Committee News Release
02/2003
Friday18 July 2003
PROCEDURES COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INQUIRY
INTO ORAL QUESTIONING IN THE CHAMBER
The Scottish Parliament’s newly established Procedures Committee today announced an open call for evidence for its inquiry into oral questions in the Chamber.
The inquiry will consider how, when and what oral questions are asked and answered in the Chamber.
Please note: Full details of the inquiry and the evidence being sought
can be found on the Scottish Parliament website.
Views are being sought from across Scotland – especially from
members of the public who watch Parliamentary proceedings, as well
as broadcasters and other businesses.
Committee Convener Iain Smith said:
“Various proposals have already been suggested for possible changes to Question Time and First Minister’s Question Time. Question Time is a vital aspect of Parliamentary scrutiny and our Committee is keen to hear from as wide a range of people as possible on this matter.”
The inquiry is expected to begin in September and be completed by the end of the year. During that period, it is expected that the Committee will consult widely on a number of specific options for change.
Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Committee. Submissions should not normally be more than 6 sides of A4. The closing date for evidence is Monday 1 September 2003. Wherever possible, please email submissions in word format to: Procedures.committee@scottish.parliament.uk
Where email is not available, please contact Lewis McNaughton, Assistant Clerk to the Procedures Committee to make alternative arrangements:
Room 5.19
Parliamentary Headquarters
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH99 1 SP
Tel: 0131 318 5178 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)
Fax: 0131 348 5088
Email: lewis.mcnaughton@scottish.parliament.uk
BACKGROUND
Currently, the Parliamentary rules allow for a weekly Question Time of up to 40 minutes of randomly selected questions to Executive Ministers and up to 20 minutes of up to six questions to the First Minister, selected by the Presiding Officer. Both these sessions usually occur on a Thursday afternoon and supplementary questions can be asked. The rules also allow for occasional ‘emergency questions’ to the Executive or the Presiding Officer for SPCB matters.
Full details of the Committee’s inquiry can be found on the Scottish Parliament website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/procedures/index.htm
All Main Chamber, Committee Room 1, and Committee Room 2 proceedings are televised by the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit through www.scottishparliamentlive.com. This includes Question Time.
For further information, the media contact is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6269 (RNID Typetalk calls
welcome)
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0845 270 0152 (Local rate)/ 0845 270 0152 (local rate) (RNID Typetalk calls welcome)
Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk