| Cabinet |
The group of senior Ministers of the Scottish government appointed by the First Minister under section 47 of the Scotland Act 1998. It normally comprises all the members of the Scottish Executive, apart from the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. (The term ‘Cabinet’ is not used in the Scotland Act 1998.) |
| Cabinet Minister |
A senior minister appointed to the Cabinet by the First Minister. |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning |
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning is responsible for further and higher education, science and lifelong learning, school education, training and skills, HM Inspectorate of Education and the Scottish Qualifications Authority, nurseries and childcare, children's services, children's hearings, social work and HM Social Work Inspectorate. |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth |
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth is responsible for the economy, the Scottish Budget, public service reform, de-regulation, local government, public service delivery, cities and community planning, GRO, ROS, relocation, e-government, SPPA, procurement, budgetary monitoring, business and industry including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise' trade and inward investment, corporate social responsibility, voluntary sector and the social economy, community business and co-operative development, European Structural Funds, energy, tourism, land use planning system, climate change, building standards, transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services, air and ferry services, Scottish Water. |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing |
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing is responsible for the NHS, health service reform, allied healthcare services, acute and primary services, performance, quality and improvement framework, health promotion, sport, public health, health improvement, pharmaceutical services, food safety and dentistry, community care, older people, mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, social inclusion, equalities, anti-poverty measures, housing and regeneration |
| Cabinet Secretary for Justice |
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice is responsible for criminal law and procedure, youth justice, criminal justice social work, police, prisons and sentencing policy, legal aid, legal profession, courts and law reform, anti-social behaviour, sectarianism, human rights, fire and rescue services, community safety, civil contingencies, drugs policy and related matters, liquor licensing, vulnerable witnesses, victim support and civil law, charity law, religious and faith organisations |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment |
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is responsible for agriculture, fisheries and rural development including aquaculture and forestry, environment and natural heritage, land reform, water quality regulation and sustainable development |
| Cabinet sub-committee |
A group established by the Cabinet to consider matters that fall within the remit of several Ministers or that need to be considered collectively over a period of time. Cabinet sub-committees bring together 2 or more Ministers (and can include external members), but their size, membership and duration may vary. They may have decision-making or resource-allocation powers conferred on them by Cabinet. A list of current Cabinet sub-committees can be found on the Scottish Executive website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/). |
| Cannonball House |
One of the buildings around the Royal Mile providing temporary accommodation for the Scottish Parliament. It has been used primarily by the Education Service. |
| Canongate Buildings |
The two buildings within the Parliament complex situated at the foot of the Canongate. BIT, Finance, SPICe and Procurement have offices in these buildings. |
| Canongate Wall |
The boundary wall which runs down to the foot of the Canongate along the façade of the Canongate buildings. |
| Chamber |
See Debating Chamber. |
| Chamber Desk |
The section of the Chamber Office that processes, and advises on the processing of, parliamentary questions, motions and amendments to motions, and produces the Written Answers Report. In the House of Commons, parliamentary questions and motions are dealt with by the Table Office. |
| Chamber Office |
The office within the Directorate of Clerking and Reporting that provides clerking support for meetings of the Parliament; for the Parliamentary Bureau; and for the European and External Relations, Procedures, Standards, Subordinate Legislation and Public Petitions Committees. It operates through nine teams, which advise on rules of procedure; maintain the register of members’ interests, members’ staff interests and cross-party groups; advise on standards issues; deal with the pre-introductory stages of bills and provide support for the different stages of public bills (including committee and members’ bills) and private bills. The office also handles petitions to the Parliament and manages the systems for lodging parliamentary questions, motions and amendments to motions. |
| Changing to Deliver |
Changing to Deliver was launched in January 2003 and is the Scottish Executive's corporate culture change programme. Its aim is to ensure that the Executive is fit to deliver the Partnership for a Better Scotland. |
| Chief Executive |
See Clerk of the Parliament. |
| civil servants |
Officials of the executive arm of government. Staff of the Scottish Executive and related Scottish bodies (known formally as staff of the Scottish Administration) are members of the UK Home Civil Service (section 51, Scotland Act 1998). |
| Claim of Right |
The declaration of Scotland’s constitutional rights and liberties that the former Parliament of Scotland made following the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 (akin to the English Parliament’s Bill of Rights). The term is also used for the declaration that the Scottish Constitutional Convention issued in 1989 in favour of a Scottish assembly based on popular sovereignty. |
| clerk |
An official of the Parliament who provides procedural and administrative support to the Parliament or to a committee of the Parliament. |
| Clerk of the Parliament |
The senior official of the Parliament’s administration, formally described in the legislation as the Clerk of the Parliament (section 20, Scotland Act 1998). Under delegation from the SPCB, he or she is responsible for providing the Parliament with the property, staff and services it requires. The Clerk also acts as the principal adviser to the Presiding Officer and his deputies in the management of Parliament business; and, as Principal Accountable Officer, he or she signs the accounts of the SPCB and reports to the Parliament on the management of the financial resources put at his or her disposal. The position is similar to that of the Clerk of the House in the House of Commons and the Clerk of the Parliaments in the House of Lords. |
| coalition |
A formal arrangement between 2 or more of the parties or groupings represented in the Scottish Parliament to combine to form a government. It is generally expected that coalitions will occur when no single party has an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed coalition governments after the elections in 1999 and 2003. |
| code of behaviour for the public |
A code introduced by the Presiding Officer detailing acceptable behaviour for members of the public attending meetings of the Parliament or committee meetings. |
| code of conduct |
A code of rules and guidance on standards of conduct by MSPs in carrying out their parliamentary duties, agreed by the Parliament following a motion from the Standards Committee. It was adopted by the Parliament on 24 February 2000, with immediate effect. The second edition of this code was published on 1 May 2003. The third edition of this code was published on 4 May 2007. The Standing Orders also provide for a code of conduct on the broadcasting of the Parliament’s proceedings (rule 16.4). |
| codification bill |
A bill that comprehensively restates and, if necessary, clarifies and simplifies the existing law in a particular area, making it legislation rather than common law. |
| Commissioner for Children and Young People |
An independent commissioner appointed under the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003 to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people.Further information is available on the Commissioner's website (http://www.cypcommissioner.org/). |
| Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland |
An independent commissioner, appointed under the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, whose role is to monitor, report and advise on ministerial appointments to public bodies in Scotland. More information is available on the website of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. |
| committee |
A body, normally of between 5 and 15 MSPs, chaired by a convener, formed to deal with particular parliamentary business, such as inquiries into Scottish Executive policies and actions, consideration of subordinate legislation, and detailed scrutiny of bills. Subject to the terms of its remit, a committee may propose legislation, as well as scrutinise bills introduced by the Executive or by members. Most committees are either mandatory committees or subject committees, although ad hoc committees may also be established. The remit of each mandatory committee is set out in the Standing Orders; other committees’ remits are set out in the resolution by which they are established. |
| committee bill |
A public bill introduced by the convener of a committee under rule 9.15.7 of the Standing Orders to give effect to a proposal for legislation from the committee that the Parliament has agreed to. |
| Committee Chambers |
One of the buildings around the Royal Mile used as temporary offices for the Scottish Parliament, housing the committee rooms, the Visitor Centre, offices, and the Shop. |
| Committee of the Whole Parliament |
Stage 2 of a bill may be taken, in whole or in part, in plenary session rather than in committee. Emergency bills must be taken in plenary session. The Presiding Officer is the convener of a Committee of the Whole Parliament. |
| Committee Office |
One of the 3 offices of the Clerking and Reporting Directorate, it supports the work of many of the committees and Stage 2 of the passage of a bill. |
| committee rooms |
There are 6 committee rooms in the Parliament building, 2 large and 4 smaller ones. They are used for committee meetings and other events. They seat between 30 and 60 members of the public and media. |
| committee substitute |
An MSP who substitutes for any other MSP from his or her party on a particular committee, as set out in rule 6.3A of the Standing Orders. Only parties with 5 or more MSPs may nominate substitutes. A committee substitute cannot be nominated for a private bill committee. An MSP cannot be nominated to be a committee substitute for more than 1 committee or for the members of a committee of which he or she is a member. |
| Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) |
An organisation representing the parliaments of the Commonwealth states, of which the Scottish Parliament is a member. |
| community law |
Those legal rights and obligations arising from European Union treaties and related legislation. Sometimes called EU, EC or European law. |
| competent matters |
Matters within the remit of any particular committee of the Parliament, as set out in the Standing Orders for mandatory committees, or in the resolution that established the committee (in the case of subject committees and others). |
| complaint |
For the purposes of the Code of Conduct for MSPs, a complaint is a formal communication by any person about the conduct of an MSP in relation to the Code. Section 9 of the Code provides guidance as to the making of complaints in particular circumstances. Complaints are investigated by the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. |
| concordat |
One of a series of bilateral or multilateral agreements between the devolved administrations and the UK Government. Concordats are made under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was first published on 1 October 1999. Their purpose is to promote co-operation and communication and they are not intended to be legally binding. A list of concordats between the Scottish Executive and UK Government departments is published on the Scottish Executive website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/concordats/). |
| confidence of the Parliament |
When a motion of no confidence (rule 8.12) is passed, stating that the Scottish Executive no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament, all Ministers in the Scottish Administration (including junior Scottish Ministers) are required by the Scotland Act 1998 to resign (section 45(2), section 47(3)(c), section 48(2), Scotland Act 1998). When such a motion directed at a named minister is passed, no such statutory obligation arises, but that minister would be expected to resign. Motions of no confidence must be debated if supported by at least 25 members. The Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officer can be removed from office if the Parliament so decides by an absolute majority (rule 3.5) |
| Consideration Stage |
In the procedure for a private bill, Consideration Stage is the stage for detailed consideration of the bill's provisions (rule 9A.9). |
| consolidation bill |
A bill whose purpose is to restate the law, with or without amendment, based on recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission or of the Commission and its England and Wales counterpart jointly. Such bills are subject to a special form of legislative process (rule 9.18). |
| consolidation committee |
A committee established to consider a consolidation bill. |
| constituency |
An electoral area which elects a single MSP using the first-past-the-post system. |
| constituency member |
An MSP elected using the first-past-the-post voting system for 1 of the 73 single-member constituencies. |
| consultation document |
A document prepared to obtain views from the public and selected organisations on a particular issue. For example, a document prepared by a member to obtain views on the member's draft proposal for a member's bill or a document prepared by a committee to obtain views on a particular issue. The Scottish Executive also publishes consultation documents. |
| Consultative Steering Group (CSG) |
The group set up by the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1998 to bring together views on the Scottish Parliament and to consider the Parliament’s operational needs and working methods. Its membership included representatives of the main Scottish political parties as well as a wide range of civic groups and interests. Its main report, “Shaping Scotland’s Parliament”, was published in January 1999. |
| contingent liability |
A contingent liability is a potential call on government resources (contingent on particular events happening in the future). The Scottish Ministers have undertaken to present proposals for contingent liabilities in excess of £1m to the Finance Committee, which has the power to either approve the proposal or propose an amendment. |
| convener |
The MSP who convenes and chairs a committee. The method of appointment, including party affiliation, is set out in chapter 12 of the Standing Orders. |
| Conveners Group (CG) |
This Group was formally constituted in January 2003 and consists of the Presiding Officer and the convener of each mandatory and subject committee. In practice, the Group’s convener is one of the Deputy Presiding Officers rather than the Presiding Officer. Broadly speaking, the Group considers and makes recommendations on matters regarding the operation of committees. The Group may also act as a second consultative body to the Parliamentary Bureau on issues regarding Parliamentary business. Chapter 6A of the Standing Orders outlines the role of the Group. |
| Conveners Liaison Group (CLG) |
Former name of the Conveners' Group, before it was formally constituted. |
| Convention rights |
Rights and freedoms set out in various articles of the European Convention on Human Rights as defined in section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998. An Act of the Scottish Parliament is not law if it is incompatible with any of the convention rights. |
| Corporate Policy Unit |
The unit that provides a secretariat service to the SPCB and undertakes a number of other roles, including co-ordinating the SPCB’s equal opportunities policies, and administering and supporting the nomination of candidates for royal appointment. |
| Corporate Publications Team |
The team responsible for dealing with issues of content, style, quality and cost in relation to material published by the Parliament. |
| Corporate Services |
The department that provides the overall financial infrastructure and controls within which the Parliament operates. It incorporates the Finance, Allowances and Procurement Offices. |
| cross-party group (CPG) |
MSPs from across the parties who share an interest in a particular subject or issue may form a group along with persons from outside the Parliament and seek recognition from the Standards Committee as a cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament. Information about the regulation of cross-party groups can be found in section 6 of the
Code of Conduct for MSPs. A list of approved and proposed cross-party groups and forthcoming meetings may be found on the Parliament’s website. |
| Crown consent |
The formal consent of the Crown to provisions in a Bill which impinge on the private interests of the Crown. Crown consent, where it is required, is signified in the Chamber by a Minister during proceedings on the Bill. |
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