Jump to content

Scottish Affairs Select Committee

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Scottish Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (and prior to that, the Scottish Office), and relations with the Scottish Parliament. It also looks at the administration and expenditure of the Advocate General for Scotland.[1]

Unlike the Scottish Grand Committee, MPs from constituencies outside Scotland can, and do, sit on the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Predecessors

[edit]

Before 1992 there was not consistent Select Committee scrutiny of Scottish affairs.[2] In 1968 a committee was formed partly in response to the growth of Scottish nationalism, although the committee was closed down by a reorganisation of select committees by Edward Heath's government in 1972. In 1979 Norman St John Stevas the Leader of the House under Margaret Thatcher's government instituted a Select Committee system that closely mirrored government departments in order to have better parliamentary scrutiny of the government. This was again discontinued in 1987 although there was an alternative Scottish Affairs committee composed of opposition MPs.[2]

Chairs

[edit]

Committee chairs include those listed below.[3][4]

Name Start End Party Constituency
Donald Dewar 1 January 1980 16 January 1981 Labour Glasgow Garscadden
Robert Hughes 21 January 1981 27 January 1982 Labour Aberdeen North
David Lambie 27 January 1982 16 March 1992 Labour Central Ayrshire (1982–1983)
Cunninghame South (1983–1992)
William McKelvey 27 April 1992 21 March 1997 Labour Kilmarnock and Loudoun
David Marshall 14 July 1997 11 May 2001 Labour Glasgow Shettleston
Irene Adams 19 July 2001 11 April 2005 Labour Paisley North
Mohammad Sarwar 11 July 2005 6 May 2010 Labour Glasgow Central
Ian Davidson[5] 10 June 2010 30 March 2015 Labour Co-op Glasgow South West
Pete Wishart[6] 18 June 2015 30 May 2024 Scottish National Party Perth and North Perthshire
Patricia Ferguson[7] 12 September 2024 present Labour Glasgow West

Membership

[edit]

Membership of the committee is as follows:[8]

Member Party Constituency
Patricia Ferguson MP (chair) Labour Glasgow West
Maureen Burke MP Labour Glasgow North East
Harriet Cross MP Conservative Gordon and Buchan
Dave Doogan MP Scottish National Party Angus and Perthshire Glens
Lillian Jones MP Labour Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Douglas Lumsden MP Conservative Aberdeen South
Angus MacDonald MP Liberal Democrats Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Douglas McAllister MP Labour West Dunbartonshire
Susan Murray MP Liberal Democrats Mid Dunbartonshire
Elaine Stewart MP Labour Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Kirsteen Sullivan MP Labour Bathgate and Linlithgow

Changes since 2024

[edit]
Date Outgoing Member
& Party		 Constituency → New Member
& Party		 Constituency Source
16 June 2025 Stephen Flynn MP (Scottish National Party) Aberdeen South → Dave Doogan MP (Scottish National Party) Angus and Perthshire Glens Hansard
6 July 2026 Jack Rankin MP (Conservative) Windsor → Douglas Lumsden MP (Conservative) Aberdeen South Hansard

2019–2024 Parliament

[edit]

The chair was elected on 27 January 2020.[9] Members of the committee were announced on 2 March 2020, but Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) objected to the appointment, claiming that not enough Scottish MPs had been selected.[10] The debate was adjourned, and the committee was eventually constituted on 4 May 2020, when the list of proposed members was put before the house without objection.[11]

Member Party Constituency
Pete Wishart MP (chair) Scottish National Party Perth & North Perthshire
Mhairi Black MP Scottish National Party Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Andrew Bowie MP Conservative West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Deidre Brock MP Scottish National Party Edinburgh North and Leith
Wendy Chamberlain MP Liberal Democrats North East Fife
Alberto Costa MP Conservative South Leicestershire
Jon Cruddas MP Labour Dagenham and Rainham
David Duguid MP Conservative Banff and Buchan
Sally-Ann Hart MP Conservative Hastings and Rye
John Lamont MP Conservative Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Liz Twist MP Labour Blaydon

Changes 2019–2024

[edit]
Date Outgoing Member
& Party		 Constituency → New Member
& Party		 Constituency Source
15 June 2020 David Duguid MP (Conservative) Banff and Buchan → Douglas Ross MP (Conservative) Moray Hansard
8 November 2022 Andrew Bowie MP (Conservative) West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine → David Duguid MP (Conservative) Banff and Buchan Hansard
9 January 2023 Mhairi Black MP (SNP) Paisley and Renfrewshire South → Dr Philippa Whitford MP (SNP) Central Ayrshire Hansard
21 February 2023[a] Jon Cruddas MP (Labour) Dagenham and Rainham → Christine Jardine MP (Liberal Democrats) Edinburgh West Hansard
Liz Twist MP (Labour) Blaydon Andrew Western MP (Labour) Stretford and Urmston
22 May 2023 John Lamont MP (Conservative) Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk → Mark Menzies MP (Conservative)[b] Fylde Hansard
18 September 2023 Deidre Brock MP (SNP) Edinburgh North and Leith → Alan Brown MP (SNP) Kilmarnock and Loudoun Hansard
Dr Philippa Whitford MP (SNP) Central Ayrshire Anum Qaisar MP (SNP) Airdrie and Shotts
22 January 2024 Andrew Western MP (Labour) Stretford and Urmston → Michael Shanks MP (Labour) Rutherglen and Hamilton West Hansard
  1. ↑ Unusually, this motion was voted on by MPs. David Linden objected the nomination due to Labour nominating a Liberal Democrat MP to one of their vacant positions. Since both appointments were within the same motion, both were voted on. Members of select committees for each party are decided within the party, and parties can choose any MP to serve for one of their seats, including from outside of their party. The appointment passed with 383 votes to 37.
  2. ↑ Whip suspended from 17 April 2024 to dissolution.

2017–2019 Parliament

[edit]

The election of the chair took place on 12 July 2017, with the members of the committee being announced on 11 September 2017.[12][13]

Member Party Constituency
Pete Wishart MP (chair) Scottish National Party Perth and North Perthshire
Deidre Brock MP Scottish National Party Edinburgh North and Leith
David Duguid MP Conservative Banff and Buchan
Hugh Gaffney MP Labour Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Christine Jardine MP Liberal Democrats Edinburgh West
Ged Killen MP Labour and Co-op Rutherglen and Hamilton West
John Lamont MP Conservative Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Paul Masterton MP Conservative East Renfrewshire
Danielle Rowley MP Labour and Co-op Midlothian
Tommy Sheppard MP Scottish National Party Edinburgh East
Ross Thomson MP Conservative Aberdeen South

Changes 2017–2019

[edit]
Date Outgoing Member
& Party		 Constituency → New Member
& Party		 Constituency Source
22 October 2018 Paul Masterton MP (Conservative) East Renfrewshire → Kirstene Hair MP (Conservative) Angus Hansard
1 April 2019 Kirstene Hair MP (Conservative) Angus → Paul Masterton MP (Conservative) East Renfrewshire Hansard
21 October 2019 Christine Jardine MP (Liberal Democrats) Edinburgh West → Jamie Stone MP (Liberal Democrats) Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Hansard

2015–2017 Parliament

[edit]

The chair was elected on 18 June 2015, with members being announced on 6 July 2015.[14][15]

Member Party Constituency
Pete Wishart MP (chair) Scottish National Party Perth and North Perthshire
David Anderson MP Labour Blaydon
Kirsty Blackman MP Scottish National Party Aberdeen North
Christopher Chope MP Conservative Christchurch
Jim Cunningham MP Labour Coventry South
Margaret Ferrier MP Scottish National Party Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Stephen Hepburn MP Labour Jarrow
Chris Law MP Scottish National Party Dundee West
Dr Dan Poulter MP Conservative Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
John Stevenson MP Conservative Carlisle
Maggie Throup MP Conservative Erewash

Changes 2015–2017

[edit]
Date Outgoing Member
& Party		 Constituency → New Member
& Party		 Constituency Source
5 September 2016 David Anderson MP (Labour) Blaydon → Ian Murray MP (Labour) Edinburgh South Hansard
Kirsty Blackman MP (SNP) Aberdeen North Deidre Brock MP (SNP) Edinburgh North and Leith
28 November 2016 Maggie Throup MP (Conservative) Erewash → Anna Soubry MP (Conservative) Broxtowe Hansard
23 January 2017 Dr Dan Poulter MP (Conservative) Central Suffolk and North Ipswich → Craig Williams MP (Conservative) Cardiff North Hansard

2010–2015 Parliament

[edit]

The chair was elected on 10 June 2010, with members being announced on 12 July 2010.[16][17]

Member Party Constituency
Ian Davidson MP (chair) Labour and Co-op Glasgow Govan
Fiona Bruce MP Conservative Congleton
Cathy Jamieson MP Labour Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Jim McGovern MP Labour Dundee West
Mark Menzies MP Conservative Fylde
David Mowat MP Conservative Warrington South
Fiona O'Donnell MP Labour East Lothian
Alan Reid MP Liberal Democrats Argyll and Bute
Lindsay Roy MP Labour Glenrothes
Julian Smith MP Conservative Skipton and Ripon
Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP Scottish National Party Banff and Buchan

Changes 2010–2015

[edit]
Date Outgoing Member
& Party		 Constituency → New Member
& Party		 Constituency Source
29 November 2010 Mark Menzies MP (Conservative) Fylde → Mike Freer MP (Conservative) Finchley and Golders Green Hansard
Julian Smith MP (Conservative) Skipton and Ripon Simon Reevell MP (Conservative) Dewsbury
25 October 2011 Cathy Jamieson MP (Labour) Kilmarnock and Loudoun → Iain McKenzie MP (Labour) Inverclyde Hansard
Fiona O'Donnell MP (Labour) East Lothian Graeme Morrice MP (Labour) Livingston
23 January 2012 Graeme Morrice MP (Labour) Livingston → Pamela Nash MP (Labour) Airdrie and Shotts Hansard
5 November 2012 David Mowat MP (Conservative) Warrington South → Michael Crockart MP (Liberal Democrat) Edinburgh West Hansard
28 January 2013 Fiona Bruce MP (Conservative) Congleton → Eleanor Laing MP (Conservative) Epping Forest Hansard
Iain McKenzie MP (Labour) Inverclyde Graeme Morrice MP (Labour) Livingston
4 February 2013 Mike Freer MP (Conservative) Finchley and Golders Green → Sir James Paice MP (Conservative) South East Cambridgeshire Hansard
6 January 2014 Eleanor Laing MP (Conservative) Epping Forest → Vacant Hansard
14 July 2014 Vacant → Mark Menzies MP (Conservative) Fylde Hansard
23 February 2015 Lindsay Roy MP (Labour) Glenrothes → Iain McKenzie MP (Labour) Inverclyde Hansard

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ UK Parliament – Scottish Affairs Select Committee Home Page
  2. 1 2 A COMMITTEE AGAIN: THE FIRST YEAR OF THE REVIVED SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCOTTISH AFFAIRS, Allan McConnell and Robert Pyper, Scottish Affairs, no.7, Spring 1994
  3. ↑ https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/136/scottish-affairs-committee/membership/former/
  4. ↑ "House of Commons – Liaison Committee – First Report". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Winning candidates for select committee Chairs announced". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "Results of elections for select committee chairs announced". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "Scottish Affairs Committee Chair Election - Result Sheet" (PDF). UK Parliament. p. 15. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Scottish Affairs Committee membership appointed". committees.parliament.uk. Scottish Affairs Committee. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  9. ↑ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 670. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 27 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "Scottish Affairs Committee". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 672. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 2 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "Scottish Affairs Committee: Adjourned Debate on Question (2 March)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 675. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 4 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 627. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "Business without Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 628. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 11 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 597. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 18 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 598. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 6 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 511. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 June 2010.
  17. ↑ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 513. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2010.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottish_Affairs_Select_Committee&oldid=1377852627"