Post-devolution: MPs and MSPs – who looks after what? And if either is also a Minister, who looks after the constituency?

The first of the two questions For Argyll is asking relates to a necessary post-devolution tidyng up of responsibilities. The second relates to a continuing and unresolved deficiency – at Westminster and Holyrood, of how the needs of a constituency can be fully met where its MP or MSP also has Ministerial responsibilities to fulfil.

In the first case of who looks after what – For Argyll’s practice is to refer reserved matters to Alan Reid MP, Argyll’s and devolved matters to Jim Mather MSP, Argylls constituency representative at Holyrood.

For example: broadcasting is a reserved matter – although why that should be so is a live issue – so when For Argyll discovered that the UK Government planned an action that would have left the Highlands and Islands without an on-air radio service, we asked Alan Reid to intervene at Westminster.

He did so successfully, getting a written assurance from the Minister of Culture, Media and Sport that the conventional radio signal will not be switched off in areas – like the Highlands and Islands – which will never get a digital radio service.

In the matter of Vestas’ plan to decamp from Campbeltown, making almost one hundred Kintyre people redundant we were and remain in contact with Jim Mather MSP, because this is an economic development issue, reserved to Holyrood.

While we respect Mr Mather’s ministerial responsibility to observe confidentiality in his continuing negotiations, we are aware of the effort he is expending on exploring a wide range of options in the interests of the future of the Campbeltown plant and its workers.

In each of these instances, because For Argyll brought the right matter to the attention of the right constitutional representative on the matter in question, progress and movement was possible.

Post-devolution, this is the proper and effective procedure. Asking any representative to act on issues beyond their authority wastes time, is inefficient and deflects them from focusing on the responsibilities they have been elected to carry on their constituency’s behalf.

For Argyll suggests that this is a matter which is in need of formal clarification in the post-devolution conduct of constituency affairs.

Argyll is fortunate to have these men as its front line representatives in their respective Parliaments. Alan Reid is much respected as a hard-working and effective constituency MP. Jim Mather, as an energetic and successful Minister in the Scottish Government, raises Argyll’s place at the table.

The second issue above applies equally in the case of constituency responsibilities at Westminster and at Holyrood.

MPs and MSPs who have not been given Ministerial responsibilities can rightly be expected to spend the majority of their time looking after the needs and interests of their constituency in the forum to which their responsibility applies – Westminster or Holyrood. Where the elected representative at either Parliament has been selected for a Ministerial role, the case is different. It is unrealistic to imagine here that the constituency will be attended to as adequately as others whose representatives do not carry such weighty additional and countrywide responsibilities.

This, of course, applies to Argyll at the moment. Mr Mather is Argyll’s constituency MSP but he is also Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the Scottish Government.

This is a significant feather in Argyll’s cap and Mr Mather’s brief is one close to core Argyll interests and needs – but the kudos does not come without a cost to the county.

The demands on the Minister’s time in such a demanding brief mean that he cannot spend all his time on responding to the wide range of constituency needs. He must also be scrupulous in not using his ministerial clout to benefit his own constituency unduly and against the interests of other areas of the country who are equally his responsibility.

Both the Scottish Government and the Westminster Government need, as a matter of urgency, to address the provision of arrangements for constituencies to compensate for the time taken by their representative’s wider responsibilities.

For Argyll is drawing the attention of this analysis, on both points, to the attention of Jim Mather MSP for Argyll and Bute, Jamie McGrigor, MSP Highlands and Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute and inviting their contributions via the ‘Comment’ facility on this article.

All viewers of the article are, as always, invited to comment as they wish.

FOR INFORMATION

Matters reserved to Westminster and therefore the responsibility of Alan Reid MP include: The Constitution; Foreign affairs; Defence; International development; The Civil Service; Financial and economic matters; National security; Immigration and nationality; Misuse of drugs; Social Security; Trade & Industry; Employment; Abortion, genetics, surrogacy, medicines; Broadcasting; Equal opportunities; Various aspects of energy regulation (e.g. electricity; coal, oil and gas; nuclear energy); Various aspects of transport (e.g. regulation of air services, rail and international shipping).

Matters devolved to Holyrood and therefore the responsibility of Jim Mather MSP include: Health and social work; Education and training; Local Government and housing; Justice and police; Agriculture, forestry and fisheries; The environment; Tourism, sport and heritage; Economic development and internal transport.