MSPs told to work longer hours to give 'value for money'

POLITICIANS have been urged to work longer hours at Holyrood to give "value for money" as part of a shake-up demanded by a Tory MSP.

Jackson Carlaw has published a document outlining his view of the system's failings and how it could be improved. He criticised the short working week, which has seen MSPs sit in plenary session for just eight and a half hours.

And he branded the weekly First Minister's Questions session as "tedious verbal torture" with failings on all sides.

The West of Scotland MSP set out his opinion on the day Scottish Conservatives gather in Eastwood for the region's annual conference.

Carlaw, who was elected in 2007, wrote that parliament must work harder: "It is time for us to start giving value for money from our parliament, it is time for MSPs to work harder to hold the executive to account and to better scrutinise the legislation we pass.

"It clearly was the intention of the Scottish Parliament to improve upon Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

"If that was the hope then it has failed by a wide margin. For what we have in First Minister's Questions each week is 30 minutes of tedious verbal torture.

"By no means is this a criticism of any MSP or any party. Nor am I seeking to present myself as some sort of political paragon. But I do believe parliament could work harder on behalf of the people of Scotland. I am convinced, for example, that parliament should sit for longer. MSPs cannot possibly fulfil all their responsibilities by meeting in plenary session for what is effectively just one day a week."