Report aims to advance women's equality at Holyrood
Recommendations to remove barriers to equal representation and participation by women at Holyrood have been published by a cross party group that has been investigating the issue.
Its proposals include:
- rule changes to guarantee women’s representation on key bodies and groups such as committees, the Parliamentary Bureau and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body;
- a rule change to ensure there are no single sex parliamentary committees;
- setting up a forum for women MSPs to discuss issues of mutual interest;
- a review of the Parliament’s sitting time data to determine what changes need to be made to limit unpredictability of sitting times and maximise inclusion and wellbeing;
- the permanent introduction of a proxy voting scheme covering parental leave, illness and caring/bereavement leave; and
- an advisory group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and make sure progress continues.
The report acknowledges that the Parliament has made good progress since 1999 in a number of areas. But an audit carried out by the Parliament showed that there have been fluctuations over time in the number of women in leadership and decision-making roles. This suggests that equal representation is not yet embedded within the Parliament, nor is it guaranteed going forward.
The audit found that women are less likely than men to intervene in debates and to participate in First Minister’s Questions. Other findings suggest that women tend to be underrepresented in some committees such as Finance, Audit, and Standards & Procedures.
Launching the report, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP commented:
“We currently have the highest percentage of women elected to the Parliament since 1999, and women are well represented in some of our key positions. However, history shows us that progress cannot be taken for granted.
“The package of measures published today is designed to strengthen equal representation and participation at Holyrood. Having women in key roles and ensuring they are properly represented across the Parliament helps bring different voices and perspectives to decisions.
“This report is only the first step towards substantive reform. I believe that the recommendations will help drive institutional change over the short, medium and longer-term.”