SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14

Foreword from the Presiding Officer 3

Parliamentary business 5

Committees 13

International engagement 20

Engagement with the public 22

Click on the links in the page headers to access more information about the areas covered in this report.

This report covers the parliamentary year 11 May 2013 to 10 May 2014.

Inside cover photographs (from top): Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP hosting the VisitScotland reception in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament, November 2013A witness giving evidence to the Equal Opportunities CommitteePupils participating in the seventh St Andrew’s Day debateDeputy Presiding Officer John Scott MSP speaking at the Rowett Institute Centenary Lecture, September 2013

Produced and published in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP by APS Group Scotland, 21 Tennant Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5NA.

© Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2014

Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website – www.scottish.parliament.uk/copyright or by contacting public information on 0131 348 5000.

ISBN 978-1-78457-622-6

SP Paper Number 555 Web Only Session 4 (2014)

Contents

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/PresidingOfficer

We introduced our Parliament Days last year, designed to get the Parliament out and about and engage with local communities directly. We were delighted with the welcome we received in Stirling, Arbroath and Dumbarton.

We have also worked hard to bring exciting major exhibitions to the Parliament building, in our quest to attract more and increasingly new visitors. The Great Tapestry of Scotland and Pop, Power and Politics, our highly acclaimed Andy Warhol exhibition, attracted record numbers. Our recent Ryder Cup exhibition will build further on that. We are working hard to ensure that visitors leave with a wider appreciation of what their Parliament is able to offer.

So, whether you are an avid follower already or someone new to us, I hope you will enjoy this report on our activities.

Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP

The reforms made to our sitting patterns are helping to make us more current and relevant, with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) now able to question Scottish ministers every day that Parliament meets. Our new Topical Questions are covering key issues of public concern with immediacy, at the start of each working week.

Our committees’ change programme is identifying fresh ideas for engagement through committee evidence sessions, reports and social media. This year I was pleased to chair the first-ever session involving a First Minister, where he could be directly questioned by committee conveners about the Scottish Government’s legislative programme.

Foreword from the Presiding Officer Although past the half-way mark of this current parliamentary session, I am very happy to report that innovation remains a high priority throughout the Parliament.

Scottish Parliament Annual Report 2012/13

1. Ruth Davidson MSP2. Patrick Harvie MSP3. Willie Rennie MSP4. First Minister, the Rt Hon

Alex Salmond MSP5. Johann Lamont MSP

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Chamber

Parliamentary business

Introduction

In late 2012, the Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP, launched a package of reform measures that saw the Chamber sitting three afternoons a week – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – with the committee meetings taking place in the mornings of these days. The wide-reaching reforms also introduced more opportunities for members to question and hold ministers to account, with the introduction of Topical Questions on Tuesday afternoons.

These reforms have now bedded in and are beginning to bear fruit, with more scope for in-depth scrutiny of Scottish ministers and more possibilities for the Scottish Parliament to respond to issues with greater flexibility and

speed. Our current plans for reforms are not yet completed, with the Presiding Officer and others now looking in more detail at how we might improve the work of the parliamentary committees.

The publication of the Scottish Government’s white paper Scotland’s Future has provided an added dimension to the debates in the Chamber in this reporting year.

The Chamber

Parliamentary debates, question times and the scrutiny of legislation are at the centre of the Scottish Parliament’s work. Each week, MSPs take part in important and topical debates on a wide range of political issues, as well as scrutinising the Scottish Government

The Chamber is at the centre of parliamentary business, hosting meaningful and topical debates on a wide range of political issues, policy proposals and legislation. Weekly question time sessions, where members hold the First Minister and other Scottish ministers to account on current high-profile issues, tend to generate particularly lively debate.

A meeting of the Parliament in the Chamber

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through questions to the First Minister and other Scottish ministers. Members also raise their own issues through members’ business debates, as do parliamentary committees through committee-initiated debates.

The business of the Parliament is proposed by the Parliamentary Bureau on a business motion which, once approved, forms a rolling programme of business for the coming fortnight. Membership of the Bureau comprises the Presiding Officer, who chairs the meetings, along with one representative from each party or grouping with five or more MSPs.

During this year, the Presiding Officer announced the sad deaths of David McLetchie MSP, Helen Eadie MSP and Margo MacDonald MSP. The Parliament also saw the resignation of Bill Walker MSP. Joining the Parliament, as new members, were Christian Allard, Cameron Buchanan, Alex Rowley and Cara Hilton. The seat held by Margo MacDonald, as an independent MSP, remains vacant until the next Scottish election.

Debates

The allocation of time in the Chamber is shared between political parties on the basis of their respective share of seats. Each party decides on the subject matter for their debates. As the largest party, the Scottish National Party (SNP)-led Scottish Government has held the largest proportion of debates on a range of different subjects, including:

■ electricity market reform ■ Scotland’s railways ■ underemployment ■ reform of the Common Fisheries Policy ■ rehabilitation of offenders ■ the Commonwealth Games and their legacy ■ child poverty

In addition to Government-led debates, opposition parties and members are entitled to a share of debating time in the Chamber, with 16 half-day debates set aside each parliamentary year, shared proportionally depending on the number of seats held. Debates on a range of topics have taken place, including the following:

■ ferry services ■ student support ■ cost of living ■ the NHS in Scotland ■ living wage ■ Scotland’s finances ■ corroboration ■ stop and search powers

Committee debates

Parliamentary committees can request time to hold a debate in the Chamber to highlight issues and hold the Scottish Government to account. Such debates need not take place solely at the conclusion of an inquiry and, recently, parliamentary committees have been using their time in the Chamber to debate subjects at different stages in their inquiries,

Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP, chairing a meeting of the Parliament

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Chamber

for example, at the outset, rather than after the publication of a final report. Committee debates this year have included:

■ Gypsy Travellers (Equal Opportunities Committee)

■ access to new medicines (Health and Sport Committee)

■ child exploitation (Public Petitions Committee) ■ welfare reform (Welfare Reform Committee)

Ministerial statements

Scottish ministers can use the means of a statement to the Parliament as one of the ways of informing members about urgent matters or to make announcements on policy. In the past year, ministerial statements have been made on a number of topics, including:

■ Independence white paper (Scotland’s Future)

■ helicopter tragedies in the North Sea and Glasgow

■ Grangemouth refinery ■ Scottish Coal Industry Task Force ■ climate change and annual emissions targets ■ Glasgow Prestwick Airport ■ severe weather and planning for winter

Members’ business

Three times per week, individual MSPs can highlight issues that would not necessarily be given prominence during the main proceedings through members’ business debates. Examples of such debates held during the past year include:

■ protecting tenants’ deposits ■ bank branch closures ■ disabled people in politics ■ no more page 3 campaign ■ action over size 10 models and mannequins ■ Financial Conduct Authority’s plans to

regulate the payday loan industry

■ oncology at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary ■ fan ownership of football clubs

Time for Reflection

The first item of business in the Chamber each week is Time for Reflection, which gives people of different faiths and beliefs the chance to share their thoughts with the Parliament. Representatives from a range of religious groups and faiths, and individuals of no faith, who have taken part this year, include:

■ the Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh

■ Rt Rev Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

■ Mrs Manjit Kaur Jheeta, Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib, Glasgow

■ Peter Kelly, Director, The Poverty Alliance ■ Rabbi David Rose, Rabbi of the East

of Scotland, executive member of Interfaith Scotland

■ Trishna Singh, Director, Sikh Sanjog and Punjabi Junction Social Enterprise Project

■ Vann Smith and Ciara Bradley, pupils of St Ambrose High School, Coatbridge, Scotland Malawi Project – Healthy Lifestyle

■ Safa Yousaf, Schools Development Officer, Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Rt Rev Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, leading Time for Reflection on 25 February 2014

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Chamber

Parliamentary questions

Parliamentary questions can be oral or written. MSPs have weekly opportunities to direct oral questions to the First Minister and his ministerial colleagues. Written questions may be lodged at any time and these receive a written answer from the Scottish Government that is published on the Parliament’s website.

Six questions on current issues, from those put forward by the main opposition party leaders and other MSPs, are selected each week by the Presiding Officer and are asked during First Minister’s Questions, normally on Thursdays. The Presiding Officer also invites questions from backbench MSPs of a local and/or urgent nature at First Minister’s Questions. MSPs can also enter their names in a ballot to put portfolio and general questions to ministers on a Wednesday and Thursday respectively each week. Thirty members, randomly selected in the ballot, submit their questions and these are published in the Business Bulletin. At General and Portfolio Questions, the relevant minister provides an answer to each question and to any related supplementary questions (about which no notice has been given). Since September 2012, members have also had the opportunity to submit questions of a topical nature for answer by ministers on a Tuesday at Topical Questions. The Presiding Officer selects which of these questions (if any) will be asked in the Chamber.

Oral parliamentary questions answered from 11 May 2013 to 10 May 2014

First Minister’s Questions 215

General and Portfolio Questions 1,007

Topical Questions 76

5,044 questions were also lodged for written answer in the same period.

Motions

MSPs use parliamentary motions for a number of purposes – to highlight an issue or event, to generate support for a cause, to acknowledge or congratulate an achievement or to stimulate debate on a subject. Motions are published in the Business Bulletin, along with the names of other members who have added their support to these.

Motions for debate in the Chamber are lodged on the basis of the business programme agreed by the Parliament. Amendments to these motions can also be lodged and the Presiding Officer selects which amendments will be debated. During the year, 3,698 motions and amendments were lodged, on a broad range of topics. The vast majority of motions are not intended for debate but address a wide variety of issues. Motions lodged over the course of the year have included:

■ illegal raptor killings ■ fixed odds betting terminals in Scotland ■ tenth anniversary of the ICL Stockline

Plastics disaster ■ doing more to support carers of people with

terminal illness ■ Scottish athletes at the Winter Olympics ■ Movember 2013 ■ workers‘ rights in the Bangladesh textile

industry

Legislation

Draft laws (known as bills while they are being considered by the Parliament) can take several months to complete their three-stage passage through the Parliament. When a bill is passed, it takes around a month for it to receive royal assent and become an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Chamber

In this parliamentary year, the majority of bills were introduced by the Scottish Government. Four members’ bills and two private bills were

also introduced. Information on the procedures for considering different types of bill can be found on the Parliament’s Bill webpages.

Bills introduced (17)A total of 17 bills were introduced in the Parliament between 11 May 2013 and 10 May 2014. The bills are listed below in order of the date of their introduction. Six of these bills were passed during the parliamentary year; the remainder are continuing their passage through the Parliament.

■ Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill [Government], 28 May 2013 ■ Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Bill [Private], 29 May 2013 ■ Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill [Government], 11 June 2013 ■ Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill [Government], 20 June 2013 ■ Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill [Government], 26 June 2013 ■ City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Bill [Private],

5 September 2013 ■ Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill [Government], 3 October 2013 ■ Defective and Dangerous Buildings (Recovery of Expenses) (Scotland) Bill

[Member’s], 30 October 2013 ■ Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill [Member’s], 13 November 2013 ■ Housing (Scotland) Bill [Government], 21 November 2013 ■ Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill [Member’s], 27 November 2013 ■ Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill [Government], 12 December 2013 ■ Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill [Member’s], 17 December 2013 ■ Budget (Scotland) (No. 3) Bill [Government], 16 January 2014 ■ Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill [Government], 6 February 2014 ■ Historic Environment Scotland Bill [Government], 3 March 2014 ■ Food (Scotland) Bill [Government], 13 March 2014

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Chamber

Acts (19)Nineteen bills received royal assent to become Acts of the Scottish Parliament between 11 May 2013 and 10 May 2014, including 13 bills that were introduced in the previous parliamentary year. They are listed below in the order in which they received royal assent.

■ Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 [Government] ■ Forth Road Bridge Act 2013 [Government] ■ The National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc) Act 2013 [Private] ■ Crofting (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2013 [Government] ■ Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Act 2013 [Government] ■ Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 [Government] ■ Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013 [Government] ■ Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 [Government] ■ Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Landfill Tax (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Act 2014 [Private] ■ Budget (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Act 2014 [Private] ■ Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government] ■ Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act 2014 [Government]

A meeting of the Parliament in the Chamber

Ministers and MSPs contribute to

parliamentary debate on a wide

range of issues.

Scottish Parliament Annual Report 2012/13

Photographs of committee sessions and visits:1. Welfare Reform Committee2. Health and Sport Committee3. Equal Opportunities Committee4. Rural Affairs, Climate Change

and Environment Committee5. Education and Culture

Committee

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Committees

CommitteesThe Parliament has different kinds of committee. There are mandatory and subject committees, and it can also establish committees or sub-committees to consider particular issues or pieces of legislation.

Several changes took place this year. The Subordinate Legislation Committee changed its name to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee in June 2013 to reflect a new, wider role; and three committees were established to consider the private bills of their respective titles: the City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Bill Committee was established on 29 May 2013, the Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Bill Committee was established on 12 June 2013 and sat until the bill was passed in January 2014, and the City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Bill Committee was established on 18 September 2013 and sat until the bill was passed in February 2014.

For more information about a committee, click on its name in the list below. Each mandatory and subject committee publishes its own annual report and you will find links to these under the membership details for the committee.

Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Bill Committee

City of Edinburgh Council (Leith Links and Surplus Fire Fund) Bill Committee

Members:Jackson CarlawMark GriffinGordon MacDonald

Members:Bruce Crawford Anne McTaggartSandra White

Convener:Joan McAlpine

Convener:John Lamont

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Committees

City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Bill Committee

Members:James DornanAlison McInnesFiona McLeod

Convener:Siobhan McMahon

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Members:

Christian Allard (16.05.13–07.11.13) Richard Baker (from 03.09.13) Jim Eadie (until 16.05.13)

Convener:Nigel Don

Mike MacKenzie Hanzala Malik (until 03.09.13)Margaret McCulloch (from 03.09.13)Stuart McMillan (from 07.11.13)

John Pentland (until 03.09.13) John Scott Stewart Stevenson

Annual Report

Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee

Education and Culture Committee

Members:

Christian Allard (07.11.13–03.04.14) Richard Baker (from 26.02.14) Marco Biagi Chic Brodie Rhoda Grant (until 03.09.13)

Members:

George AdamClare AdamsonJayne Baxter (from 03.09.13)Colin Beattie

Convener:Murdo Fraser

Convener:Stewart Maxwell

Alison JohnstoneMike MacKenzieHanzala Malik (03.09.13–26.02.14)Joan McAlpine (from 03.04.14)Mark McDonald (27.06.13–07.11.13) Margaret McDougall

Neil Bibby Neil Findlay (until 03.09.13) Gordon MacDonald (from 03.04.14)Joan McAlpine (until 03.04.14)

Dennis Robertson David Torrance (until 27.06.13)

Liam McArthur Mary Scanlon (from 27.02.14)Liz Smith (until 27.02.14)

Annual Report

Annual Report

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Finance Committee

European and External Relations Committee

Health and Sport Committee

Members:Christian Allard (from 16.05.13)Marco Biagi

Members:Gavin BrownMalcolm Chisholm Jamie Hepburn John Mason

Members:Clare AdamsonRoderick Campbell Willie Coffey Helen Eadie (until 09.11.13)

Members:Bob DorisRhoda Grant (from 03.09.13) Colin Keir (from 07.11.13)Richard Lyle (from 16.05.13)

Convener:Margaret McCulloch (from 05.09.13)

Convener:Kenneth Gibson

Convener:Christina McKelvie

Convener:Duncan McNeil

Mary Fee (member and convener until 03.09.13)John Finnie Alex Johnstone

Michael McMahon Jean Urquhart

Patricia Ferguson (19.12.13–25.02.14)Hanzala MalikJamie McGrigor Alex Rowley (from 25.02.14)

Mark McDonald (until 14.05.13; 27.06.13–07.11.13)Aileen McLeod Nanette Milne Gil PatersonDr Richard Simpson

John Mason Siobhan McMahon Dennis Robertson (until 16.05.13)

Drew Smith (until 03.09.13)David Torrance (until 27.06.13)

Annual Report

Annual Report

Annual Report

Annual Report

Equal Opportunities Committee

www.scottish.parliament.uk/Committees

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Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee

Justice Sub-Committee on Policing

Local Government and Regeneration Committee

Justice Committee

Members:

Jim EadieMary Fee (from 03.09.13)Mark Griffin (from 03.09.13)

Members:

John FinnieAlison McInnes

Members:

Richard Baker (03.09.13–25.02.14)Cameron Buchanan (from 11.09.13)Mark McDonald (from 07.11.13)

Members:

Christian Allard (from 07.11.13) Roderick CampbellJohn FinnieColin Keir (until 07.11.13)

Convener:Maureen Watt

Convener:Kevin Stewart

Convener:Christine Grahame

Adam IngramAlex Johnstone Gordon MacDonald Margaret McCulloch (until 03.09.13)

Margaret MitchellGraeme PearsonKevin Stewart

Stuart McMillan Anne McTaggart Margaret Mitchell (until 11.09.13)John Pentland (until 03.09.13)

Jenny Marra (until 03.09.13)Alison McInnes David McLetchie (until 12.08.13) Margaret Mitchell (from 10.09.13)

Elaine Murray (until 03.09.13)

Alex Rowley (from 25.02.14) Stewart Stevenson (until 07.11.13)John Wilson

Elaine Murray (from 03.09.13) Graeme Pearson (until 03.09.13)John Pentland (from 03.09.13)Sandra White

Annual Report

Annual Report

Annual Report

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Committees

Public Petitions Committee

Referendum (Scotland) Bill Committee

Members:

Chic BrodieJackson CarlawAdam Ingram (until 27.06.13)Angus MacDonald

Members:

Annabelle EwingLinda FabianiPatricia Ferguson (until 03.09.13)Rob Gibson

Convener:David Stewart

Convener:Bruce Crawford

Anne McTaggart David Torrance (from 27.06.13)John Wilson

Annabel GoldiePatrick HarvieJames Kelly (until 03.09.13)Lewis Macdonald (from 03.09.13)

Stewart MaxwellStuart McMillanTavish ScottDrew Smith (from 03.09.13)

Annual Report

Public Audit Committee

National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc) Bill Committee

Members:

Colin Beattie Willie Coffey Bruce Crawford (from 08.05.14)Bob Doris (until 08.05.14)

Members:

Jayne BaxterJames DornanJamie McGrigor

Convener:Hugh Henry (from 18.09.13)

Convener:Fiona McLeod

James DornanIain Gray (member and convener until 03.09.13) Mark Griffin (until 03.09.13)

Colin Keir Ken Macintosh (from 03.09.13)Mary Scanlon Tavish Scott

Annual Report

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/Committees

Welfare Reform Committee

Members:

Annabelle Ewing Linda FabianiIain Gray (until 03.09.13)Convener:

Michael McMahon

Jamie Hepburn Alex Johnstone Ken Macintosh (from 03.09.13)Kevin Stewart

Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee

Members:

Jayne Baxter (until 31.10.13)Claudia Beamish Graeme Dey Nigel Don

Convener:Rob Gibson

Alex Fergusson Cara Hilton (from 31.10.13)Jim Hume Richard Lyle (until 03.04.14)

Angus MacDonald Dave Thompson (from 03.04.14)

Annual Report

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Members:

George Adam (from 16.05.13)Cameron Buchanan (from 10.09.13)Helen Eadie (until 09.11.13) Cara Hilton (from 19.12.13)

Convener:Stewart Stevenson (from 21.11.13)

John Lamont (until 10.09.13) Richard LyleMargaret McCulloch (until 03.09.13) Margaret McDougall (from 03.09.13)Fiona McLeod

David Thompson (member and convener until 07.11.13)

Annual Report

Annual Report

Photographs of committee sessions and visits:1. Economy, Energy and Tourism

Committee 2. European and External

Relations Committee3. Infrastructure and Capital

Investment Committee4. Equal Opportunities Committee5. Education and Culture

Committee5

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/International

International engagement Over the course of the year, 60 inward delegations visited the Scottish Parliament.

Visitors included Speakers, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors and High Commissioners from all corners of the globe. Some highlights included visits from:

■ the Ambassador of the United States of America, Matthew W Barzun

■ the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, the Hon Linda Reid MLA

■ the High Commissioner of Australia, His Excellency, the Hon Mike Rann

■ the President of the Parliament of Wallonia, Mr Patrick Dupriez

■ the High Commissioner of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr Paul William Lumbi

In July 2013, the Scottish Parliament hosted a symposium of Legislative Leaders of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The symposium brought together more than 50 Speakers, Majority and Minority Leaders, representing 29 States and three commonwealths and territories of the United States of America. Delegates discussed a wide range of topics including:

■ the impact of the Scottish diaspora on the making of the USA

■ the constitutional debate in Scotland and the UK

■ the global economic outlook and the impact on US State budgets

■ doing business in Scotland and the US ■ global energy supply and demand ■ legislative leadership ■ social media and legislatures

The Scottish Parliament continued to engage with legislatures in the Western Balkans through partnership working with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Western Balkans Network of Parliamentary Committees for Economy, Finance and European Integration. The Scottish Parliament hosted the Board of the Network, while Liam McArthur MSP and Murdo Fraser MSP addressed meetings of the Network in Montenegro and Serbia respectively.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland Branch undertook a wide range of work in 2013-14, including hosting an international conference on 15 and 16 March 2014. The conference, entitled ‘Enhancing the Participation of Women in Politics’, explored the experiences of female parliamentarians and the representation of women in politics. Around 50 female parliamentarians and observers attended the inaugural Conference of the British Islands and Mediterranean Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Parliament of South Africa delivered the keynote speech at the conference.

The Scottish Parliament delegation to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA), led by Deputy Presiding Officer John Scott MSP, attended two plenary sessions during 2013-14, in London and Dublin. This bi-annual plenary provides MSPs with the opportunity to discuss issues of shared concern with colleagues from across the parliaments and assemblies of the British Isles. Members were addressed by, and had a question and answer session with, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny TD at the recent plenary session in Dublin.

1. The Presiding Officer and the Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr Matthew W Barzun

2. Members of the CPA Scotland Branch, Patricia Ferguson MSP, Margaret Mitchell MSP and Sandra White MSP, are pictured with delegates and observers at the conference of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians.

3. The Presiding Officer (front right) and the then President of NCSL, Terie Norelli (front left), are pictured with symposium delegates.

4. Liam McArthur MSP addresses delegates at the meeting of the Western Balkans Network of Parliamentary Committees for Economy, Finance and European Integration.

5. The Presiding Officer (right), Linda Fabiani MSP (centre) and Rhoda Grant MSP (left) hold the finishing line tape at the Scotland Run in Central Park, New York City, during Scotland Week 2014.

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/ParliamentDays

Engagement with the public

Parliament Days

Continuing the programme launched by the Presiding Officer in November 2012, three Parliament Days took place this year in the Central Scotland, North East Scotland and West Scotland parliamentary regions. This initiative takes the Parliament out of Edinburgh for people around the country to see it at work, be it ‘official’ business or engagement on a less formal level. It provides an opportunity for people to meet those involved with the Parliament in different roles – MSPs, the Presiding Officer and staff – and seeks to inspire local people to take an interest in and engage directly with the work of their Parliament. Parliament Day StirlingOn Thursday 20 June 2013, a civic reception was held at Forth Valley College’s Stirling campus, with a programme showcasing local musical and dramatic talents and including a presentation by two young carers.

The Health and Sport Committee members were out and about on Friday 21 June, hearing about Cultenhove Opportunities Partnership, a social enterprise that is working to improve residents’ self-esteem and confidence. Members then visited Stirling Community Hospital, where they heard about Town Break Stirling, a project supporting people with dementia, and

watched pupils from Cowie Primary School perform a drama and dance presentation promoting healthy eating and physical activity. At its formal meeting, the committee took evidence on health inequalities from NHS Forth Valley, Stirling Council, Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise and Forth Valley College.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP and Bruce Crawford, the constituency MSP for Stirling, valued their visits to Red Kite Community Nursery, Recyke-a-bike, Start-up Stirling Crisis Food Bank and Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau.

Saturday 22 June saw the first regional Communities Conference to be held outside Holyrood. More than 80 delegates from local groups and organisations commented on how enjoyable the day was and the value of holding it locally, as well as how much they had learnt from their MSPs, the panel experts and Parliament staff. The event will be offered at some future Parliament Days, based on this successful trial.

Parliament Day ArbroathInvited guests joined the Presiding Officer and MSPs at a reception at the Webster Memorial Theatre on Sunday 3 November, at which young people from PRAXIS Life Skills Centre gave an insightful and informative presentation.

The Parliament’s engagement with the people of Scotland has continued this year through a range of activities at Holyrood and across Scotland, including high-profile events and popular exhibitions. In addition to taking the opportunities offered by Parliament Days to speak to members about issues of importance in their local areas, nearly 30,000 people attended events, conferences, briefings, receptions and performances in the Parliament, which provided further occasions for interaction with MSPs.

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1. Pupils from Our Lady’s Primary School, Raploch, promoting the Parliament’s visit to Stirling in June 2013

2. The Presiding Officer with puppets from Sesame Tree at the launch of the Andrew Carnegie exhibition. Puppets courtesy and copyright of Sesame Workshop

3. Pupils participating in the seventh St Andrew’s Day debate

4. Photographs for the World Press Photo 2013 exhibition being unpacked. Photograph: copyright Wei Seng Chen

5. Pupils from the Glasgow Gaelic School taking part in the BT Gaelic Schools debate

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/EventsAndExhibitions

On Monday 4 November 2013, the Finance Committee offered local business people and organisations a chance to have their say on the proposed Scottish budget for 2014-15 in workshops with MSPs. In the afternoon, the committee took evidence from John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth. Among those who came along to observe the Parliament in action were students from Montrose Academy, Arbroath High School and Dundee and Angus College.

The Presiding Officer and Graeme Dey, the constituency MSP for Angus South, enjoyed visiting Angus Training Group, Iain R Spink (to find out how Arbroath Smokies are traditionally made), MacKay’s Boatyard, Dundee and Angus College and the award-winning Darling’s Coffee Shop, set up by Enable Scotland. A variety of local organisations and groups attended the lunch at the college to discuss their issues and network.

Parliament Day DumbartonThe Presiding Officer’s reception was held in the Burgh Hall on Sunday 23 February 2014, where guests were entertained by pupils from Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Secondary School.

On Monday 24 February, the focus was on the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee and its scrutiny of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This was the first time that bill scrutiny had featured as part of a Parliament Day, and it was also the first time ever that a committee had held a formal external meeting in the evening.

The committee started its day with a question and answer session with pupils from Dumbarton Academy, then met informally with tenants, residents’ groups and representatives of housing associations to gather information and views to feed into the formal meeting. Later in the afternoon,

the MSPs met with West Dunbartonshire Council elected representatives and officials.

At its formal meeting in the Burgh Hall in the evening, the committee took evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill from the Tenant Information Service, Central Region Tenants Network, Highland and Argyll and Bute Tenants Network, Glasgow and Eilean Siar Tenants Network, and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, Scotland.

While regional MSPs for West Scotland beat a path to local schools to find out what matters to young people in the area, the Presiding Officer and Jackie Baillie, the constituency MSP for Dumbarton, appreciated their visits to a range of venues: Café Connect, a not-for-profit social enterprise for adults with learning disabilities run by West Dunbartonshire Council; the BBC Scotland studios where River City is filmed; St Augustine’s Church Community Hall, where they met a range of local groups over lunch; and Rockvale Rebound, an award-winning talking newspaper.

Events

Events and exhibitions continue to be key features of the Parliament’s engagement strategy. They provide an important opportunity for people of all ages and from a range of not-for-profit, business and umbrella organisations to engage with MSPs as individuals and with the Parliament as an institution to discuss the issues that are of importance to them. Events this year have included:

■ the final of Euroquiz 2013 ■ the final of the Donald Dewar Memorial

Debating Competition ■ the annual Business in the Parliament

Conference ■ the annual Consular Corps Burns Supper ■ an event to mark International Women’s Day

1. Prints of The Proclaimers produced to commemorate the Pop Art Prints Workshop held during the Pop, Power and Politics exhibition. Print design: copyright The Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop

2. The Presiding Officer (centre) and Graeme Dey MSP (left) watch Arbroath Smokies being made

3. The Presiding Officer (right) and Jackie Baillie MSP (left) at Rockvale Rebound

4. Pupils competing in the final of Euroquiz 2013

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2

4

3

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www.scottish.parliament.uk/EventsAndExhibitions

Festival of Politics The newly formatted 2013 Festival of Politics, in partnership with the Carnegie UK Trust, which had a shorter, sharper and more focused programme over the weekend of Friday 23 to Sunday 25 August, was attended by 4,500 people. The 2013 theme was Scotland’s Place in the World and the programme included events, discussions, drama and film on a range of topics such as Europe, economy, identity and defence. The newly introduced Festival Café Bar provided a space where people could continue discussions with panellists once events had finished, enjoy refreshments and be entertained with a programme of live performances.

Andrew Carnegie’s International Legacy: Shaping the FutureFrom Saturday 12 to Saturday 19 October 2013, Andrew Carnegie’s International Legacy Week celebrated the impact made by the Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and the global network of trusts and foundations he endowed. Events were spread across the week, with the highlight being the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award Ceremony in the Debating Chamber, chaired by the Presiding Officer.

Exhibitions

More than 180,000 visitors to the building had an opportunity to view a diverse range of exhibitions this year.

From Tuesday 30 July to Sunday 25 August, the Scottish Parliament – the only parliament to do so – hosted the prestigious World Press

Photo 2013 exhibition, which featured works by 54 photographers, selected by the World Press Photo jury from images submitted by more than 5,000 international photographers.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland exhibition of more than 150 embroidered tapestry panels illustrating Scottish history was displayed in the Main Hall of the Parliament from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 21 September 2013 and attracted more than 37,000 visitors. An ambitious community arts project involving 1,000 volunteer stitchers, it was developed by writer Alexander McCall Smith, artist Andrew Crummy and historical writer Alistair Moffat.

In addition to the programme of events demonstrating the huge impact made by Andrew Carnegie and the network of charitable organisations he endowed, the Parliament hosted two major public exhibitions about Warhol’s work and Carnegie’s philanthropic legacy: in partnership with the Carnegie UK Trust, Andy Warhol: Pop, Power and Politics, from Saturday 5 October to Sunday 3 November; and Andrew Carnegie: The legacy that changed the world, from Tuesday 15 October 2013 to Saturday 25 January 2014, in partnership with Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, and as a result of support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Works by artist George Wyllie acquired for the Parliament Art Collection went on public display in March 2014, along with loans from the George Wyllie Foundation and the Wyllie family. The Parliament acquired Contemplace, a maquette for Berlin Burd and three works on paper about the giant Berlin Burd displayed at the Berlin Wall in 1988.

The Ryder Cup Heritage exhibition, containing memorabilia exploring the history of the iconic golf event and its past players, opened to the public on Wednesday 30 April 2014 to mark Scotland’s hosting of the 2014 Ryder Cup.

A panel from the Great Tapestry of Scotland exhibition

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www.scottish.parliament.uk

Engagement

The Scottish Parliament shares its information through a range of channels, providing members of the public with opportunities to engage in two-way communication and have an impact on its work. Below are some examples showing the level of engagement over the past year.

More than

More than

More than

More than

10 million

24,900

335,000

24,700

400

students took part in education sessions

visitors

people went on a tour

member-sponsored events and exhibitions

40 new petitionslodged and considered by the Public Petitions Committee

3,500 likes

6,400 enquiries

page views of the Scottish Parliament website

of the Parliament’s Facebook page

from members of the public

More than

More than

More than

on Twitterand

1,000 followersfor @ParlAlba, our Gaelic Twitter feed

24,000 followers

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David McLetchie MSP1952–2013

We were very sad to learn of the passing of David McLetchie MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian, on Monday 12 August 2013. David had been a Member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and his substantial contribution was commemorated during a debate on a Motion of Condolence in the parliamentary Chamber on Tuesday 3 September.

Helen Eadie MSP 1947–2013

We were very sad to learn of the passing of Helen Eadie MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cowdenbeath, on Saturday 9 November 2013. Helen had been a Member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and her substantial contribution was commemorated during a debate on a Motion of Condolence in the parliamentary Chamber on Wednesday 20 November.

Margo MacDonald MSP 1943–2014

We were very sad to learn of the passing of Margo MacDonald MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian, on Friday 4 April 2014. Margo had been a Member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and her substantial contribution was commemorated during a debate on a Motion of Condolence in the parliamentary Chamber on Tuesday 22 April.

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www.scottish.parliament.uk

How to contact us

Public information provides information about the business, membership and procedures of the Scottish Parliament.

Public InformationThe Scottish ParliamentEdinburghEH99 1SP0800 092 75000131 348 50000131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)

We also welcome calls using the Text Relay service.

Text the Scottish Parliament on 07786 209888sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

www.scottish.parliament.uk

@ScotParl

/scottishparliament

/scottishparl

For information in languages other than English or in alternative formats (for example, in Braille, large print or audio), please send your enquiry to public information.

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