Committees in the Scottish parliament

• Committees in the Scottish Parliament

  • Most committees meet weekly or fortnightly
  • Usually on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings
  • In one of the Parliament's committee rooms
• What committees do

  1. Scrutinise the work of the Scottish Government, including budget proposals

  2. Hold inquiries into subjects relating to the work of the committee

  3. Question government secretaries or pressure groups

  4. Make recommendations to Parliament

  5. Examine legislation, including bills

  6. Introduce new legislation

  7. Take evidence from witnesses

  8. Consider petitions submitted by members of the public and groups
• Who attends committee meetings

  • Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who are members of the committee
  • A convener who chairs the meeting and a deputy convener
  • Clerks who provide support and advice to members
  • Official reporters and Broadcasting who provide a record of what is said in public during meetings
  • Witnesses who are invited by the committee to speak and be questioned, including Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and other individuals or organisations with a particular interest in the subject discussed
  • Journalists
  • Members of the public