MINUTES OF PREPARATORY MEETING OF THE ALLOWANCES REVIEW PANEL ON 20 JULY 2007 AT 9.00AM IN ROOM Q3.02, THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
Present:
Sir Alan Langlands (Chair)
Alastair MacNish
Isobel Sharp
Tom McCabe MSP
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
In attendance:
Paul Grice
Huw Williams
Sally Coyne
Heather Galway (minutes)
1. INTRODUCTIONS
1.1. The chair welcomed everyone to the preparatory meeting of the Allowances Review Panel and thanked everyone for agreeing to be a part of the review. Introductions were made.
1.2. It was explained to the Panel that it had been 8 years since the allowances scheme had been first introduced. It had been examined since, but the beginning of the third session had been judged an appropriate time to undertake a fundamental review of the schemes based on the experience to date and expected demands going forward.
2. REMIT
2.1. The panel discussed and noted the remit that had been set for the review. It was evident from the discussion on the remit that the existing schemes were heavily codified and lacked flexibility. It was agreed that any subsequent scheme should be more easily understood, which in turn would provide greater clarity to both Members and the public. It was noted that the schemes was founded on the basis of reimbursable costs, and that members did not receive cash allowances but could only claim back money spent.
3. REVIEW METHODOLOGY
3.1. The panel agreed that there were three possible ways forward in undertaking the review.
To write a commentary on the existing schemes with ideas on how to improve it.
To produce a scheme(s) based on principles and accompanying rules/guidance as appropriate.
To work through the existing schemes piece by piece and modify where necessary.
3.2. It was agreed that the best way forward would be to produce a scheme based on principles, and accompanying rules/guidelines. The essential starting point to devising such a scheme was a good understanding of the role and tasks expected of Members and the support required to enable them to undertake that work.
3.3. The panel would produce principles in due course but considered that they would include transparency and accountability as well as the notion of only meeting costs necessarily incurred in carrying out Parliamentary duties already enshrined in the current scheme. The Panel agreed that as a scheme developed it would be tested against the principles once agreed.
3.4. It was noted that the Parliament already published detailed information on allowances which meant that the media and public could scrutinise expenditure incurred by Members. Edinburgh Accommodation costs were discussed briefly, and it was agreed that allowances relating to this issue would need to be discussed in more detail as part of the review.
4. FORWARD PLAN
4.1. The panel agreed that in order to move forward with work on the scheme it needed to gain a much greater understanding of the role of a Member of the Parliament, and what support is required so that they can carry out their role effectively and in the interest of the public.
4.2. The Panel therefore commissioned from the secretariat papers on the role of MSPs and associated support requirements with supporting research to be undertaken over the summer. It was agreed that the secretariat would produce a paper comparing schemes in different parliaments.
4.3. It was also agreed that evidence should be invited from all Members of the Parliament to inform the work of the Panel. A website would be developed which would be used to support an open call for evidence from the public. The secretariat was also invited to consider whether any specific organisations should be invited to give evidence. This would be cleared in correspondence. Evidence would be in writing and would be posted on to the website, unless there were compelling reasons not to do so. It was agreed that there would be a series of specific questions which would help focus evidence on the key issues before the panel.
4.4. It was agreed that the chair would lead in contact with the media.
4.5. It was agreed that the minutes of the review meetings would be made available on the website.
5. DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS
It was agreed that the panel would next meet on Friday 21 September at 1.30 pm.
5.2. Meetings would also be held on:
Friday 19 October 2007 at 10.00am
Monday 10 December 2007 at 10.00am
Friday 25 January 2008 at 10.00am
Secretariat
July 2007