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Your Parliament Your Voice Ewan Masson Outreach Services Officer
Your Parliament
Your Voice
Ewan Masson
Outreach Services Officer
1.Learn about your Scottish Parliament
2. Increase your confidence on how to
engage with MSPs and the Parliament
3.Raise your awareness of the range of
ways to get involved
4.An introduction to the work of the
Community Outreach Team
Session objectives
Flipchart Activity
The Scottish Parliament …
what does it mean to you?
The Scottish Parliament
Nicola Sturgeon Ken MacIntosh Sir Paul Grice HM Queen
The Scottish Parliament
Rt Hon. Ken MacIntosh MSPPresiding Officer
Scottish Parliament
- not the government
- the legislature
- led by Presiding Officer
- makes laws
- holds Government to accountScottish Government
- runs the country
- spends the money!
- led by First Minister
- answerable to Parliament
Some basics
The 2016 Election Results
Con 31
Lab 23
Green 6
LibDem 5
Presiding Officer 1
Clare Adamson Richard Leonard Margaret Mitchell Monica Lennon
Mark Griffin Graham Simpson Elaine Smith Alison Harris
8 Regions
Each elects 7 MSPs
73 Constituencies
Each elects 1 MSP
129 MSPs
• Nominate and elect the First Minister
• Make laws in relation to devolved matters
• Deal with matters and enquiries raised by constituents
• Scrutinise the Government (committee system)
• Debate reserved matters of relevance to Scotland
Clare Adamson
(SNP)
Motherwell &
Wishaw
Group Activity
Devolved vs Reserved Card Game
Powers devolved under
the Scotland Act 1998
Education and
training
Transport
Environment and
Planning
Justice
Agriculture,
forestry & fisheries
Health and
Social services
Local
Government
Housing
Sport
Culture & creative
industries
Social Work
Powers devolved under
the Scotland Act 2012
Scottish representation
on boards of the
BBC and Crown Estate
Scottish rate of
income tax
Borrowing powers
Air Weapons
Drink driving
alcohol limits
Landfill Tax
Land & Buildings
Transaction Tax
Powers devolved under
the Scotland Act 2016
Welfare (inc control
over some benefits)
Employment
programmesPartial VAT
Air Passenger
Duty/Aggregates
levy
Income tax (inc
rates and
thresholds)
Onshore Oil & Gas
Transport (inc road
signs and BTP)
LG Franchise &
SP elections
Crown Estate
Scotland
Reserved powers
Defence and
Security
Employment
Energy
regulation
Economic and
monetary policy
Foreign Affairs
Social Security
Immigration
Constitution
Broadcasting
Trade and industry
COMMITTEES
What is a committee?
• Scrutiny• Look at the laws
being made to make sure they are a good idea
• Inquiry• Investigate issues to
find out what needs to be done
Mandatory
✓ Culture, Tourism Europe and
External Affairs
✓ Delegated Powers and Law
Reform
✓ Equalities and Human Rights
✓ Finance and Constitution
✓ Public Audit and Post-
Legislative Scrutiny
✓ Public Petitions
✓ Standards, Procedures and
Public Appointments
Subject
✓ Economy, Energy and Fair Work
✓ Education and Skills
✓ Environment, Climate Change and
Land Reform
✓ Health and Sport
✓ Justice
✓ Justice Sub-Committee on Policing
✓ Local Government and
Communities
✓ Rural Economy and Connectivity
✓ Social Security
The Legislative Process:
how ideas become law
Committees and Parliament
consider the GENERAL
PRINCIPLES of the Bill
Committees SCRUTINISE the
Bill; line by line and section by
section
Parliament VOTES on whether
the Bill should become a law
A
Bill….
Act of the
Scottish
Parliament
Break?
Part 2 -
How to Get Involved
Keeping up-to-date with committees
Committee websites
Attend public Committee meetings
Mailing lists
Speak to clerks
Informal Formal
Questions, Motions
Meeting with MSPs
Public Petition
Engaging with committees
Cross-Party Groups
Social Media
Events, Exhibitions
Visiting Holyrood
Different types of engagement
Capacity building
Awareness raising
Increased confidence
New legislation
Meet with MSPs, Ministers
Parliamentary debate
Influence policy
Realistic expectations
What is ‘successful’ engagement
Activity
Exercise: What to Expect
Cross Party Groups (CPGs)
CPGs
Members of the Public
MSPs from all parties
External Organisations
✓ Meet to discuss a shared
interest/cause/subject
✓ a way for external groups to
have their voice heard
✓ a sounding board for MSPs
• Animal Welfare
• Autism
• Carers
• Housing
• Older People, Age and Aging
• Mental Health
• Learning Disability
• Volunteering
Cross Party Groups (CPGs)
Parliamentary Motions
A way for MSPs to state their position on a particular
issue of interest or relevance to them and their
constituents.Motion S5M-10274: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date Lodged: 02/02/2018Appreciation of Rose Reilly of Newarthill Credit Union
That the Parliament celebrates the valued contribution made by Rose Reilly to the Newarthill Credit Union in the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency; notes that Rose has played a key part in the work of the credit union for over 40 years; understands that, having dedicated many decades of her life to volunteering, she has become a weel-kent
face who is highly regarded by local people, both in Newarthill and nearby; believes that local financial services in communities across Scotland could not deliver the work they do without the selfless volunteering by individuals such as Rose, and wishes her all the very best for the future and many years of continued volunteering.
Supported by: Emma Harper, Fulton MacGregor, David Torrance, Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, Clare Haughey, Ruth Maguire, Monica Lennon, Joan McAlpine, Gillian Martin, Ash Denham, Ben Macpherson, Gil Paterson
A way for MSPs to state their position on a particular
issue of interest or relevance to them and their
constituents.Motion S4M-10257: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party
Date Lodged: 09/06/2014
Celebrating the Contribution of Older People to Scottish Society
That the Parliament celebrates the valuable contribution that older people make to life in Scotland
today; welcomes the publication of Somewhere to go and something to do - Active and Healthy
Ageing: An Action Plan for Scotland 2014-2016; recognises the contribution that older people have
made to society ….
Motion S4M-11163: Jenny Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 09/10/2014
Keep Dundee’s 36 Bus
That the Parliament condemns the withdrawal of the 36 bus service in Dundee by National Express;
understands that National Express and Dundee City Council Transport have failed to give assurance
of future service provision for communities in Linlathen, Mid Craigie, Claverhouse and Mill
O’Mains; supports and congratulates the residents on their campaign to keep and improve the 36
service….
Written Questions
must be answered within 10
working days
Oral Questions
answered in the Chamber
to obtain factual and statistical information from the
Scottish Government
Parliamentary Questions
Parliamentary Questions
• Awareness-raising
• Requires MSP ‘Sponsor’
• Book well in advance
• Launch, milestone, project completion, etc.
Events & Exhibitions at
Holyrood
Events at Holyrood
The Three ‘A’s
Aims – what do we want to achieve?
Audience – who do we want to attend?
Activity – what do we want to do?
• Only ONE signature required
• No lower age limit
• Any topic can be considered – as long as it
impacts the people of Scotland
• Must be admissible
• PPC is NOT an appeals court
• PPC won’t interfere in local decisions
• Online petitions system
• Advice and assistance available
Public Petitions – Key facts
Top Tips
• One is fun, but EIGHT is great!
• Meet MSPs in person
• Do your homework
• Have clear, specific objectives
• Be realistic
• ‘Lived experience’
• Link-up with other groups
• Be prepared to listen
• Ask parliamentary staff
• Keep in touch with the Community Outreach
Team
Scottish Parliament
Outreach Services
Meet the Community Outreach
Team (COT)
Bring ‘lived experience’ to committee deliberations
Generate community-based, grass-roots participation
COT’s role - Committees
COT’s role – Voluntary Sector
Match audiences & communities to subjects /
legislation
Build / develop relationships
with TSIs
Ewan Masson
Outreach Services Officer
Room DG.06
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Tel: 0131 348 5366
@OutreachSP
