§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to announce the remit and membership of the proposed commission on local government and the Scottish Parliament. [25431]
§ Mr. DewarI can today announce the remit and membership of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament.
The Commission will:
consider how to build the most effective relations between local government and the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive so that collectively they can best serve Scotland's people;consider how councils can best make themselves responsive and democratically accouintable to the communities they serve; andreport to the first Minister of the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible after his or her election. In addtion, the Commission may choose, or be asked to submit, an interim report to the Secretary of State for Scotland.The Commission's final report should be considered by the Scottish Parliament.
699WMr. Neil McIntosh has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Commission. The other Commissioners are Professor Alan Alexander, Mr. Andrew Cubie, Mr. Graham Leicester, Miss Eileen Mackay, Councillor Margraet Millar, Mr. Matt Smith, and Miss Maureen Watt.