§ 15. Ms Sandra Osborne (Ayr)What plans he has to encourage greater community participation in local government. [41264]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Calum Macdonald)The Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament is looking radically at how councils can best make themselves responsive and accountable to the communities that they serve.
§ Ms OsborneMay I draw to the Minister's attention to South Ayrshire council's new initiative in which more than 1,000 local residents regularly give feedback on council policy? From that, a citizens jury has been set up, which looks in depth at council and local issues. We are currently considering the issue of drinking in public places. Does the Minister agree that the initiative is excellent and should be encouraged in a modern democracy?
§ Mr. MacdonaldI completely agree with my hon. Friend. South Ayrshire council is conducting an exciting experiment, to which other councils could look. I hope that the independent commission will take the initiative into account as it completes its deliberations and takes evidence from councils.
§ Mrs. Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest)In encouraging greater participation in local government, does the Minister have any plans to introduce gender balance in the selection of candidates? If so, is he aware that the vast 727 majority of people consider such an artificial exercise to be purely in the interests of public relations and to be of no benefit whatever to the Scottish people?
§ Mr. MacdonaldIt is for political parties to decide on gender balance. I notice that the Conservatives have managed to achieve a gender balance in their representation of zero.