Swinney to face Holyrood convener panel over two sessions

First Minister John Swinney will face the conveners of Holyrood’s committees in two sessions in the next week, Parliament has announced.

The Conveners Group brings together the heads of each committee to question the First Minister on a variety of topics.

What is usually a single session will take place in two hour-long sittings on Wednesday and again next week.

The first session will include the conveners of the committees covering areas like net zero, constitution, local government, finance and health.

The second will include rural affairs, petitions, public audit, justice and education.

Liam McArthur, one of two deputy presiding officers and the chairman of the Conveners Group, said: “Conveners Group meetings with the First Minister are a core part of the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government.

“The group has been focused on taking forward work that cuts across multiple committees and this is a great opportunity for the conveners to raise some of these issues with the First Minister.

“By splitting the meeting into two, hopefully conveners will have an opportunity to explore the issues in a little more detail.

“As we head towards the end of the session, during what has been a particularly busy period for the Parliament, this is an ideal time to have the First Minister back engaging with the Conveners Group.”