Your Parliament Your Voice
Ewan Masson Outreach Services Officer Session objectives
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 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 MSP Presiding Officer Some basics Scottish Parliament - not the government - the legislature - led by Presiding Officer - makes laws - holds Government to account Scottish Government - runs the country - spends the money! - led by First Minister - answerable to Parliament
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 129 MSPs
73 Constituencies 8 Regions Each elects 1 MSP Each elects 7 MSPs Clare Adamson (SNP) Motherwell & Wishaw
• 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 Group Activity
Devolved vs Reserved Card Game Powers devolved under the Scotland Act 1998
Agriculture, Housing forestry & fisheries Justice Culture & creative industries Local Education and Government training Social Work Environment and Planning Sport Health and Social services Transport Powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2012
Air Weapons Landfill Tax
Borrowing powers Scottish rate of income tax Drink driving alcohol limits Land & Buildings Transaction Tax
Scottish representation on boards of the BBC and Crown Estate Powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2016
Air Passenger Onshore Oil & Gas Duty/Aggregates levy Partial VAT Employment programmes
Income tax (inc rates and Transport (inc road signs and BTP) thresholds)
LG Franchise & Welfare (inc control SP elections over some benefits) Crown Estate Scotland Reserved powers
Broadcasting Energy regulation Constitution Foreign Affairs
Defence and Immigration Security
Economic and Trade and industry monetary policy
Employment Social Security 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 Subject
✓ Culture, Tourism Europe and ✓ Economy, Energy and Fair Work External Affairs ✓ Education and Skills ✓ Delegated Powers and Law ✓ Environment, Climate Change and Reform Land Reform ✓ Equalities and Human Rights ✓ Health and Sport ✓ Finance and Constitution ✓ Justice ✓ Public Audit and Post- ✓ Justice Sub-Committee on Policing Legislative Scrutiny ✓ Local Government and ✓ Public Petitions Communities ✓ Standards, Procedures and ✓ Rural Economy and Connectivity Public Appointments ✓ Social Security The Legislative Process: how ideas become law
A Bill…. Committees and Parliament consider the GENERAL PRINCIPLES of the Bill
Committees SCRUTINISE the Bill; line by line and section by section
Act of the Scottish Parliament VOTES on whether Parliament the Bill should become a law Break? Part 2 - How to Get Involved Keeping up-to-date with committees
Committee websites
Attend public Committee meetings
Mailing lists
Speak to clerks Different types of engagement
Informal Formal
Engaging with Visiting Holyrood committees
Events, Exhibitions Public Petition
Social Media Meeting with MSPs
Cross-Party Groups Questions, Motions What is ‘successful’ engagement
New legislation Meet with MSPs, Ministers
Parliamentary debate
Influence policy Capacity building
Awareness raising
Increased confidence Realistic expectations Activity
Exercise: What to Expect Cross Party Groups (CPGs)
✓ Meet to discuss a shared MSPs from interest/cause/subject all parties Members of the Public External ✓ a way for external groups to Organisations have their voice heard
CPGs ✓ a sounding board for MSPs Cross Party Groups (CPGs) • Animal Welfare • Autism • Carers • Housing • Older People, Age and Aging • Mental Health • Learning Disability • Volunteering 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: 02/02/2018 Appreciation 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…. Parliamentary Questions to obtain factual and statistical information from the Scottish Government Written Questions must be answered within 10 working days
Oral Questions answered in the Chamber Parliamentary Questions Events & Exhibitions at Holyrood
• Awareness-raising • Requires MSP ‘Sponsor’ • Book well in advance • Launch, milestone, project completion, etc. 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? Public Petitions – Key facts • 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 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) COT’s role - Committees
Generate community-based, grass-roots participation
Bring ‘lived experience’ to committee deliberations COT’s role – Voluntary Sector
Build / develop relationships with TSIs
Match audiences & communities to subjects / legislation
Ewan Masson Outreach Services Officer Room DG.06 The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP
Tel: 0131 348 5366 [email protected]
@OutreachSP