The Scottish Grand Committee is a List of Committees of the United Kingdom Parliament, committee of the House of Commons (UK), House of Commons. It is not a Select committee (United Kingdom), 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 two 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 the Secretary of State
*statements by, and subsequent questions to, any Minister of the Crown
*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 Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom, 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 a Scotland-only UK Parliament bill is still theoretically possible. The Committee last met in November 2003. For several years it met at the Old Royal High School in Edinburgh. The retention of the Scottish Grand Committee was agreed by the House of Commons on 21 October 1999.
Chairmen
*1987–1997 Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, Michael Martin (Scottish Labour Party, Labour)
*1997–2001 John Maxton (Labour)
*2001–2003 Various chairmen
See also
*Parliamentary committees of the United Kingdom
*Northern Ireland Grand Committee
*Scottish Affairs Select Committee
*Welsh Grand Committee
References
External links
Grand Committees - UK Parliament website
Committees of the British House of Commons
Politics of Scotland, Grand Committee
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