Holyrood to extend virtual sessions

Plans for further virtual scrutiny at the Scottish Parliament have been announced by Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh.

In a letter to MSPs, Mr Macintosh outlined plans for enhanced scrutiny measures to be implemented over the coming weeks, to ensure that all members are able to scrutinise the Government and raise constituents’ concerns whether in person at Holyrood or remotely from home.

To date, there have been a number of virtual question time sessions and seven virtual committee meetings. The Presiding Officer acknowledges members will have been "inundated" by letters from worried constituents and that there have been insufficient opportunities to raise their concerns.

He adds: "We are conscious of avoiding any undue risk to our colleagues and staff, but have applied ourselves with alacrity, introducing new and innovative ways to enable the Parliament to continue to function and scrutinise the Government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak".

Among the steps Mr Macintosh outlines are:

• two further virtual question sessions this week;
• next Wednesday, an extended First Minister Questions from 12.30 until 1.30 pm, and work with business managers to ensure additional time for questions following ministerial statements;
• expanded capacity that can now support 16 virtual meetings of the Parliament and committees over four days;
• by next Thursday, the ability to hold a full virtual meeting of the Parliament involving all members, should there be demand to schedule this, in a format to be agreed;
• work towards creating a "hybrid" style chamber where all members can ask their questions, speak in debates, and in time vote remotely in all business that takes place at Holyrood. "It is my hope that by the week beginning 11 May we will be in a position to test this hybrid approach, with a view to it being operational by the following week."

Click here to view the full letter.