Sewel convention

   The Sewel convention (or motions) refers to a mechanism created by the Scotland Act 1998. The convention – named after the minister responsible for the idea – applies when the Executive hands a decision or debate on a devolved matter over to Westminster. The intention was for the motions to be used only in discussion of non-controversial matters, for the purposes of legislative economy and for clarity. Their critics – often found in the Scottish National Party – claim that they have been used for more contentious issues where the Executive does not wish to allow the Scottish Parliament to consider an issue in detail, to avoid any adverse political consequences and to confine the legislative bickering to Westminster only. For these reasons, they are said to stifle debate, acting as a means of making unsuitable English policy apply north of the border and thereby preventing the taking of Scottish decisions on Scottish issues.