The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1320 contributions
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
I am grateful.
I hope that Bob Doris is now able to rejoin us—that he is able both to hear us and to speak.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
I am grateful for that. The Presiding Officer has a role with regard to Electoral Commission funding in respect of its role in Scottish elections. Is there concern that there could be challenges about funding if the Scottish Parliament is not involved in discussions about the strategy and policy statement? Should its being responsible for funding the Electoral Commission be enough for the Scottish Parliament to take part in those discussions?
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
I am grateful for that.
We have covered a lot of ground this morning, but is there still anything that you or your advisers would like to put on record?
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
Tess White has questions on clarification of the offence of undue influence of voters.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
It might have a successful conclusion.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
Edward Mountain is a very important member of the committee and, as I said, every member of the committee has read their papers. I know that you have lived the bill for six months but, over a much shorter period, the committee has also lived the bill, listened to evidence and probed on a lot of matters.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
I am very grateful for that, minister.
Is there anything else that you would like to ask about, Edward?
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
To be fair, minister, Edward Mountain was not asking for a commitment; he was asking for your view on the period of five years. It is absolutely up to you whether you wish to express your view, but I do not think that he was looking for a Government commitment. He certainly was not looking for a parliamentary expectation; he was merely asking whether five years felt unreasonable to you.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
What do you see as being the strategy and policy statement’s potential impact on devolved elections?
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting date: 25 November 2021
Martin Whitfield
Are you reassured that you have a road map to ensure that an election bill would be enacted before the next expected devolved election in 2026?