Research by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre reveals that in the first 900 days of this Holyrood session – reached on 30 October 2023 – just 19 bills had been passed.
This makes session six the joint lowest on record, alongside session three, which was the SNP’s first in government. In sessions one and two, there were 27 bills passed at the same stage, compared to 24 bills in session four and 22 bills in session five.
The tally includes the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which was halted by the UK Government because it impacted on equalities laws south of the border – a decision vindicated by a Court of Session ruling.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP has blasted this “appalling” lack of progress as a “reminder that the SNP are blinded by their independence obsession and will pursue this at the expense of everything else.”
He added that ministers are “asleep at the wheel” and urged them to follow the example of the Scottish Conservatives and focus on the public’s real priorities.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “The lack of legislative progress so far this session is appalling, but sadly it is what we’ve come to expect from this divided, distracted SNP-Green government.
“The inaction is a telling reminder that the SNP are blinded by their independence obsession and will pursue this – as well as other fatally flawed pet projects like the reckless Gender Recognition Reform Bill – at the expense of everything else.
“Since the last Holyrood election, we’ve had a stream of propaganda papers on separation, and needless court challenges against the UK Government, from ministers governing in the nationalist interest rather than the national interest.
“Ministers are asleep at the wheel – this is unacceptable and must urgently change. The SNP should follow the example of the Scottish Conservatives and start to focus on the public’s real priorities, like tackling unacceptable NHS waiting times and the global cost-of-living crisis.”
Notes
After 900 days of this Holyrood session, just 19 bills – the fewest ever – had been passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) state that after 900 days of session six, the current Holyrood session, just 19 bills had passed. This is the joint fewest ever, alongside session three, which was the SNP’s first ever session in government. In sessions one and two there were 27 bills passed at this stage, compared to 24 bills in session four and 22 bills in session five (SPICe research, 9 November 2023, Available on request).