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Ais-eòlas
Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Stage 1 report on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill
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Published: Wednesday 05 Nov 2025 (SPPAS062025R7)
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Committee Membership
Introduction
The Bill
Summary of the provisions in the Bill
Consideration by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Consideration by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Consideration by the Finance and Public Administration Committee
Committee scrutiny of the provisions in the Bill
Part 1 - Recall of MSPs
The purpose of recall
The Recall of MPs Act 2015 as a model for the Bill
Grounds for recall
Parliamentary-sanction ground
Criminal-offence ground
Changing political party as a potential additional ground
Provision for adding further grounds
Recall initiating notice
The recall petition process
Number and location of petition signing places
Length of the signing period
Eligibility to sign a petition
Signing by post and proxy
Outcome of the recall petition process
Thresholds for a "successful" petition
Closing a petition when the threshold is reached
Allowing the option to oppose a petition
Effect of a successful petition and provisions for a regional poll
Potential for confusion
Democratic participation
Suggestions for a different recall process for regional MSPs
Rules for campaigning during recall petitions
Part 2 - Removal of MSPs
Removal for offending
Removal for not physically attending the Parliament
Views on not physically attending as a ground for removal
Potential for greater impact on some MSPs
The question of remote attendance
The role of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Part 3 - Final provisions
Costs associated with the Bill
Cost estimates for a recall process
General administrative costs of recall
Cost estimates for a regional recall process
Recommendation on the general principles of the Bill
Annexe A - Extracts from the Committee's minutes
Annexe B - Evidence
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