THE “time is right” for the Scottish Parliament’s committees to have elected conveners, according to a new report published today.

MSPs on Holyrood’s standards, procedures and and public appointments panel have drawn that conclusion following a review of the effectiveness of the parliament’s committees, triggered by criticism that they “are not fulfilling their potential and could perform better” in scrutinising both legislation and the executive.

The report dismisses the idea of paying convenors more “at a time of financial constraint” but recommends slimming down committees from 15 members to 10, eliminating same-sex committees and a moving to elected convenors to “broadly mirror” the Welsh Senedd after next year’s elections.

Speaking as the report was published, standards, procedures and and public appointments committee convener Martin Whitfield said: “It is right that the public should have high expectations of how committees in the Scottish Parliament operate and we have heard that, when committees work at their best, they can make a real impact not only on government policy but on people’s lives.

“These changes will ensure that the committees in our young legislature can be as effective as possible in meeting the scrutiny challenges of the future.”