This report is the result of a year-long audit by a cross-party board set up by the Scottish Parliament to look at the representation and influence of women at Holyrood. It examines barriers to equal representation and participation, and makes a number of recommendations.

The board included the University of Edinburgh's:

• Dr Meryl Kenny, Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change and Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics
• Professor Sarah Childs, Personal Chair of Politics and Gender
• Professor Fiona Mackay, Professor of Politics. All the experts work at the University's School of Social and Political Science.

The board’s suggestions include:

• Rule changes to guarantee women’s representation on key bodies and groups such as committees, the Parliamentary Bureau and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
• A rule change to ensure there are no single-sex parliamentary committees
• The establishment of a forum for women MSPs to discuss issues of mutual interest
• A review of the Parliament’s sitting time data to determine what changes need to be made to limit unpredictability of sitting times and maximise inclusion and wellbeing
• The permanent introduction of a proxy voting scheme covering parental leave, illness and caring/bereavement leave
• The establishment of an Advisory Group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and make sure progress continues

Read the full report here.