A HOLYROOD committee has announced an inquiry into the performance of Holyrood committees. 

MSPs on the standards, procedures and public appointments committee will look at the work of the Scottish Parliament’s committee system in scrutinising legislation and consider how it can be improved.

Despite a number of high-profile failures in recent years, ranging from gender recognition reform to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, the inquiry will draw the line at looking at the effect of party whipping on the scrutiny of Bills.

Issuing a call for views, to be submitted by April 4, committee convenor Martin Whitfield MSP said: “Committees play an essential role in the work of the parliament. Scrutinising legislation and holding the government to account are vital.

“But we want to know if there are changes that need to be made to make these work more effectively.

“We know, for example, that elected conveners are in place in other parliaments in the UK and beyond, but what impact might they make at Holyrood?

“And would changes to the remits structure and size of committees have an impact on how they do their work?”