Committees

Question 1

What are committees?

Answer 1

Small groups of cross-party MSPs who work to together to scrutinise, legislate and amend policies on certain areas of responsibility such as education, health, the criminal justice system.

Question 2

Why would the SNP have more members in committees than the Conservatives?

Answer 2

They won more seats in 2021.

Question 3

How is committee composition decided?

Answer 3

The more members a party has in parliament after an election the more members from that party are on the committees.

Question 4

Why does the composition of committees mean leadership is shared?

Answer 4

The leadership of the committees is shared between the parties to ensure accountability and effective scrutiny.

Question 5

Most committees are led by?

Answer 5

Most of the committees, the convenor (chair) is from the SNP.

Question 6

Why does the composition of committees mean the members of the committees will not be members of the government.

Answer 6

As one of the main roles of the committees in the Scottish Parliament is to scrutinise the work of the Scottish Government it will not have members of the government on the committee to remain as neutral as possible.

Question 7

Who will committees call upon when scrutinising the work of the Scottish Govt in general?

Answer 7

Humza Yousaf

Question 8

Who would committees call upon when scrutinising health or education?

Answer 8

Neil Gray - Health
Jenny Gilruth - Education

Question 9

One purpose of the committees is to conduct __________

Answer 9

inquiries

Question 10

The committees will gather evidence on an issue, learn any important lessons and make recommendations for the future as part of their inquiries?

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What organisation is currently part of ongoing committee inquiries?

Answer 11

Police Scotland to assess the effectiveness of the amalgamation in 2013.

Question 12

Another purpose of the committees is to hold the Scottish Government to _________

Answer 12

account

Question 13

What does holding govt to account mean?

Answer 13

This means to pay close attention to the work of the Scottish Government and question them on issues that are a concern, it will look at both the success and limitations of policies and legislation to determine next steps.

Question 14

What did former education Secretary John Swinney have to do?

Answer 14

He had to explain what happened with the cancelled exams in 2020 and 2021 and how education continued during the Covid-19 pandemic to the Education and Skills Committee.

Question 15

A further purpose of the committees is to ____________ legislation

Answer 15

Scrutinise

Question 16

What does scrutinising legislation mean?

Answer 16

This means to look very carefully at proposed Bills by going line by line and discussing how it works. The committee will also gather evidence to support their decision on supporting or rejecting the Bill.

Question 17

The Health and Sports committee scrutinised what legislation?

Answer 17

The Organ Donation Bill before recommending that all of Parliament supports it.

Question 18

What do committees examine and consider from the public?

Answer 18

Petitions

Question 19

What legislation did the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee scrutinise?

Answer 19

The Gender Reform Act

Question 20

The Scottish government have to do what to committee inquiries?

Answer 20

Respond to recommendations and declare whether they agree or not.

Question 21

What is currently undergoing committee inquiry as a result of claims of racism?

Answer 21

Scottish Cricket following claims of racism from Yorkshire Cricket Club

Question 22

Who is the convener of the Criminal Justice Committee?

Answer 22

Audrey Nicoll SNP

Question 23

What committees is Ben Macpherson part of?

Answer 23

Education, Children and Young People Committee
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Question 24

Who do committees release their findings to?

Answer 24

The public and the media