Scottish Grand Committee
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Grand Committee is a committee of the House of Commons. It is not a select committee (see Scottish Affairs Select Committee), but rather a grand committee
composed of all 59 Scottish MPs (72 MPs prior to 2005).
It has its origins in a Scottish standing committee set up in 1907 to consider the Committee Stage of exclusively Scottish Bills. Its remit was widened in 1948 to include consideration of Bills "in relation to their principle" and up to six days of Estimates debates. In 1957 up to 2 days of Matter Day debates was added and Committee Stage consideration was transferred to a small Scottish Standing Committee.
In July 1994, a number of new procedures were introduced in the SGC which provided for:-
The Scottish Grand Committee's function is to oversee UK Parliament Bills
specific to Scotland
. However, since the creation of the Scottish Parliament
none has been presented, and consequently the Committee has met only occasionally since. It is not a defunct body, however, as it is still theoretically possible for a Scotland-only UK Parliament Bill. The Committee last met in November 2003. For several years it met in New Parliament House
in Edinburgh
. The retention of the Scottish Grand Committee was agreed by the House of Commons on 21 October 1999.
Grand committee
- In Finland :The Grand Committee is a committee of the Parliament of Finland. It has special tasks related to Finland's membership in the European Union. It formulates the opinion of the parliament in questions of EU legislation...
composed of all 59 Scottish MPs (72 MPs prior to 2005).
It has its origins in a Scottish standing committee set up in 1907 to consider the Committee Stage of exclusively Scottish Bills. Its remit was widened in 1948 to include consideration of Bills "in relation to their principle" and up to six days of Estimates debates. In 1957 up to 2 days of Matter Day debates was added and Committee Stage consideration was transferred to a small Scottish Standing Committee.
In July 1994, a number of new procedures were introduced in the SGC which provided for:-
- questions to be asked of Secretary of StateSecretary of StateSecretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
; - statements by, and subsequent questions to, any Minister of the CrownMinister of the CrownMinister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...
; - substantive debates on the adjournment;
- half-hour adjournment debates at the end of each sitting (chosen by ballot)
- the power to meet in Scotland
The Scottish Grand Committee's function is to oversee UK Parliament Bills
Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom
An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....
specific to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. However, since the creation of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
none has been presented, and consequently the Committee has met only occasionally since. It is not a defunct body, however, as it is still theoretically possible for a Scotland-only UK Parliament Bill. The Committee last met in November 2003. For several years it met in New Parliament House
New Parliament House, Edinburgh
The Old Royal High School is the name commonly given to a historic building on Calton Hill in Edinburgh which formerly housed the school of that name. The metonym Regent Road, from the street address, is used within the school community to distinguish it from the school's other past sites...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The retention of the Scottish Grand Committee was agreed by the House of Commons on 21 October 1999.
Chairmen
- 1987-1997 Michael MartinMichael Martin (politician)Michael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Springburn from 1979 to 2005, and then for Glasgow North East until 2009...
(LabourScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
) - 1997-2001 John Maxton (Labour)
- 2001-2003 Various chairmen
See also
- List of Committees of the United Kingdom Parliament
- Scottish Affairs Select Committee
- Northern Ireland Grand CommitteeNorthern Ireland Grand CommitteeThe Northern Ireland Grand Committee is one of three such grand committees in the United Kingdom Parliament. The other two are for Scotland and Wales...
- Welsh Grand CommitteeWelsh Grand CommitteeThe Welsh Grand Committee is a committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....