SISL Essay Introduction.
[Citations to come: I didn't especially see the reason if it was simply going to be chopped up etc.]

Type your cut contents here.We are to assess if: (a) the Scottish Parliament has been following the Consultative Steering Group’s key principles of power-sharing, accountability, access and participation, and equal opportunities; (b) whether the law-making process in the Scottish Parliament should be reformed; and (c) whether any changes should be made to the current devolution scheme.

In order to analyse the Scottish Parliament’s success or failure with following the recommendations, we must define precisely what the Consultative Steering Group was recommending.

 

Power Sharing

Under the first key principle mentioned in the CSG report the important changes recommended by this are largely structural in nature. They relate specifically to the division of power between the Executive and outside influences, and how this can be seen. This restructuring is shown largely by two recommendations: That there should be the creation of committees with the power to conduct investigations and initiate acts.

[NB: Focus removed from committees, largely to avoid significant overlap]

With regard to the running of the Parliament itself, the CSG recommend that a Business Committee (a.k.a. the Parliamentary Bureau) is created to fulfil that gap. Particularly, organising Parliament through the Business Committee as a means by which “to develop in a transparent, and, insofar as possible, consensual, way proposals for the programme of business of the Parliament”. This was to be run by the Presiding Officer.
The CSG has recommended that this Presiding Officer is:

• to be politically impartial, taking the interests of all Members equally into account;
• to preside over the proceedings of the Scottish Parliament in the Plenary session, exercising a casting vote in the event of a tie;
• to apply and give rulings on Standing Orders;

However, the CSG also continued its recommendations to matters outside the Parliament and Executive, stating the importance of “empowerment of external groups and individuals in all sectors of Scottish society”. To this end, they recommended that a Civic Forum was created with the aim of greater communication. Furthering this aim, they recommended the creation of a Committee to deal purely with petitions.

 

Accountability

In keeping with much of their other suggestions, the CSG recommended that the Executive be held to a high level of accountability. This would be primarily “Under our recommendations, Committees should be able to scrutinise the activities of the Executive in a number of ways: for example, they should have the power to conduct enquiries and to take oral and written evidence from Ministers, Civil Servants and others.”. The CSG also recommends that the Executive must produce an annual report and budget, as well as grant notice of up and coming efforts at legislation.

The CSG also suggested the implementation of a rigorous Code of Conduct for MSPs.

 

Access and Participation

Under this third key principle, the CSG aimed to increase both access and participation within the Scottish Parliament. Though there were many separate issues at hand, it essentially came down to the issue of communication between Parliament and the general populace. However, the CGS still had some recommendations.

Strongly encourage schools to come.
[Endorsement of youth Parliament seems largely irrelevant, to be honest!]

 

Equal Opportunities

With regard to equal opportunities, perhaps the most important of changes suggested were the working hours required

• the sitting pattern of the Parliament should be "family friendly";
• the arrangements for the operation of the Parliament should be equally attractive to men and women; and
• the Parliament should meet during normal business hours on a regular, programmed basis.