Consultations, Calls for Evidence and Bills

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Consultations, Calls for Evidence and Bills

On this page you will find links to consultations, calls for evidence and Bills currently progressing through the Scottish and UK Parliaments.

Consultations

Have your say on important issues by responding to government consultations. Click the tabs, below, to find out more about consultations published by the Scottish and UK Governments and to see Bishops’ Conference of Scotland responses to closed consultations…

Parliamentary Consultations/Calls for Evidence

Parliamentary Committees often initiate consultations and calls for evidence on a number of issues. The third tab contains responses submitted on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference…

Scottish Parliament

Details of consultations of interest will be posted here.

UK Parliament

Bishops' Conference Responses and Briefings

December 2023 Submission to Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill

May 2022 Submission to Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

November 2020 Submission to Covid-19 Committee on the social, cultural, and economic impact of possible restrictions on travel and socialising over winter

September 2018 Submission to the Health and Sport Committee on the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill (Organ Donation Bill)

March 2018 Submission to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the Scottish Parliament and Human Rights

November 2017 Submission to the Justice Committee on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) (Repeal) Bill

August 2017 Submission to the Education and Skills Committee on the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill

June 2017 Church response to Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee Inquiry into: ‘Bullying and Harassment of Children and Young People in Schools’

Scottish Parliament

Bills

Bills are draft law and may be introduced by a member of the Government, an MSP or a Parliamentary Committee. For more details on Bills and the legislative process in the Scottish Parliament click this link.

Click here for a list of Bills currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament

Proposals for Members’ Bills

A Member’s Bill is a public Bill introduced by a member who is not a member of the Scottish Executive. Before gaining the right to introduce a Bill, the member must follow various procedural steps Click here for a list of Members’ Bills

Motions, Questions and Answers at the Scottish Parliament

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government/Executive or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to obtain factual and statistical information from the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

Parliamentary questions can be in oral or written form. Oral questions are answered at Question Time and First Minister’s Question Time. In exceptional circumstances emergency question can be taken in the Chamber. Written Questions are answered in the Written Answers Report. Motions are used by MSPs as a device to initiate debate or propose a course of action.

Motions can be lodged for debate in Parliament as part of parliamentary business, for debate as part of Members’ Business, to propose that legislation is agreed to or passed or simply to generate support. Other MSPs can sign up in support of motions that have been lodged. Amendments to motions are also lodged by MSPs to allow alternative points of view to be discussed and debated. The Motions Search allows you to search for motions which have been lodged. You can do this by MSP, the motion ID number or a general subject search.

Click here to access details of motions, questions and answers at the Scottish Parliament

Petitions

Anyone can submit a public petition to the Scottish Parliament. Find out how to do it and more about the petitions currently under consideration by clicking this link.

UK Parliament

Bills

Bills are draft law and may be introduced by a member of the Government, an MP or Lord, or private individuals or organisations. For more details on Bills and the legislative process in the UK Parliament click this link. Click here for a list of Bills currently under consideration by the UK Parliament