Stephen Kerr
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“My first priority is to prevent crime before it happens and, as a consequence, to reduce the number of victims. Therefore, the Government will continue to intervene early to steer people away from crime and focus on areas such as substance dependency, health, poverty, homelessness and employability, which are all significant contributing…”
“Alongside more places, a smarter approach to custody is needed, and I remain committed to using all levers at our disposal, including continuing to expand the use of home detention curfew, which supports reintegration of individuals by providing for their structured return to the community.”
“I expect HMP Highland to be completed in spring 2027— which is later than planned, due to construction issues—and HMP Glasgow, which I visited last week, is due to be completed in 2028.”
“I recognise that the proposed changes are bold, and I hope that they can contribute to a thoughtful debate today on the consequences of not addressing the rise in our prison population. The outcomes of any sentence for a crime committed should be that justice is served and no further reoffending happens.”
“That is why my priority is the prevention of crime and further reoffending behaviour. That approach makes financial sense: every prison place costs us more than £52,000 a year; this financial year, we are spending nearly £510 million in resource funding for the Scottish Prison Service to run our jails.”
“Yi-pei Chou Turvey sums things up very well. This whole issue has been at the bottom of the to-do list—that is exactly where we are. The title of the Government’s motion, which is the subject of today’s debate, is: “Achieving a sustainable prison population”. We can all share that perfectly reasonable objective.”
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“I point Mr Kerr to activities such as the Scottish Government’s continued support for the innovative Scottish partnership against acquisitive crime— known as SPAACE—which is led by Police Scotland and includes retail groups among its members. It is very important that we pursue that partnership approach to ensure that we hear directly from those who are impacted. The Scottish Government absolutely encourages retailers to engage with SPAACE in order to help them safeguard their businesses and the people who work there.”
“The minister must be aware that there has been a 128 per cent increase in shoplifting in the past four years, and that the figure has not even been fully reported. Does she acknowledge that many retailers believe that in Scotland we have a culture of impunity around shoplifting? Will the minister support the retail sector’s ask for stronger consequences for repeat offenders than those that are currently being meted out? Kirsten Oswald: I appreciate Mr Kerr’s question. The Scottish Government recognises the distress that is caused by crime, whether it be retail crime or other forms of crime. The victims are very much in our thoughts, which is why we fully support activity to reduce that harm.”
“I reassure Mr Kerr—as I hope that he was reassured by my answer to Mr Bouse—that the recruitment of new police officers through the system has prioritised rural and island communities. That reflects changing demands and, in particular, the response to organised criminal gangs that are operating across borders, not just in rural Scotland but across the UK. Hawick Fire Station 2.”
“The justice secretary knows that there is a total mismatch and inequality of arms between organised crime gangs that are operating in rural Scotland and the rural police presence. Ninety-two per cent of NFU Mutual agents are saying that rural crime is seriously disrupting farming activities. As a starting point, will the justice secretary meet my colleague Rachael Hamilton, who is introducing a member’s bill that would replicate the measures contained in the English Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023? Neil Gray: I am happy to meet colleagues from across the Parliament to engage with ideas about how we can ensure that tools are available to our justice partners to make sure that communities across Scotland are kept safe.”
“At a time when our politics can feel increasingly fractious and toxic, the lessons from those individuals are worth remembering and taking into our own service as public servants. 18:16”
“I was greatly impressed by the work that was conducted on a joint-party basis by Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy, who united in the memory of Jo to ensure that loneliness was finally recognised as a serious challenge that society faces. Theresa May, in fact, had a minister for loneliness, in recognition of the great social harm that loneliness inflicts on us as a community. Jo understood something important. Too many people, particularly older people, live lives of profound isolation. Some go days, weeks or sometimes longer without any meaningful contact with another human being. That is why community matters and why belonging matters. Jo Cox’s message was that we have more in common than that which divides us. Sir David Amess embodied that same belief through his kindness, accessibility and commitment to his constituents.”
“We all know the anonymous accounts that I am talking about. They trade in personal abuse, conspiracy theories and outright falsehoods. None of us should be encouraging that culture, and none of us should be giving it oxygen. When I think of Jo Cox, I think of the words that have been mentioned already, which, I grant, are oft-quoted. She said that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”—[Official Report, House of Commons, 3 June 2015; Vol 596, c 675.] Those words are not just a slogan; they are a challenge to recognise our common humanity and to build stronger communities. That spirit lives on through the Jo Cox Foundation, which has focused on strengthening communities, encouraging respectful politics and tackling loneliness.”
“I do not pretend to know the solution, but it cannot be healthy that anonymous individuals—sometimes bad actors from foreign states who do not live anywhere near these shores—can hide themselves behind false identities and spread hatred, misinformation and abuse with little consequence. The effect that that is having on our democracy is undoubtedly discouraging good people from entering public life, and that worries me. It places enormous pressure on those who are already serving, and that pressure falls particularly heavily on women in politics, many of whom are subject to levels of personal abuse that are utterly reprehensible. What genuinely distresses me is the extent to which some of the most toxic of voices online are indulged, amplified and even sometimes legitimised by people who should know better.”
“Those of us who enter public life do so knowing that we will, rightly, be scrutinised, criticised and challenged. That is part of the job. However, what none of us should ever have to accept is abuse, threats or fear. We are supposed to disagree in this Parliament—and I make my own contribution to that end. If we stop disagreeing, we stop doing our jobs, because robust disagreement is the lifeblood of our democracy. However, there is a world of difference between robust disagreement and hatred. We would be kidding ourselves if we pretended that the tone of our politics has not deteriorated. Social media can be a powerful force for good, but too often it can become a sewer.”
“Jenny Young made an outstanding speech. Undoubtedly, she is a rising talent in the Labour Party—and quite rightly so. It is a privilege to be able to participate in this debate. Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist, and Sir David Amess, my friend—I should say “our friend”, as he was a friend to everybody—was murdered by Islamist extremism. Those ideologies are different, but the result is the same. Both were acts of pure evil. Both were attacks on democracy. Both were attacks on the principle that political differences are settled through debate, persuasion and the ballot box rather than through intimidation, hatred and violence. The deaths of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess remind us that our democracy is precious but also fragile.”
“David Linden: Will Mr Kerr take another intervention on that point? Stephen Kerr: I must press on—I apologise, but I am happy to talk to David Linden about these issues at any time. David Linden: I was talking about OSCR. Stephen Kerr: I am talking about organisations that are—”
“The Government undertakes a deliberately cynical exercise to attract organisations that will lobby in support of Government policy. David Linden: Just so that members are clear, as Mr Kerr will be aware, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has a statutory role. Many of the organisations that he has referenced have not, to my knowledge, expressed concern about OSCR. Therefore, is he directly attacking the work of OSCR, which is independent of us? Stephen Kerr: I thank David Linden for his intervention, because he has highlighted the wording of our amendment. To be frank, yes, I am expressing concern about the genuineness of some organisations based in Scotland that call themselves charities and are registered with OSCR, and I believe that the regulator should take a closer look at them.”
“There are organisations that support the Government’s purpose on, for example, tackling child poverty and climate action, as it should be, but there are other organisations that support Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat policies. That is part of the democratic system. Organisations choose which policies they support, which party best represents them and which changes they think that we should make. Surely it is a good thing that organisations speak out; I assure Stephen Kerr that they regularly speak out both for and against the Government. Stephen Kerr: I am quoting from Dan Sanderson’s article that was published in The Sunday Times in March. I am illustrating his investigative journalism through specific examples that were quoted in the article, including the words of Alex Neil.”
“If members think that this is merely a theoretical issue, I can give many examples, but let me give only a couple. Over many years, LGBT Youth Scotland has received substantial sums of public money while it has become increasingly embedded in Scotland’s education system through educational resources, training programmes and discussions around gender identity and sexuality, including in primary schools. The Scottish Drugs Forum, which receives substantial grants from Scottish Government funds, has been integrated in the policy-making process by lobbying for drug consumption rooms and against the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill. Let us call it out for what it is. Shirley-Anne Somerville: I am grateful to Stephen Kerr for taking an intervention, but I am concerned by his argument.”
“His investigations exposed the extent to which public money is being used to sustain organisations that are presented as independent voices that support Government policy. Perhaps the most revealing contribution of all was from Alex Neil, a former SNP cabinet secretary—a man who sat around the Cabinet table. He spoke about ministers approaching what he described as “friendly organisations” to support “controversial” policies. Let us think about that. A former SNP cabinet secretary described a system in which the Government funds organisations that support Government policy, with that support presented as evidence of independent backing. That claim is not from an Opposition member, although I agree with it; it is a warning from somebody who was there.”
“There is no straightforward way for parliamentarians, journalists or taxpayers to understand who receives public funds, how much they receive and what they spend it on. Following public money should not require a treasure hunt, but my concern goes beyond transparency. I have repeatedly raised concerns about organisations whose principal activity appears increasingly to be political activism rather than charitable work—organisations that campaign, lobby and try to shape public policy, including organisations that increasingly seek to influence what children are taught in our schools. Earlier this year, Daniel Sanderson, the Scottish political editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, performed what I believe was a significant public service.”
“I begin by recognising the outstanding contribution that is made by genuine charities and voluntary organisations right across Scotland—I see it every week, and I see it everywhere in Mid Scotland and Fife. They support vulnerable families, help people through crisis, tackle loneliness and strengthen our communities. Scotland would undoubtedly be poorer without them. However, what concerns me today is the increasingly opaque relationship between the Scottish Government and parts of the third sector. For years, my office has tried to follow the money. We have submitted parliamentary questions, pursued freedom of information requests and trawled through annual reports. It should not be that difficult to establish where taxpayers’ money is going, yet there is no single source of information.”
“That collaborative approach speaks directly to and aligns with the Government’s ambition on public service reform, which will empower those working in front-line services to deliver for people. Last week, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform set out the Government’s vision for more effective, person-centred services. The third sector is central to achieving that vision. As members have highlighted, further work is needed across Government and with funders and commissioners to ensure that funding, procurement and policy approaches truly enable organisations to thrive in an integrated system.”
“Successful collaboration between the Government, local authorities and the third sector is delivering real change. Collaboration is central to eradicating child poverty, which is a defining mission for this Government and not one that we can deliver alone. Through the new £20 million whole family support third sector delivery fund, the Government will enable third sector organisations to deliver holistic wraparound services for families who are experiencing or at risk of poverty. Applications to the fund are currently being assessed, and I look forward to announcing the successful applicants in the coming weeks. Subject to the agreement with the successful organisations, I expect that the funding will move to being allocated on a multiyear basis.”
“I am delighted to highlight that, through the £2.2 million volunteering support fund, we are helping 116 organisations to grow and diversify their volunteer base. Alongside steps on fairer funding and volunteering, significant steps have been taken to strengthen the framework in which the sector operates. The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023 has now fully commenced, and the updated legislation improves the public’s access to information about a charity’s operations, provides the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator with stronger powers and aligns Scottish charity law more closely with charity regulation elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Together, those actions demonstrate the clear commitment to supporting the third sector to deliver for Scotland.”
“In the past financial year, we have, despite a compressed timetable, worked to ensure that as many organisations as possible received their funding decisions early. Those improvements have been recognised by the sector, and the feedback has been that the action that was taken showed a strong amount of care for the system as a whole. However, we know that we need to go further. At the heart of the third sector are its volunteers. The first week in June marked volunteers week, which was a chance to celebrate the extraordinary contribution of volunteers across Scotland. Volunteers, including trustees, are the backbone of Scotland’s third sector, and many of the activities and support that we rely on would simply not exist without them.”
“I am saying that some third sector organisations will welcome Scottish Government priorities, some will think that we do not go far enough, some will think that we go too far and some will disagree with us entirely. That is utterly appropriate and is, in fact, a valuable and commendable part of the system that we have in Parliament and is helpful for all politicians. I recognise that multiyear funding alone does not make for a sustainable sector. Many organisations face uncertainty and funding delays, which impact on service delivery and staffing decisions ahead of financial years. Although that issue is not wholly devolved to the Scottish Government, it is a priority area for improvement.”
“I have been thinking about what the cabinet secretary just said about questioning the integrity of the third sector. I assume that she does not mean that it is inappropriate for us, as members of the Scottish Parliament, to question the public funds that third sector bodies and charities receive, and what those bodies are doing with those moneys and whether they are delivering the expected outcomes from the funds that are expended. I assume that she does not mean that, because otherwise she would be trying to tie the hands of Parliament as we do our business of scrutinising the work of third sector organisations. Shirley-Anne Somerville: I am certainly not suggesting that people should not question the third sector or, indeed, the Scottish Government on the funding that we give to it.”
“In last weekend’s Sunday Post, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced a significant shift away from custodial sentences, as part of the Government’s efforts to reduce Scotland’s prison population. Given the implications for victims, public safety and confidence in the justice system, why was that policy announced through a newspaper interview, rather than to the Parliament? Does the First Minister accept that the answer to prison overcrowding is to provide sufficient prison capacity and not to send fewer offenders to prison?”
“Inward investment and international productions are a huge part of that. Such investment ensures that Scotland is attractive and globally competitive and is able to continue to attract productions such as the Oscar-winning “Frankenstein”, “Dept Q” and Marvel’s “Avengers”. I was pleased to hear my colleagues Ben Macpherson and Q Manivannan recognise the good news that there will be a second season of “Dept Q”.”
“As my portfolio brings together education and culture, that is something that I will be keen to pick up and champion. I was pleased to hear Jenni Minto say that her constituent Grace has given the curriculum changes a five-star review. Having embedded film and screen in the curriculum, we are committed to working with Screen Scotland and others on plans to embed a dedicated film and TV school in a Scottish university, building on the training programmes that have been so fundamentally linked to productions such as “Outlander”, “Dept Q” and others. We are also continuing to support the growth of world-class studios and infrastructure so that productions of all sizes can choose to base themselves in Scotland. Members were correct to reflect on the fact that attracting production is key.”
“It will allow us to accelerate growth, attract inward investment, expand domestic production and build the skills and infrastructure that all members have said are needed for long-term success. I want to say a little about Screen Scotland, which has been at the heart of the sector’s progress since 2018. The next step will involve strengthening what works to ensure that Screen Scotland is equipped for the future. We are determined to continue that work. Many members have reflected on the need for a skilled and diverse workforce. Working with Education Scotland and others, Screen Scotland has begun that work from the ground up by embedding screen and TV skills in the curriculum so that young people across Scotland can forge a pathway to being the television and film makers of the future.”
“Today, Scotland’s screen sector is not only culturally authentic and significant; as members have reflected, it is also an economic powerhouse and a global creative force. Alyn Smith spoke of the sector’s value, and I will put some of that growth in context. In 2019—just a year after the creation of Screen Scotland—film and television contributed £567 million in gross value added to the Scottish economy. By 2023, that had risen to £718 million, and, as members have reflected, we are now on track to reach £1 billion of GVA by 2030. That growth reflects sustained investment, strong partnerships and a clear vision for the sector. The Government’s manifesto commitment to make Screen Scotland a distinct body with increased funding will be central to realising that vision.”
“As Stephen Kerr has just reflected, this debate has been positive, and it has given all members—including me, as the new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic—an opportunity to celebrate the enormous success that is Scotland’s screen sector. We have long been a great cinematic nation: from Sean Connery’s James Bond and the film, “Gregory’s Girl”, which has been mentioned, to modern classics like “Trainspotting” and so many more examples, we have played a defining role in the global story of film and television. However, this debate is not just about celebrating that legacy; it must be about acknowledging what we are achieving today and looking at how we can build on that in the future.”
“I understand that I am past my allocated time, so I will just say that, if we get this right—which we must do—the rewards, which include creating jobs, supporting businesses and driving economic growth in communities across Scotland, will extend far beyond the studio gates. One thing that I know that we can agree on—it is nice to have a debate in which there is a degree of consensus; there is increased consensus in session 7 of this Parliament—is that we need economic growth in Scotland. The screen sector has the power to deliver that economic growth. 18:37 The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan): I thank and congratulate Alyn Smith for securing this member’s business debate, and I also thank members for their speeches.”
“However, if we are serious about becoming a leading destination for film and television production, it is clear that our next challenge is skills—a point that was highlighted in the committee’s report. Throughout my business career, I have learned that investment follows talent. Studio space and infrastructure matter. However, businesses invest where they can recruit skilled people. That means strengthening links between industry and education. We can do better in that area. This is an industry that is about far more than actors and directors; it is about electricians, engineers, technicians, designers, builders, transport providers, caterers and countless small businesses. That is where the wider economic impact can be felt, which is why the sector matters, and I welcome support for it.”
“The land was transferred by the UK Conservative Government through the city region deal, followed by £19 million of levelling-up funds—again, granted by the Conservative Government—to help prepare the site for development. Those decisions helped to unlock a major economic opportunity for Stirling and Scotland. They also demonstrate something that I know that I have gone on about before in speeches that I have made to the Parliament, which is that, when our Governments work together—when they focus on delivery, growth and investment—great things can begin to happen. Scotland has so many advantages. I have already mentioned our location, and our creative talent and growing international reputation for high-quality production have also been mentioned.”
“Local businesses such as Combat International in the Falkirk area have played their part, too, by providing the specialist expertise that those productions require. Building on that success, as is alluded to in the motion, is the development of Stirling studios, which will have around 200,000 square feet of studio space and brings the prospect of thousands of jobs. It could be transformational, not just for Stirling but for Scotland, and it could genuinely make Stirling the Hollywood of the British isles— that is what we want. What makes that development particularly significant is how it all came about—Government had a role to play. The studios will be built on the site of former Ministry of Defence barracks.”
“I know that we do not measure everything in economic terms, but it is worth noting that it supports thousands of jobs, generates significant economic activity and showcases Scottish talent and creativity to audiences around the world. As Alyn Smith said, it is a global sector; Michael Marra described it as a “content-hungry” industry. Alyn Smith mentioned Stirling; I respect the fact that he is the member for Stirling, but I, too, have a great love of the city. Stirling has a proud screen heritage. The historic landscapes and locations in Stirlingshire have featured in productions such as “Outlander”, which has already been mentioned, “Game of Thrones” and—dare I say it— “Braveheart”.”
“I am not entirely surprised that he wrote a screenplay at the age of 20 and sent it to wherever he said he sent it to. Nothing would surprise me about Liam Kerr at all. I make special mention of Michael Marra and Q Manivannan’s speeches, which highlighted some of the issues. At the end of session 6, under the Deputy Presiding Officer’s convenership, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee conducted an inquiry into the sector and I recommend its report to members. Although there are many bright spots, there are also areas that warrant the attention of parliamentarians, particularly in relation to the direction of public funding. I will mention some other aspects of that report in my brief remarks. There is no question that Scotland’s screen sector is one of our most exciting economic opportunities.”
“I enjoyed the debate and all the speeches; what a contrast from the previous couple of hours. I congratulate Alyn Smith on securing the motion for his first members’ business debate. I hope that this does not destroy his credibility with his colleagues— Alyn Smith: Such as it is. [Laughter.] Stephen Kerr: I thought that he gave a very good speech. I think that we are aligned on the idea about brass nameplates. It is important that we extract investment into Scotland. We both live in a place that is benefiting from inward investment and the exciting future that Stirling has in the sector, which is quite mind blowing. I want to comment on Liam Kerr’s speech. The longer I have known him, the more that I have been astonished at the depth and direction of the fella’s talents.”
“They are so thin-skinned, but what Jack Middleton— [Interruption.] George, the one thing that you cannot accuse me of is being thin-skinned.”
“SNP members all got the memo, or perhaps they received their speeches by email—I do not know— but there was a remarkable similarity in the tone and content of their speeches, with Jack Middleton setting a low. It was generous of Alex Cole- Hamilton to suggest that Jack Middleton’s speech might be beneath him, because we do not yet know what level Jack Middleton operates at. However, he will discover that, although robust debate on substance, policy and issues is absolutely warranted in a Parliament, personal abuse and insults directed at individual members—[Interruption.] George Adam can laugh all that he likes, but the problem with SNP members is that, whenever anyone challenges them on anything, they consider it a personal affront and attack.”
“Jamie Hepburn: If the member is suggesting that it is not the Scottish National Party that is the victim in this case, I do not know who he thinks the victim is. This picks up on a point that has just been made.”
“I assert that what the minister has said is outrageous. He has called into question the very idea of why we have parliamentary committees and parliamentary inquiries. If the SNP is the victim in all of this, which the First Minister and others have claimed, why on earth would a minister for parliamentary business not entrust the Parliament with the vital work of learning the lessons from what has happened? Jamie Hepburn: I am not convinced that that intervention was particularly worth hearing. We presumably all accept the objective fact that the issue in question is the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party embezzling money from the Scottish National Party. Stephen Kerr: You should be in favour of an inquiry.”
“They will not succeed in Scotland. Last night, I was in live dialogue with Police Scotland through my officials. To answer the final question, we saw a very clear response from Police Scotland, which stood up in very short order and showed that it does have the resources at its disposal to deal with such incidents. To answer Mr Kerr’s middle question, I am in constant dialogue with Police Scotland and expect further information from it on the outturn of the event. I seek continued reassurance that it is prepared for any further such disorder.”
“Looking at the footage of last night’s events, we see that it was not protest but criminal disorder. Families should be able to go about their daily lives in Scotland without fear of violence, intimidation or public disorder from a gang of balaclava-clad hooligans. Will the cabinet secretary ask Police Scotland to give a full report on the incidents in Glasgow, including the number of officers who were injured, the arrests that were made and the extent of any damage that was caused? Will he confirm whether the force has the public order resources and operational capacity that are needed should further incidents occur? Neil Gray: I agree with Mr Kerr’s points. Of course, there is a right to protest and to organise peacefully, but that is not what we saw last night. We saw thuggery and intimidatory tactics seeking to divide communities.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s very successful prevention activities, as well as local authority building standards and planning, mean that house fires have decreased— fortunately—whereas, due to climate change, we see a massive rise in grass fires and flooding, and the review is about ensuring that the resources are in the right place to meet that demand, as Mr Kerr has outlined.”
“Ministers previously told Parliament that almost £1 million of specialist wildfire pumping units would be deployed within weeks. A Scottish Conservative freedom of information request later revealed that they were still not operational, during Scotland’s worst wildfire season on record. Does the cabinet secretary accept that that was a failure of operational preparedness? Can he confirm whether all eight units are now fully operational? Neil Gray: I am more than happy to explore that with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in order to ensure that we are in a position to respond to the changing nature of fire and flood risk across Scotland.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. For guidance, would it be possible for the same person to be nominated again in those circumstances? The Presiding Officer: Yes. Stephen Kerr: Thank you. General Question Time 14:13 Active Travel (Funding) 1.”
“The Presiding Officer: Before we move to general questions, I want to talk about the election of conveners for a brief moment or two. The nomination period for conveners of committees is now open. Only members of the party designated with the convenership of a particular committee are eligible to be nominated as convener of that committee. To be valid, nominations must be proposed by the member of that party and seconded by a member of another party. The nomination period is open until 1 pm on Tuesday and the election process will begin after time for reflection on Tuesday. Anyone who is interested in participating in the nomination process can obtain forms from the clerks in room P1.02. The clerks can also advise on the procedure to be followed. General Question Time 13:38”
“Name of Committee: Equalities and Human Rights Committee New name: Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Remit: To the remit set out in Rule 6.9 shall be added— Matters relating to civil justice within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. That the Parliament agrees, under Rule 12.1.2C, that: (a) elections of conveners of subject and mandatory committees will take place on Tuesday 9 June 2026; (b) that the location of elections will be Committee Room 5 (the Smith Room); and (c) that the voting period of elections will commence immediately after Time for Reflection and conclude at 7pm. The Presiding Officer: I think that we are all agreed that the finance convener in sessions 4 and 6 was excellent. Motions agreed to.”
“Name of Committee: Finance Committee New name: Finance and Public Administration Committee Remit: To the remit set out in Rule 6.6 shall be added— Any other matter falling within the responsibility of the Scottish Administration relating to the National Performance Framework, public inquiries, and public administration; and proposals for the formation and budgets of officeholders established by the Parliament. Name of Committee: Public Audit Committee Remit: To the remit set out in Rule 6.7 shall be added— Matters relating to the performance of officeholders established by the Parliament.”
“Duration: For the whole session of the Parliament Name of Committee: Transport Committee Remit: To consider and report on matters relating to transport within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport. Number of members: 7 Convenership: The Convener will be a member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Party and the Deputy Convener will be a member of the Scottish National Party. Duration: For the whole session of the Parliament That the Parliament agrees, under Rule 6.1.5A, that the names and remits of the following mandatory committees be amended— Name of Committee: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Remit: To the remit set out in Rule 6.4 shall be added— Matters falling within the responsibility of the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans.”
“Number of members: 7 Convenership: The Convener will be a member of the Scottish Green Party and the Deputy Convener will be a member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Party. Duration: For the whole session of the Parliament Name of Committee: Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee Remit: To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, and on matters relating to local government within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. Number of members: 7 Convenership: The Convener will be a member of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Deputy Convener will be a member of the Reform UK Party.”