
Total Number of Members: 9

For further information the media contact is:

Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6269
Out of hours: 07699 717177
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

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