Report of the Consultative Steering Group on the Scottish Parliament

ANNEX E

NOTE OF THE MAIN POINTS ARISING AT THE CONSULTATIVE STEERING GROUP (CSG) OPEN FORUM MEETINGS: JULY TO AUGUST 1998

Galashiels

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny

In the absence of a second chamber in the Scottish Parliament, important for all legislation to be properly scrutinised. Consideration should be given to an "implementation phase" to allow local government and businesses the opportunity and the time required to prepare for implementation of legislation.

Participation

Important for Scottish Parliament Committees to take into consideration the views of the people. Participation should also be encouraged at local government level so that regions, areas and communities are geared up to input to central policy development. Individuals, groups and organisations must be prepared for a new form of participative Government.

Sharing the Power

Important for decisions not to be made remotely; local people must have a say. Views of local people in areas such as Newcastleton should be taken into account. Villagers should feel a part of "sharing the power". Open Forum meetings and Focus Group sessions were a useful step towards enfranchising people in rural communities. ICT could be a useful mechanism to open up debate although implementation costs could be high. However, more traditional methods of communication would still be required. MSPs should be obliged to consult community councils. Local authorities too large to allow proper contact with people living in rural communities. Advent of the Scottish Parliament as another layer of Government would make matters even more confusing. Public should feel that the Parliament is more accessible and more receptive to their views. Local decisions could be taken at a more local level rather than at a central level.

Quangos

Quangos need to be made more accountable. The appointment of people to quangos should be more transparent, democratic and accountable.

Culture of the Parliament

Scottish Parliament should make maximum use of ICT both externally and internally and should also use electronic voting in elections. Seating arrangements should be less confrontational.

Working Hours

Parliament should adopt normal business hours and should also observe Scottish school holidays.

Industry

Industry could be faced with conflicting legislation from the Scottish Parliament, Westminster and the European Union.

Committees

First Minister should chair a Health Sub-Committee whose aim would be to consider public health issues and to develop long term strategies for public health.

Accountability

Significant lack of trust in local government by the public which the Parliament must address. Trust and accountability need to be regained at local level under a Scottish Parliament.

Young People

The interest of young people in the Scottish Parliament should be stimulated through the use of public meetings and providing information in schools and local areas. Information should be available in simple language and MSPs should actively encourage the views of young people. Young people should be taught about the democratic process as part of the school curriculum.

Glasgow

Role of the Elderly in the Parliament

Elderly people should have a greater role in the Scottish Parliament. Upper age of Parliament falls short of pensionable age and it is important that needs of senior citizens are addressed, particularly as they comprise 20% of the electoral role. Participation among elderly citizens should be encouraged.

Equal Opportunities

Scottish Parliament should have a Minister for equal opportunities.

Accessibility

Parliamentary Committees should be accessible and deal with issues cutting across Departmental boundaries.

Consultation

Equal Opportunity Committee in Glasgow very successful with many significant achievements. Essential for Councillors and community organisations including representatives from disabled, elderly, gay groups etc to work together in sub- Committees. This would promote a better structure of consultation. Minority groups should be given greater consideration by the Scottish Parliament. Only financially well off groups could hire lobbyists. Important to look beyond the list of accredited organisations in consultation process. A Scottish Civic Assembly might be the best way forward as a mechanism to consider particular issues. There must be adequate funding put in place to support a Scottish Civic Assembly.

Electoral Issues

The age for voting should be lowered to 16 to bring more people into the electoral system. There should be changes to the deposit system which currently poses a bar on minority parties.

Accountability of MSPs

MSPs should be obliged to hold a public audience at least once a year to account for their activities.

Working Hours

An MSP's job should be full time, working 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Legislation

Memoranda accompanying Bills should cover employment consequences, implications for staff and for the Scottish economy. Proper scrutiny mechanisms would be needed in the absence of a second chamber.

Gaelic

Hansard and the internet (containing official documents) of the Scottish Parliament should be available in Gaelic. Members of the public should also be able to write to their MSPs in Gaelic and receive a response in Gaelic.

Youth Involvement /Young People's Forum

All under 25s should be encouraged to be involved in the work of the Parliament. A Youth Forum or something similar to the European Youth Parliament could be replicated in Edinburgh. Every school should have a dedicated terminal to access the business of the Scottish Parliament. Modern Studies important in the school curriculum. Important for school children to become involved in the work of the Parliament. Use of technology, particularly the web, e-mail, debates on television etc very important. MSPs should be available for questioning by the electorate. There should be a Children's Issues Committee. Young people need to be encouraged and greater use should be made of ICT.

Further Devolution

Devolution should be extended so that people living in deprived areas could have a greater say in managing local affairs. This would give councils, tenants etc greater scope to work in partnership.

Parliament Building - Smoke Free

Scottish Parliament building should be a smoke free zone.

Disabled

Scottish Parliament should give priority to the Incapable Adults Bill.

Dumfries

Remote Areas

Important that the Scottish Parliament is not dominated by urban areas. There should be structures and mechanisms put in place to input a pre-legislative stage or screening of legislation to involve all rural areas. There should be screening to take account of the impact of proposed legislation on rural interests.

Centralisation of Essential Services

* Important that Fire and Police services were not merged in rural areas. Should retain separate identities. Fear of centralisation.

The Role of Young People

Young people should be encouraged to vote and to become more involved in the Scottish Parliament. Important to ensure that young people participate in the Scottish Parliament elections. Vital to keep them informed through new forms of technology, dialogue, television and newspapers. Scottish Parliament should set up a Civic Forum where youth organisations could meet to discuss legislation and topical issues. Young people had stopped joining political parties and they were now joining organisations such as the Wildlife Trust. A young person should have been recruited onto the CSG. There should be a separate campaign to ensure young people register to vote. The SCEC campaign seemed right and relevant. Civic education was also important and this should be encouraged at schools. There should be a Minister for Young People and/or a Minister for the Voluntary Sector.

Lobbyists

There should be a distinction made between paid lobbyists and organisations such as the RSPB who also lobby Parliament. Lobbying was needed but people were concerned about MSPs taking money to lobby on behalf of organisations. There must be proper mechanisms put in place to ensure freedom of speech and also to ensure that policies took into account the needs of rural communities. The Cycling Parliamentary Advisory Group had worked well at Westminster and there should be a similar group replicated in Scotland. Important for the business sector to be represented in Parliament.

Health

Scottish Royal Colleges should have direct access to health Committees. There should be a quick response team set up to consider health issues quickly and effectively.

Education

There should be no significant changes to the roles of the Scottish Parliament and local government in education; Central Government should set the policy agenda and local government should enact it.

Multi-Layers

Local needs, particularly those of rural areas, may not be reflected in Scottish Parliamentary discussions. Links should be formalised between councillors and MSPs. There could be a possible political conflict between the Scottish Parliament and Westminster. The public could be confused with all the layers of Government. Important for the public to be educated on what was happening in Scotland and on the role of MPs, MSPs, MEPs, councillors etc.

Aberdeen

Freedom of Speech

The Scottish Parliament should encourage freedom of speech.

The Legislative Process

Changes in education should be brought about by Executive action rather than by law: it was important that this should continue.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of the Parliament should be simple and dignified. The Honours of Scotland should be used and also the pre-1707 mace.

Role of COSLA

There could be conflict if COSLA is of a different political persuasion to that of the Scottish Parliament.

Care Facilities

The Scottish Parliament should provide childcare facilities for children from birth and not just for 2-5 year olds. Carers for the elderly should also be available. There should be care for all dependents and not just for children and the elderly.

Information Technology

Important to ensure that the Parliament's Information Service is professional and well resourced. Parliament could be more accessible with the setting up by the ICT Panel of a website which could include all official documents, developing information for schools, issuing official reports and weekly bulletins, some of which could be aimed at different sections of society. Important to consider the needs of people in remote areas which also have to be taken into account.

Gender Balance

Important to maintain a gender balance in the Scottish Parliament with equal opportunities for all.

Accessibility

There should be a national suggestions book for the Scottish Parliament. The same network as the national lottery could be used.

Children's Issues

There should be a Minister for Children. Children's panels also important.

Voting Arrangements

At present, many MPs vote at Westminster without listening to the debate. Important in the new Scottish Parliament for MSPs to hear the debate before voting.

Accountability of MSPs

MSPs should be accountable to the electorate and should have job descriptions and be subject to performance measurement. MSPs should have a Code of Conduct. MSPs will have a full workload and should not be able to hold down two jobs. They should be required to announce other interests and then let the electorate decide. Important for the electorate to be kept informed at all times. There should be greater scrutiny of quangos.

Pre-legislative Process

With regard to the pre-legislative process, local government would be keen to offer their expertise to the Scottish Parliament. There could be a possible role for local government to convene Consultative Committees to consider and scrutinise legislation on behalf of the Parliament.

Roles and Remits of MSPs, MPs and Euro MPs

The public needs educated on the roles, remits and responsibilities of their MSPs, MPs and MEPs.

Committees

Tripartite Committees should be established in order to bring in interest groups. Although only MSPs would be able to vote, interest groups should be allowed input as non-voting Committee members. Committees at Westminster dominated by political parties. Committees needed real power.

Secondary Legislation

Arrangements for pre-legislative scrutiny of primary legislation should also apply to secondary legislation. Unlike Westminster, there should be opportunities for the Scottish Parliament to amend secondary legislation.

Inverness

Scottish Fisheries

Important for Scottish Fisheries to be fully listened to under a new Scottish Parliament. Scottish Ministers should be fully involved with other UK Ministers in settling UK issues. Scottish Parliament should scrutinise European documents in relation to issues such as fishing.

Committees

Committees should be able to meet in other areas outwith Edinburgh and, in particular, in remote areas. Funded visits to both the Scottish and European Parliaments should be considered. It would be wrong to group all rural issues into one Committee. There is a need for health, social work and housing to work together. Committee structures should reflect this.

Accessibility of the Parliament

With regard to petitions it is easier to collect 10,000 signatures in Edinburgh than in a remote area. Important to take population densities into account. Scottish Parliament should be as accessible to someone living in Shetland as it is to someone living in the central belt. New technology important. Information terminals could be situated all over Scotland to give the public easy access to information.

Powers of the Scottish Parliament

With the advent of the Scottish Parliament there could be too many layers of Government and Scotland could be in danger of becoming over governed. Important that the Scottish Parliament does not take over the powers of local government.

The Regional Dimension

Scope for more regional bodies eg Strathclyde Transport. Highlands and Islands Convention a good and unique model. There should be a Regional Assembly where all MSPs, MPs and MEPs for any one region eg. Highland could come together and discuss common and related issues.

The Parliament

Normal forms of address should be used in debate and "talking out" should be disallowed. Prime Minister's Question Time should not be replicated in the Scottish Parliament.

Access for Disabled

Alternative formats of publications/documents should be made available including braille and audio tape. Important for disabled people to be able to participate in democracy. Only 25% of disabled people voted in the last election. The electoral process should be more accessible: at present, many polling stations and electoral papers are inaccessible. Disabled organisations should be more involved in the pre-legislative process.

Gaelic

Signage in the Scottish Parliament should be in Gaelic and in other languages. Gaelic should play a part in the opening ceremony. There should be a Gaelic Committee.

Perth

Trade Union Representation

There should be Trade Union representation on Scottish Parliamentary Committees and more access for the disabled.

Social Inclusion

Dealing with social exclusion should have prominence in the Scottish Parliament's agenda.

Scottish Parliament and the Role of Local Government

There is tension between central government and local government and there is a need to provide strategic direction.

The European Dimension

Strength of the European Parliament is in having all purpose Committees. Question of the revising chamber should be revisited. Electronic voting should be considered. A joint assembly with MEPs could be established as a consultative mechanism which could meet twice a year, once in Edinburgh and once in Brussels.

Absence of Second Chamber and Role of Interest Groups

Importance of checks and balances stressed in the absence of a second chamber. Essential to use the expertise of interest groups.

Committees

Departments/Committees should work together, particularly Health and Education. Consultation is time consuming and more use could be made of local government quangos and agencies to assist the consultation process. Quangos should be brought back under proper democratic control. There is a need for a real voice for the poor, unemployed and socially excluded. Everyone should understand how the Government operates. There is a need for accountability, scrutiny and transparency. Important for the Scottish Parliament not to become too central belt orientated. There should be provision for Committee meetings to be held outwith Edinburgh.

Lobbying

Lobbying should be controlled and there should be a register covering all lobbyists.

Parliamentary Ceremonies

Scottish Parliamentary ceremonies should be in the Scottish tradition.

Young People

Important for young people to have access to greater political learning. There is widespread confusion about the voting system even among teachers: there should be clarification on the voting system for MSPs. Modern Studies important in the school curriculum. Young people needed a fast track system to learn about topical issues. Important to educate young people about the Parliamentary process.

Reserved Powers

Scottish Parliament should have more scope to consider particular issues including energy and broadcasting. Consumer Council regulators should be able to work independently. Information should be freely made available.

Racial Issues

Lack of awareness of race issues in high offices and limited statistics available on ethnic minorities. Race issues should be mainstreamed in the Scottish Parliament.

PFI

The Government should impose a moratorium on PFI projects, for example, the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, until the Scottish Parliament has been established.

Tensions

Tensions will arise if different parties are in control in Scotland and at Westminster.

Volunteering Interests

Important for volunteering interests to be represented in the Scottish Parliament.

Sitting Patterns

Scottish Parliament should observe business hours and have non-confrontational seating.

Religious Matters

Scottish Parliament should take into account faiths other than Christian. Use the multi-faith Consultation Council.

Conduct

There should be no "talking out" of legislation and no publishing of important reports during recess.

User Friendly Legislation

Legislation should be user friendly.

Research Facilities

Comprehensive research facilities should be made available to MSPs.

Use of Fora

Scottish Parliament should think very carefully about the level of consultation on specific issues and whom to consult.