3 Further debate?
9. During our questioning of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State for Scotland, David Cairns MP, in March on our inquiry
into The Sewel Convention: the Westminster perspective,
we took the opportunity to ask him when the Government would be
publishing its response to Arbuthnott. The Minister's reply was
non-committal:
"Our response will be forthcoming in due course…."[6]
10. The intervening weeks have not provided any further
indication of exactly when "in due course" might be.
We consider that, before the Government does publish its response
to Putting Citizens First, all interested Scottish Members
should have the opportunity to raise their own concerns with Ministers,
and to seek to influence the Government's response.
11. During his opening of the Westminster Hall debate
on 15 February, Brian Donohoe pointed out that a Scottish Grand
Committee had not met since 12 November 2003, and continued that
a Scottish Grand might be:
"…the vehicle for a full debate on the
whole issue of the contents of the report and the way forward
on its conclusions."[7]
12. In replying to the debate, David Cairns agreed
that there had not been a Scottish Grand Committee since November
2003, but went on to say:
"…. As far as I am aware, there have been
no such requests since then….However, it is within the right
of any Scottish Member of Parliament to request a Scottish Grand
Committee, and then it is up to the usual channels to allocate
one." [8]
13. We endorse the suggestion that a Scottish Grand
Committee would be an appropriate vehicle for a debate on Putting
Citizens First. This
Committee, composed of Members from all Parties representing Scottish
constituencies, therefore makes a formal request that a Scottish
Grand Committee be held to consider the matter of Putting
Citizens First: Boundaries, Voting and Representation in Scotland,
and recommends that such a meeting of a Grand Committee be held
before the Government makes any substantive response to
that report.
6 HC (2005-06) 983-ii, Q116. Back
7
Official Report, 15 February 2006, col. 498WH. Back
8
ibid, cols. 501WH-502WH. Back
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