10.02.2015
The First Minister will face questions from all of the Scottish Parliament’s Committee Conveners on her Government’s legislative programme on Wednesday 18 February.
This will be the first time that Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister has appeared before the parliamentary Group which comprises the conveners of each Committee and is chaired by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer.
Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:
“One of the Parliament’s key roles is the scrutiny of Government. Our Committees have responsibility for considering specific pieces of legislation but there is also a need to scrutinise the overall shape of the legislative programme.
“In bringing together Conveners we bring together collective knowledge and experience. And in bringing the First Minister to our ‘super-committee’ to explain her Programme of Government we have the opportunity to question her in detail about the shape and purpose of the package of legislation and hold her Government to account.
“I look forward to what is sure to be a lively and informative session.”
Background
The session will be open to the public, webcast on the Parliament’s website and open to the media.
Public tickets can be obtained by contacting the Parliament's visitor services team:
- Email [email protected]
- Telephone 0131 348 5200 or 0800 092 7600 or use the Text Relay service
- In person at Holyrood, Edinburgh (from 16 February)
Media tickets are limited to 20 seats. Seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis to Parliament accredited media based in the media tower and limited to one ticket per media outlet. Please telephone Murray Meikle on 0131 348 5389 to arrange a seat.
The Conveners Group is chaired by the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer and is a forum where Committee Conveners meet to take a strategic view on the operation of committees and to facilitate liaison between the Committees, the Parliamentary Bureau and the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
The Group handles a range of matters including:
- promotion of practices to improve the performance of committees, in particular their scrutiny function; and
- making recommendations to the Bureau on Committee business to be scheduled in the Chamber.
Further information on the Conveners Group can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/21516.aspx
The previous such meeting was on 12 September 2013 when First Minister Alex Salmond took questions on his Government’s legislative programme.