THE SNP is to replace the Alba Party defectors on its committees today.
Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill will lose their places on Westminster committees following their departure from the party in March.
Both MPs have said they do not intend to regularly travel to London now they are Alba MPs, and will only do so for crucial votes.
Mr Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, will be replaced by the SNP’s newest MP Anum Qaisar-Javed on the Health and Social Care committee, while former Justice minister Kenny Macaskill will be leaving the Justice Committee.
READ MORE: Kenny MacAskill leaves the SNP to join Alex Salmond's Alba Party
Mr MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, will have his place taken by the SNP’s Angela Crawley, MP for Lanark and Hamilton East.
In a statement earlier this month, the Alba MPs confirmed they would be taking less frequent trips to Westminster following their party’s defeat in the Holyrood elections, but confirmed the party was not “abstentionist”.
READ MORE: SNP MPs ‘have no ideas and no desire for indy’ claim Alba members
Their statement said they would use the “platform” of Westminster “to utilise the resource it offers through the ability to question and obtain information. Both of those factors are critical for our party’s success.”
They also said: “ Attendance in the Commons will be when it affords an opportunity to promote Scottish interests, not a routine sojourn to London. There’s plenty work to be doing in our constituencies and across Scotland, and that’ll be our focus. We’ll vote when appropriate on issues as they arise.”
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