What might we have instead?

Sponsored by the John Wheatley Centre, Bernard Crick and David Millar set out to draw up some 'draft standing orders for the Scottish Parliament' - before unthinking Whitehall civil servants, Westminster politicians or ex-Local Councillors give us what we don't want, behaving in ways we don't approve.

Their proposals suggest a basis for a modern, inter-active democracy. They are intended to stimulate debate, not to close it down. CSP invites you to comment, and feed your ideas into this debate.

It should consult widely, proceed openly and develop co-operative rather than confrontational decision-making.

To achieve this the new Parliament will need new ideas and adequate resources in three respects:

1. Effective modern procedures relevant to Scottish conditions and opinion
2. An efficient organisation and administration
3. A modern information service to serve both the Parliament and the Public

Crick and Millar make fairly detailed proposals for the first, and some general suggestions for the second and third. Further ideas, debate and discussion are needed on all!

• The Secretary of State for Scotland should wither away (well, the office, not any particular man).
  
• The Scottish Civil service should report to the Parliament, not to a "Scottish Office".
  
• There should be a Bill of Rights to protect individual citizens.
  
• The powers and responsibilities of Local Government should be entrenched, and the principle of subsidiarity should apply.
  
• The Parliamentary term should be a fixed four years, with pre-set general election dates.
  
• Parliament will meet between 10am and 5pm on weekdays, and not normally during school holidays.
  
• A "President" and 2 Deputy Presidents should be elected by the whole Parliament, to preside/chair sittings and head the Steering Committee which should control the agendas.
  
• The Chief/Prime Minister should also be elected by the whole Parliament.
  

• MSPs should be basically 'full-time'; could not also be MEPs, Westminster MPs or Local Councillors.
• MSPs would have to declare 'interests' in a public register.
• MSPs would receive a salary pegged to an appropriate Civil Service grade, and strictly defined allowances.

• The Committees will be proportionally representative and will elect their own Conveners.
• The Parliamentary Committees shall have primary responsibility for:
  
  1. initiating legislation.
  2. scrutinising and amending legislation.
  3. scrutinising policies and activities of the Government and administration.
  4. scrutinising revenue and expenditure.
  
  
• The Committees shall have power to call for persons, papers and records.
• The Committees may meet in places other than Edinburgh.
• The Committees may commission research.
• The Committees' hearings shall be open to the public and the media.

• Members may form themselves into Parliamentary Parties according to their political affinities, but may not belong to more than one party.
• A minimum of 6 Members shall be required to form a Parliamentary Party.