Skip to content
Languages
Accessibility
SiteMap
Help
Find us on
Facebook,
Twitter,
YouTube
Search
Home
Parliamentary Business
Business Bulletin
Official Report
Committees
Bills
The Chamber
Motions, Questions and Answers
Research Briefings and Fact Sheets
Parliamentary Procedure
Public and Privilege Holidays
MSPs
Current MSPs
Previous MSPs
Register of Interests
Cross-Party Groups
Members' Expenses Scheme
MSP Salaries and Pensions
Election Results
Find Your MSPs
Code of Conduct for MSPs
Ministers & Law Officers
Visit & Learn
Visiting The Parliament
Events and Exhibitions
Education
Gaelic service
History
Information resources
Environment and Sustainability
How the Parliament Works
Explore Parliament
Getting Involved
Petitions
Parliament on social media
Guide for Committee Witnesses
Witness diversity - guide for external organisations
Organising a protest
Lobbying
Your Voice
Young Women Lead
20 years of the Scottish Parliament
Community Outreach
News & Parliament TV
News
Parliament TV
Media Resources
About the Parliament
Corporate Governance
The Parliamentary Service
The Presiding Officer
The Parliament at home and abroad
Data Protection
Home
Parliamentary Business
Parliamentary Procedure
Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament
Expanded Contents
Parliamentary Procedure
Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament
Previous versions of the Standing Orders
Expanded Contents
Chapter 1: Members
Chapter 2: Meetings of the Parliament
Chapter 3: Officers of the Parliament and Other Officers
Chapter 3A: Parliamentary Corporation Supported Bodies
Chapter 3B: Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme - Fund Trustees
Chapter 3C: Directions and resolutions under the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016
Chapter 4: The Scottish Government
Chapter 5: The Parliamentary Bureau and Management of Business
Chapter 6: Committees
Chapter 6A: The Conveners Group
Chapter 7: Conduct of Meetings
Chapter 8: Motions and Points of Order
Chapter 9: Public Bill Procedures
Chapter 9A: Private Bill Procedures
Chapter 9B: Consent in Relation to UK Parliament Bills
Chapter 9BA: Consent in relation to Orders under the Public Bodies Act 2011
Chapter 9C: Hybrid Bills Procedures
Chapter 10: Subordinate Legislation Procedure
Chapter 10A: Proposals for European Union Legislation
Chapter 11: Decisions and Voting
Chapter 12: Committee Procedures
Chapter 13: Statements and Parliamentary Questions
Chapter 14: Laying and Publication of Documents
Chapter 15: Openness and Accessibility
Chapter 16: Reporting of Proceedings
Chapter 17: Miscellaneous
Expanded Contents
CHAPTER 1 - MEMBERS
1.1
The Scottish Parliament
1.2
Oath of allegiance
1.3
Term of office
1.4
Disqualification
1.5
Vacancies
1.6
Code of Conduct
1.7
Withdrawal of rights and privileges
1.7A Motion of censure
1.7B Other sanctions under Interests Act
1.8
Members’ interests: Parliamentary determinations and resolutions
CHAPTER 2 - MEETINGS OF THE PARLIAMENT
2.1
Session of the Parliament
2.2
Meetings of the Parliament
2.3
Parliamentary recess
2.4
First meeting following a general election
2.5
Chairing of meetings
2.6
Witnesses and documents
2.7
Location
CHAPTER 3 - OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENT AND OTHER OFFICERS
3.1 The Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
3.2 Election of the Presiding Officer
3.3 Election of deputy Presiding Officers
3.4 Resignation of the Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
3.5 Removal of the Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
3.5A Available officers all from the same political party
3.5B Calculation of days
3.6 Members of the Parliamentary corporation
3.7 Election of members of the Parliamentary corporation
3.8 Appointment of members of the Parliamentary corporation
3.9 Resignation of members of the Parliamentary corporation
3.10 Removal of members of the Parliamentary corporation
3.11 Nomination of individuals for appointment by Her Majesty
3.11A Nomination of individuals for reappointment by Her Majesty
3.12 [deleted]
3.13 Appointment of members of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit
3.14 Resignation of members of the Commission
3.15 Removal of members of the Commission
3.16 Reports of the Commission
CHAPTER 3A - PARLIAMENTARY CORPORATION SUPPORTED BODIES
3A.1Appointment of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland and members of the Standards Commission for Scotland
3A.2 Directions to the Ethical Standards Commissioner
3A.3 Reports by the Ethical Standards Commissioner
3A.4 [deleted]
3A.5 [deleted]
3A.6 Annual reports and strategic plans
CHAPTER 3B - SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY PENSION SCHEME – FUND TRUSTEES
3B.1 Application of this chapter
3B.2 Motions for the appointment of Fund trustees
3B.3 Removal of a Fund trustee
3B.4 Tenure of a Fund trustee where there is a change of scheme membership status
3B.5 Business Bulletin
CHAPTER 3C -
DIRECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS UNDER THE LOBBYING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2016
3C.1 Parliamentary directions
3C.2 Parliamentary resolutions
CHAPTER 4 - THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
4.1 Nomination of the First Minister
4.2 Designation of person to exercise functions of the First Minister
4.3 Appointment of the Scottish Law Officers
4.4 Removal of the Scottish Law Officers
4.5 Participation of the Scottish Law Officers in proceedings
4.6 Appointment of other Scottish Ministers
4.7 Appointment of junior Scottish Ministers
4.8 Resignation of Ministers
CHAPTER 5 - THE PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU AND MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS
5.1 The Parliamentary Bureau
5.2 Members of the Parliamentary Bureau
5.3 Procedure of the Parliamentary Bureau
5.4 Business programme
5.5 Daily business list
5.6 Special cases of Parliamentary business
5.7 Programme of the Scottish Government
5.8 Financial business
5.9 Business Bulletin
CHAPTER 6 - COMMITTEES
6.1
Establishment of committees
6.2
Functions of all committees
6.3
Membership of committees
6.3A Committee substitutes
6.3B Bill substitutes
6.4
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments
6.5
[deleted]
6.6
Finance
6.7
Public Audit
6.8
Europe and External Relations
6.9
Equalities
6.10 Public Petitions
6.11 Delegated Powers and Law Reform
6.12 Duration of committees
6.13 Questions regarding competence
6.14 Joint consideration by committees
CHAPTER 6A - THE CONVENERS GROUP
6A.1 Members of the Conveners Group
6A.2 The Conveners Group
6A.3 Procedure of the Conveners Group
CHAPTER 7 - CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
7.1 Languages
7.2 Calling speakers and content of speeches
7.3 Order in the chamber
7.4 Suspension and closure of meetings by the Presiding Officer
7.5 Sub judice
7.6 Forms of address
7.7 Calculating the length of debates or the number of speakers
7.8 Committee proceedings
CHAPTER 8 - MOTIONS AND POINTS OF ORDER
8.1 Motions
8.2 Notice of motions
8.3 Motions taken by the Parliament
8.4 Amendments to motions
8.5 Notice of amendments
8.6 Amendments taken by the Parliament
8.7 Amendments to amendments
8.8 Application to committees
8.9 Motions of the First Minister
8.10 Motions for Scottish rate resolutions
8.11 Business motions
8.11A Pension motions and grants motions
8.11B Motions to change subordinate legislation procedure
8.12 Motions of no confidence
8.12A Motions on competence
8.13 Procedural motions
8.13A [deleted]
8.14 Motions for closure or extension of a debate
8.15 Motions for adjournment of a debate
8.16 Motions for adjournment and closure of meetings
8.17 Points of order
CHAPTER 9 - PUBLIC BILL PROCEDURES
9.1 General Rules and Special Rules
9.2 Form and introduction of Bills
9.2A Member in charge
9.3 Accompanying documents
9.4 Printing and publishing of Bills and accompanying documents
9.4A Memorandum on delegated powers
9.5 Stages of Bills
9.6 Stage 1
9.7 Stage 2
9.8 Stage 3
9.9 Reconsideration of Bills passed
9.9A Reconsideration of Bills rejected
9.10 Amendments to Bills
9.11 Crown consent
9.12 Financial Resolutions
9.13 Withdrawal of Bills
9.13A Limits on participation in certain committee proceedings
9.14 Members’ Bills
9.15 Committee Bills
9.16 Budget Bills
9.17 Private Bills and Hybrid Bills
9.17A Scottish Law Commission Bills
9.18 Consolidation Bills
9.18A Codification Bills
9.19 Statute Law Repeals Bills
9.20 Statute Law Revision Bills
9.21 Emergency Bills
CHAPTER 9A - PRIVATE BILL PROCEDURES
9A.1 Private Bills
9A.2 Accompanying documents
9A.3 [deleted]
9A.4 Printing and publishing of Private Bills and accompanying documents
9A.5 Private Bill Committees
9A.6 Objections
9A.6A Statements in relation to consultation
9A.7 Stages of Private Bills
9A.8 Preliminary Stage
9A.9 Consideration Stage
9A.10 Final Stage
9A.11 Reconsideration of Private Bills passed
9A.11ZA Reconsideration of Private Bills rejected
9A.11A Change of promoter
9A.12 Amendments to Private Bills
9A.13 Crown consent
9A.14 Financial Resolutions
9A.15 Withdrawal of Private Bills
CHAPTER 9B - CONSENT IN RELATION TO UK PARLIAMENT BILLS
9B.1 UK Parliament Bills making provision requiring the Parliament’s consent
9B.2 Legislative consent motions
9B.3 Legislative consent memorandums
CHAPTER 9BA - CONSENT IN RELATION TO ORDERS UNDER THE PUBLIC BODIES ACT 2011
9BA.1 Orders under the Public Bodies Act 2011 requiring the Parliament’s consent
9BA.2 Public Bodies Act consent motions
9BA.3 Public Bodies Act consent memorandums
CHAPTER 9C - HYBRID BILL PROCEDURES
9C.1 Hybrid Bills
9C.2 Member in charge
9C.3 Accompanying documents
9C.4 Printing and publishing of Hybrid Bills and accompanying documents
9C.5 Memorandum on delegated powers
9C.6 Hybrid Bill Committees
9C.7 Objections
9C.8 Statements by mandatory consultees
9C.9 Stages of Hybrid Bills
9C.10 Stage 1
9C.11 Stage 2
9C.12 Stage 3
9C.13 Reconsideration of Hybrid Bills passed
9C.13A Reconsideration of Hybrid Bills rejected
9C.14 Amendments to Hybrid Bills
9C.15 Crown consent
9C.16 Financial Resolutions
9C.17 Withdrawal of Hybrid Bills
CHAPTER 10 - SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION PROCEDURE
10.1 Laying of instruments
10.2 Lead committee
10.3 Subordinate legislation scrutiny
10.3A Procedure on breach of laying requirements
10.4 Motion for annulment
10.5 Motion that a draft instrument be not made or submitted
10.6 Motion for approval
10.7 Instruments considered by the Parliament
10.8 Withdrawal of instruments
10.9 Notice of instruments and draft instruments
10.10 Application to other documents
10.11 Calculation of days
CHAPTER 10A - PROPOSALS FOR EUROPEAN LEGISLATION
10A.1 Proposal for European Union legislation
10A.2 Referral to lead committee
10A.3 Consideration of proposal for Eurpoean Union legislation
CHAPTER 11 - DECISIONS AND VOTING
11.1 Decisions of the Parliament
11.2 Decision Time
11.3 Decisions at times other than Decision Time
11.4 Order in which questions are put
11.5 Right to vote
11.6 Divisions
11.7 Manner of voting
11.8 Committees
11.9 Election of the Presiding Officer and deputy Presiding Officers
11.10 Selection of the First Minister
11.10A Election of members of the Parliamentary corporation
11.11 Simple majority, absolute majority and super-majority
CHAPTER 12 - COMMITTEE PROCEDURES
12.1 Conveners of committees
12.1A Acting conveners
12.2 Procedure in committee
12.2ZA Limits on participation in proceedings of the committee mentioned in Rule 6.4
12.2A Participation by substitutes
12.3 Committee meetings
12.4 Witnesses and documents
12.5 Sub-committees
12.6 Reporters
12.7 Advisers
12.8 Reports of committees
12.9 Annual reports
12.10 Travelling outwith the United Kingdom
CHAPTER 13 - STATEMENTS AND PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
13.1 Personal statements
13.2 Ministerial statements
13.3 Questions to the Scottish Government
13.4 Admissibility of questions
13.5 Written questions
13.6 First Minister’s Questions
13.6A Portfolio and General Questions
13.6B Topical Questions
13.7 Oral Questions in the Chamber
13.8 Urgent Questions
13.9 Questions to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
CHAPTER 14 - LAYING AND PUBLICATION OF DOCUMENTS
14.1 Laying of reports and other documents
14.2 [deleted]
14.3 Publication of documents
14.4 Publication under the authority of the Parliament
CHAPTER 15 - OPENNESS AND ACCESSIBILITY
15.1 Meetings in public
15.2 Public access
15.3 Access to the chamber
15.4 Bringing petitions
15.5 Admissibility of petitions
15.6 Action on petitions
15.7 Closing petitions
15.8 Notification
CHAPTER 16 - REPORTING OF PROCEEDINGS
16.1 Minutes of proceedings
16.2 Scottish Parliament Official Report
16.3 Journal of the Scottish Parliament
16.4 Broadcast of proceedings
16.5 Committee proceedings
16.6 Proceedings of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit
CHAPTER 17 - MISCELLANEOUS
17.1 Amending standing orders
17.1A Temporary amendment to standing orders
17.2 Suspension and variation of standing orders
17.2A Date of resignation
17.3 Notice to members
17.4 Lodging of documents
17.5 Consulting the Parliament
17.6 Interpretation
TABLE OF REVISIONS
TABLE OF RULE-CHANGES
x
This website is using cookies.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website.
Okay
Tell me more