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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Current session: 13 May 2021 to 16 October 2025
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Displaying 2352 contributions

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Public Audit Committee [Draft]

Section 22 Report: “The 2023/24 audit of UHI Perth”

Meeting date: 8 October 2025

Graham Simpson

So, something must have happened that year. However, you cannot figure out what it is.

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

Section 22 Report: “The 2023/24 audit of UHI Perth”

Meeting date: 8 October 2025

Graham Simpson

So, as an auditor, you come in when something has already happened; it is too late, and there is nothing you can do. You just discover what has gone on, and the discussions that you have are more or less along the lines of, “Well, that shouldn’t have happened. Don’t let it happen again.”

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

Section 22 Report: “The 2023/24 audit of UHI Perth”

Meeting date: 8 October 2025

Graham Simpson

Basically, that is what happens.

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

Section 22 Report: “The 2023/24 audit of UHI Perth”

Meeting date: 8 October 2025

Graham Simpson

I will come on to paragraph 15 in a second, but I just want to go back to Nicola Wright and the discussions that were had. Once you had discovered what had happened, Nicola, you must have asked, “Why did this happen?” Did nobody explain it properly?

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

I am delighted that we have arrived at this point and that we have the regulations in front of the committee. Dealing with the matter is long overdue. As has been said, the public do not expect people to hold dual mandates, so dealing with it is a good thing.

I have a couple of questions to follow on from what the convener asked. I just want to be clear that, in relation to the House of Lords, it will no longer be possible for somebody to take a leave of absence. We have one member of this Parliament who has done that. Is that correct?

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

Okay. My next question is about councillors. I expect that, in the Scottish Parliament election next year, a number of people who are returned to the Parliament will be councillors. That is always the case. They will not have to stand down as councillors for a year, let us say, until the next council elections. However, we also have a position whereby a councillor could become an MSP mid-term. That has happened before. We had an example in the previous session, when Tom Mason came in. You have chosen a period whereby somebody like Tom Mason would have to stand down as a councillor within 49 days. Why did you arrive at that period?

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

Okay.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

That is entirely correct. I have no further questions.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

Yes. I am not going to name the member, but we know who it is. If that member was to stand next year and be returned to this Parliament, they would not be able to continue in the House of Lords. They would have a choice to make—is that correct?

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee [Draft]

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 October 2025

Graham Simpson

I understand the 49-day figure for MPs and MSPs. You are trying to avoid the summer period. However, if a councillor is returned and they become an MSP, that could happen at any time of the year, so the 49-day period is a bit illogical.