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Guidance on Committees

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Foreword
1.9 Equalities

2. ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Establishment of committees
2.8 Sub-committees
2.11 Membership
2.14 Changes in membership
2.16 Appointment of conveners and deputy conveners
2.26 Temporary conveners
2.29 Committee substitutes

3. WHAT COMMITTEES DO

3.1 Work of committees
3.6 Competence
3.9 Joint consideration by committee

4. COMMITTEE MEETINGS

4.1 Committee work programme
4.5 Agendas
4.10 Timing and location of meetings
4.16 Public and private meetings
4.22 Participation in committee meetings
4.27 The role of the convener in meetings
4.30 Declaration of interests
4.36 Quorum
4.38 Conduct during committee meetings
4.43 Sub judice
4.44 Privilege
4.49 Decisions and voting
4.55 Suspension and closure of meeting
4.60 Procedural Issues
Suspension/variation of Standing Orders
4.61 Points of Order
4.62 Access to information about committee proceedings
The public gallery
4.64 Minutes of committee meeting
4.65 Official Report
4.68 Broadcasting
4.69 Committee annual reports
4.70 Parliament’s website
4.71 Staff at committee meetings
Clerks
4.75 Official reports
4.76 Broadcasters
4.77 Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe)staff
4.79 Legal advisers
4.80 Security staff
4.81 Advisers

5. COMMITTEE INQUIRIES

5.1 Purpose of inquiries
5.2 Planning an inquiry
5.12 Witnesses
5.18 Launching the inquiry
5.20 Written evidence
5.26 Oral evidence
5.42 Witness expenses
5.44 Other information gathering
5.52 Advisers
5.55 Reporters
5.59 Committee reports
5.70 Publishing reports
5.76 Scottish Government responses to committee reports
5.79 Debate of committee reports
5.81 Reports by secondary committees
5.85 Follow up work

6. SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION

6.1 General
6.4 Subordinate Legislation Committee
6.5 Negative procedure
6.12 Affirmative procedure

7. OTHER COMMITTEE WORK

7.1 Scottish Bills
7.4 Petitions
7.8 Budget scrutiny
7.12 Evidence taking which is not part of inquiries
7.13 Legislative Consent Memorandum

ANNEXES

Annexe A Presiding Officer’s Guidance on Behaviour for Members of the Public
Annexe B Rules for the prioritisation for the publication of Official Reports of committee meetings
Annexe C External meetings policy
Annexe D Guidance on inviting witnesses to give evidence in formal committee meetings
Annexe E Recording informal meetings
Annexe F Good practice note on the publication of reports from secondary committees
Annexe G The Conveners Group

Version No 2

19 September 2006 - Approved by the Procedures Committee

15 November 2006 - First went on website

28 September 2007 – Updated

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