GRILL POWER
Labour Let voters quiz the First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon should be subjected to an annual grilling by voters, Labour have said.
The opposit ion want First Minister’s Questions to be opened up to the public in a special annual session away from Holyrood.
The idea is among several that Labour wi l l submit to an independent commission set up by Holyrood presiding officer Ken Macintosh and charged with reviewing how the Scott ish Parliament works.
Labour have also suggested a backbench MSP- only session of FMQs and that the parliament’s finance committee undertake an annual tour to ensure people across Scotland have a chance to scrutinise the Scot t ish Government’s budget proposals. Business manager James Kelly said the reforms would make the parliament more open and transparent.
He said: “The Scot t ish Parliament have more powers over tax and spending than ever before, yet power is increasingly being centralised b y th i s SN P government to Edinburgh.
“Labour wi l l propose tha t Holyrood opens up its doors to the voters with an annual session outside Edinburgh where voters can send questions direct to the First Minister.
“There should also be more opportunities for backbenchers to question the First Minister.
“A genuine open session – with no questions published in advance – would give backbenchers a real chance to hold the Government to account and raise issues which matter in their constituencies.
“Last year will go down as the year when the SNP Government produced the least-scrutinised budget ever.
“What would previously be announced in September was only finally revealed in the week before Parl iament broke up for the Christmas recess.
“Under our plans, the finance committee would tour Scotland, reaching out to every region to make sure that all of the country can feed in to the budget process.”
A Sc ot t ish Government spokeswoman said: “Decisions on reforming parliamentary business are for the Scottish Parliament to consider and decide upon, although we are always open to any positive changes.
“This Government are already the most open and transparent ever. Travelling Cabinets are a well- established feature, with ministers touring the length and breadth of the country to engage with communities and to answer questions on any topic they raise.
“The weekly FMQs sessions have been extended by 15 minutes at the First Minister’s suggestion.
“She has also offered to appear more frequently before meetings of all committee convenors.
“Simi larly, there have never been more ways to get in touch with Scotland’s First Minister, either onl ine, through her dedicated website or at the large number of public events she attends every year.”
The commission, chaired by former electoral commissioner for Scotland John McCormick, issued a call for views which runs until February.
They have also written to more than 200 organisat ions and launched an online survey seeking opinions from the public.
Labour proposes Holyrood opens its doors to voters with an annual session outside Edinburgh