Scottish Conservatives have today won a victory for common sense and effective scrutiny at Holyrood after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recognised a clear conflict of interest in some of her MSPs committee memberships alongside jobs as Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs).
The issue arose recently when it became clear that some SNP members in Holyrood had taken up roles on committees that scrutinise the work of particular Cabinet Secretaries, whilst working alongside the very same ministers who will be seeking to get legislation through the parliament.
In response, the four Scottish Conservative MSPs who are conveners of parliamentary committees wrote to the First Minister pointing out the difficulties of these arrangements and raising the inherent conflict of interest, as well as reminding her of the views previously expressed by the SNP against such arrangements when they were in opposition.
Speaking after receiving the First Minister's reply today, Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian region and Convener of the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work committee, said:
"I am pleased that my colleagues and I have been able to point out the clear conflict of interest in this case. A lot was made during the previous parliamentary term over the lack of effective scrutiny within committees. This term committees must play their part, especially within a parliamentary system without a revising Chamber.
The intensive scrutiny by committees of proposed Government legislation is what the effectiveness of this parliament was built upon, and all Scottish Conservative MSPs will be playing a key role within that. I look forward to the Government sorting this out once the parliament returns from recess next week."