Engage with Devolved Legislatures
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engage with devolved legislatures Parliament for Researchers – how to engage with devolved legislatures UK Parliament, Government and devolution Engaging with the Scottish Parliament Emma Robinson, Head of Enquiries and Collections, Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), Scottish Parliament Engaging with the Northern Ireland Assembly Eileen Regan, Senior Researcher, Research and Information Service (RaISe), Northern Ireland Assembly Engaging with the Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru Hannah Johnson, Knowledge Exchange and Engagement Manager, Research Services, Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru Parliament ≠ Government UK Parliament UK Government • Commons, Lords and Monarch • Some MPs and some Peers, • Holds Government to account chosen by the Prime Minister • Makes laws • Runs Government departments and public services • Enables the Government to raise and spend money • Is accountable to Parliament istock by Getty images Devolved administrations Northern Ireland Executive / Scottish Government / Northern Ireland Assembly Scottish Parliament ‘MLAs’ = Members of the ‘MSPs’ = Members of the Legislative Assembly Scottish Parliament Since 1999 - Certain powers devolved Welsh Government / Welsh (e.g. education or health) Parliament/Senedd Cymru - Certain powers reserved ‘MSs’ = Members of the Senedd (e.g. UK defence or foreign policy) Parliament Academic engagement with the Scottish Parliament Emma Robinson, SPICe Enquiries Manager May 2021 The Scottish Government The Scottish Parliament • Proposes and implements laws for • Makes laws for Scotland on Scotland on devolved matters devolved matters • Makes and implements policy • Scrutinises the work of the • Proposes the Scottish budget Scottish Government • Is headed by the First Minister • Debates issues affecting Scotland Devolved Reserved Health Broadcasting Trade Tourism Environment Housing Defence Transport Immigration Education Employment What do we do in SPICe? What do we do in SPICe? We provide: Confidential and impartial expertise for Members and their staff ▪ Research, analysis, briefings ▪ Full range of Library services ▪ Parliamentary data ▪ Data visualisation ▪ Academic engagement Academic Engagement Why do we engage? …with academia? • Better scrutiny • Better networked members and staff …with Parliament? • Contribution to civic society • Profile • Research impact (e.g. REF) How research is used? • In Chamber • Debates, Speeches, Questions • In Committees • Inquiries, Legislative stages • In SPICe • Constituency casework enquiries • Briefings, blogs, Committee papers Ways to engage 1/4 UKRI PhD placements • Environmental human rights in Scotland • Health and Social Care Integration: Spending and Performance Update • Renewable Energy: Community Benefit and Ownership • Wild Salmon Ways to engage 2/4 Fellowships To undertake and communicate analysis which would otherwise not be possible • The impact of Brexit related statutory instruments on the devolution settlement and future policy direction in Scotland • Integrated land use • Scottish Initial Teacher Education (ITE): ten years on • The impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s economy (female entrepreneurs) • The intersectional impact of COVID-19 on LGBT+ people in Scotland • Impact of Brexit on Scottish social security • The impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s economy (SME and large companies) • The impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities in Scotland • Evaluating the Role of Human Rights in Scotland’s External Relations Ways to engage 3/4 • Developing understanding and awareness of issues • encouraging engagement and debate among a wide spectrum of attendees Ways to engage 4/4 Ways to engage 4/4 Framework Agreements • COVID-19 Register of Experts & Framework Agreement • Brexit – post Brexit? • COP26 and the climate emergency Three top tips for engaging? 1. Ensure your research is relevant to current business 2. Network - especially with the Knowledge Exchange expert in your organisation 3. Make your research accessible and write for your audience How can you keep up with what we’re doing? Blog Twitter https:spice-spotlight.scot @spice_research Thank you Email: [email protected] [email protected] Blog: https:spice-spotlight.scot @spice_research Researchers engaging effectively with the Northern Ireland Assembly: Insights shared from a RaISe perspective Eileen Regan Research and Information Service (RaISe) Parliament for Researchers – how to engage with devolved legislatures and the UK Parliament Virtual Event 25 May 2021 Today’s session ❖Understanding devolution in Northern Ireland ▪ Parameters & Timeline ❖Academic engagement in the Northern Ireland Assembly context ▪ Examples of when needed by the Assembly ❖How to engage with the Assembly ▪ Examples to engage directly & indirectly ❖“Fit for Purpose” briefings in an Assembly context – 3 top tips [email protected] Understanding devolution in NI: Parameters ❖ Parameters ▪ Devolved (‘transferred’) v Non-devolved (‘excepted’ and ‘reserved’) ▪ Key legislation • NI Act 1998 (as amended) http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/47/content • NI (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/22/contents/enacted/data.htm • UK Internal Market Act 2020 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/ukpga/2020/27/contents/enacted [email protected] Understanding devolution in NI: Parameters Transferred (devolved) Excepted Reserved (non-devolved) (non-devolved, but…) Health and social services; Constitution; Firearms and explosives; Education; Royal succession; Financial services and pensions Employment and skills; International relations; regulation; Agriculture; Defence and armed forces; Broadcasting; Social security; Nationality, immigration and Import and export controls; Pensions and child support; asylum; Navigation and civil aviation; Housing; Elections; International trade and financial Economic development; National security; markets; Local government; Nuclear energy; Telecommunications and postage; Environmental issues, including UK-wide taxation; The foreshore and seabed; planning; Currency; Disqualification from Assembly Transport; Conferring of honours; membership; Culture and sport; International treaties Consumer safety; NI Civil Service; Intellectual property Equal opportunities; Some revenue-raising; Justice and policing [email protected] Understanding devolution in NI: Timeline ❖ Timeline - Devolution v Suspension/direct rule v Other ▪ Assembly fully functioning: Dec 1999 – Feb 2000; 29 May 2000 – 10 Aug 2001; 11 Aug 2001– 20 Sept 2001; 22 Sept 2001 – 13 Oct 2002; 8 May 2007 – 16 Jan 2017; 21 Oct 2019; 11 Jan 2020 to date ▪ Assembly suspended, with direct rule in effect: 11 Feb 2000 – 28 May 2000; 10 Aug 2000; 21 Sept 2001; 14 Oct 2002 – 7 May 2007 ▪ Assembly not fully functioning, but direct rule not in effect: Permanent Secretaries of the NI Departments responsible for the day to day delivery of services under the authority of the NI Secretary of State - 16 Jan 2017 to 20 Oct 2019; 22 Oct 2019 to 10 Jan 2020 [email protected] timeline ❖ Significance of understanding devolution parameters & timeline ▪ Both shape the policy and legislative contexts in NI • Who proposing/determining the given policy and legislative proposals? • Where to look for relevant information and data? • How to make your research more relevant when formulating the proposals and/or implementing them if adopted? • How to disseminate your research in a more targeted manner and maximise its impact (potential and actual)? © [email protected] Academic engagement in the NI Assembly context: Examples of when needed by the Assembly ❖ Assembly business – Plenary, Committee and Constituency - Executive and Departmental business, i.e. when advising and scrutinising policy or public finance related proposals http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index.htm - A Bill and related public consultation, i.e. when advising and scrutinising legislation proposed by the Executive/Department, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or an individual Assembly Committee http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Legislation/ - A Committee Inquiry/Micro Inquiry and related public consultation, i.e. when the Committee proactively examines an area that is of particular interest to it – typically a devolved area http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Committees/ [email protected] ❖ Other ▪ MLAs/their Support Staff ▪ Political Parties/their Support Staff ▪ Assembly Women’s Caucus http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/assembly-womens-caucus/ ▪ All Party Groups (APGs - currently about 44) http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/allpartygroups.aspx ▪ Legislative-University Partnerships • KESS (Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series) - annual programme and academic workshops - website https://kess.org.uk/ ; twitter @RaISe_KESS ; email [email protected] • Inter-Parliamentary Research and Information Network – Knowledge Exchange Group (IPRIN-KEG) – membership, meetings and annual conference [email protected] How to engage with the Assembly: Examples to engage directly ❖ Committees – be proactive, write to the Committee advising of your research proposals and findings, as well as your expertise – e.g.: - When a Committee is advising and scrutinising Executive/Departmental policy or public finance related proposals http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index.htm - When a Committee is advising and scrutinising legislation proposed by the Executive/Department, a MLA or an individual Assembly Committee