Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
5th Meeting, 2026
The Committee agreed to take items 5, 6, 7 and 8 in private and agreed its consideration of Standing Order changes in relation to elected conveners and other miscellaneous and minor Standing Order changes should be taken in private at future meetings.
The Committee took evidence on the Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026 and the Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 from—
Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, Iain Hockenhull, Head of Elections and Lorraine Walkinshaw, Solicitor, Scottish Government .
Graeme Dey (Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans) moved—
S6M-20589—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] be approved. The motion was agreed to.
Graeme Dey (Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans) moved—
S6M-20590—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved. The motion was agreed to.
The Committee considered a complaint in relation to the Cross-Party Group on Credit Unions. The Committee considered the complaint, which related to a meeting on 10 December 2025, and a response from the Cross-Party Group. The Committee accepted the explanation provided by the Convener of the Cross-Party Groups that the meeting on 10 December was not intended to be a meeting of the CPG and concluded that there had not been a breach of the requirements of the Code in this instance. However, the Committee also considered that the description of the meeting in the email invitation, which referred to the CPG’s title, meant that there was a lack of clarity about the meeting and that it was reasonable for the complainer to question the nature of the meeting. The Committee agreed to remind the Convener of the Cross-Party Group that clarity in relation to CPG activities is essential in making sure that questions do not arise in relation to compliance with the Code or other obligations that may apply to non-MSPs participating in a meeting.
The Committee considered the report and correspondence from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The Committee agreed to write to the Presiding Officer.
The Committee agreed a draft report and draft changes to the Code of Conduct in respect of Cross-Party Groups.
The Committee agreed proposed changes to the Lobbying (Scotland) Act.