Garrin the Scottish Pairlament wark for ye - MartinFrost.ws index page

Scots
Garrin
the Scottish Pairlament
wark for ye
“ Ye hae mony weys tae mak yir
views kent whan ye hae strang
feelins aboot issues.
This leaflet will help ye finn
oot mair aboot the Scottish
Pairlament and weys tae
involve yirsel in its wark.
“

1 July
Official handsel
o the Scottish
Pairlament
28 September
First memmer’s
bill cairried: The
Sea Fisheries
(Shallfish)
Amendment
(Scotland) Bill
4 October
First comatee
bill cairried:
The Bield
frae Abuise
(Scotland) Bill
The 2 Scottish Pairlament timeline 1999-2009
“It’s easy tae finn oot mair aboot the
Scottish Pairlament. Ye can cam and
veesit the exhibition, tak a guidit
tour or hae a shot at the bairns quiz.“
28-30 Mey
The Scottish Pairlament
forgethered in Aiberdeen
1 Mey
Secont Scottish
Pairlament election:
mair MSPs electit frae
sma-er pairties and as
independent MSPs
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Whit wey
involve yirsel?
The Scottish Pairlament maks laws and taks decisions that
affects mony aspects o yir life. The issues that the Scottish
Pairlament can deal wi are kent as devolvit maitters. Thon
includes:
• fermin, forestry and fishin
• schuils and skeels
• environment
• health and social services
• hoosin
• law and order
• local government
• sport and the erts
• tourism and economic development
• transport
23 Aprile
First Business in
the Pairlament
Conference
24-26 August
First Festival
o Politics
3 October
1000t public
petition ludged
A wheen issues that affects Scotland gets dealt wi by the
Unitit Kingdom (UK) Pairlament in Lunnon. Thir are kent
as reservit maitters and include defence, employment
law, genetics, immigration and nationality, international
affairs, pensions and social security. Forby it is ainly the UK
Pairlament that can cairry laws on reservit maitters, the
Scottish Pairlament is able for tae debate them and raise
awareness anent thir issues.
Tae help the Scottish Pairlament chauve better for ye,
Memmers o the Scottish Pairlament (MSPs) needs tae ken
yir views on the issues that affect ye.
3 Mey
Third Scottish
Pairlament election:
first minority
government formit
By October
1.5 million folk hed
veesited the new
Scottish Pairlament
biggin at Halyrude
1 July
10t anniversary
o the official
handsel o
the Scottish
Pairlament
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
3
3

4
Key facts:
Pairlament and
Government
The Scottish Pairlament and the Scottish Government are
twa sindry organisations that hae different roles.
The Scottish Pairlament
• is made up o the 129 MSPs that the people
o Scotland hes electit
• is the core that cairries laws in Scotland for
devolvit maitters
• hes the pouer tae re-set income tax up or doon
by up tae 3 pence in the pund
• can haud inquiries and debate important issues
• hauds the Scottish Government tae accoont
The Scottish Government
• is accoontable tae the Scottish Pairlament
• is made up o the First Meenister, Cabinet Secretaries
and Meenisters waled frae MSPs in the pairty that
won the election
• brings on and implements policy on devolvit
maitters and introduces maist o the bills the Scottish
Pairlament looks at
• owresees sindry public bodies and maks decisions
aboot public spendin on devolvit maitters in Scotland
Key facts:
Elections and MSPs
The Scottish Pairlament is accoontable tae the people
o Scotland throu elections. Elections tae the Scottish
Pairlament ordinarly taks place ilka 4 year.
Elections tae the Scottish Pairlament yaises a kind o
proportional representation. This means the share o the
seats the pairties wins follaein an election braidly hauds
in wi the levels o support gotten frae amang the voters.
The Pairlament hes 73 constituency MSPs and 56
regional MSPs.
Five political pairties and yin independent MSP forby are
representit in the current Scottish Pairlament.
“Ilkane in Scotland is representit
by 8 MSPs: yin for the constituency
they bide in and 7 for the braider
region. Ye can yaise the postcode
search facility on the wabsite tae finn
oot wha represents ye:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp
Ye can contact ony o yir 8 MSPs.“

This cairt shaws the 73
constituencies and 8 regions
o Scotland.
Regions
Highlands and Islands
North East Scotland
Mid Scotland and Fife
West of Scotland
Glasgow
Lothians
Central Scotland
South of Scotland
Highlands and Islands
Hielands and Isles
The Nor East
Mid Scotland and Fife
West o Scotland
Glesga
The Lothians
Central Scotland
Sooth o Scotland
North East Scotland
Mid Scotland and Fife
West of Scotland
Glasgow
Lothians
Central Scotland
South of Scotland
5

10 weys
tae finn oot mair
1. Veesit the Scottish Pairlament biggin
Ye can explore an exhibition on the Pairlament’s history
and daily darg. Ye can veesit the public gallery o the
Debatin Chaumer (dependin on availability). Ither facilities
on haun includes a café, a shop and a free public crèche.
“Information leaflets are available in sindry
leids and formats. Fou access tae the Pairlament
can be had and staff are aye on haun tae answer
yir questions.“
6
2. Get free tickets tae attend pairlamentary
business
Ye can get tickets tae watch debates and Question Time
sessions in the Debatin Chaumer. Tickets tae attend
comatee meetins are available as weel.
3. Follae a debate online
Ye can yaise Halyrude TV tae doonload a video-podcast or
watch business in the Debatin Chaumer or in comatee live
online at: www.holyrood.tv
4. Speir at yir MSPs tae pey a veesit tae yir
community group
Ye can invite yir MSPs tae gie a talk tae yir group aboot
the weys they represent ye and whit they can dae for ye.
5. Jyne a guidit tour at Halyrude
Jyne a tour tae finn oot aboot the Halyrude biggin and hoo
the Pairlament warks. Tours ordinarly taks ye roun the flair
o the Debatin Chaumer and intae a comatee room, forby
the Gairden Lobby. Ye can aye tak a tour o the Pairlament’s
ert collection tae.

6. Gang til a Scottish Pairlament event
Pairticipative sessions and warkshops are rin as pairt o
the Festival o Politics, as weel as Open Days, forby events
oot-throu the year tae explain the darg o the Scottish
Pairlament and the weys ye can involve yirsel.
7. Explore the Scottish Pairlament wabsite
(www.scottish.parliament.uk) tae finn oot aboot:
• whit’s happenin in the Pairlament
• hoo the Pairlament warks
• MSPs
• veesitin and interactin wi the Pairlament
• pairlamentary business
8. Gang til yir local pairtner library
Ilka constituency in Scotland hes a pairtner library wi a
Scottish Pairlament section offerin internet facilities that
lat ye access the Scottish Pairlament wabsite or email yir
MSPs. Some micht hae sindry copies o Scottish Pairlament
documents as weel.
9. Text, phone or email Public Information for
mair information
Ye can text yir postcode tae get sent a leet o yir MSPs, speir
for an information pack or pit a question aboot the darg o
the Scottish Pairlament. Forby, if ye hae an enquiry, ye can
aye email, write or phone Public Information.
10. Tak pairt in oor Education programme
Schuils groups can book an interactive session at the
learnin centre. This includes a chance tae explore the
biggin and meet in wi MSPs gin they are free. Or else ye
can invite the ootreach education staff tae cam and deliver
an activity session at yir schuil – nae maitter whaur ye
bide in Scotland!
7

10 weys
tae involve yirsel
1. Vote in the Scottish Pairlament elections
Votin is at the heid o the democratic process. Tae vote
ye need tae pit yir name on the Register o Electors, be
a citizen o the UK, Commonwealth, European Union or
Republic o Ireland and be 18 year auld and up.
2. Scrieve til, email or telephone ane o yir MSPs
aboot an issue
Ye can pit yir concerns aboot an issue tae ony o yir MSPs.
Tae finn oot wha yir MSPs are, contact Public Information
or check the Pairlament’s wabsite.
3. Speak til an MSP at a local surgery
Ye can meet in wi yir MSP tae discuss yir concerns
yin-tae-yin at a local surgery. Surgeries are meetins
regularly hauden in constituency offices or in places like
community centres. Contact yir MSP for details.
8
4. Repone til a caw for evidence frae a comatee
Comatees ettles tae involve as mony folk as possible in
the democratic process. By answerin a caw for evidence,
ye can aiblins influence legislation or the policies o the
Scottish Government. Ye can scrieve til a comatee in
answer tae a caw for evidence anent an inquiry or a bill.
5. Attend comatee events
Comatee events are held atour Scotland tae commune wi
the general public aboot issues. Ye can read aboot planned
veesits on the Pairlament wabsite or in yir local newsblads.
6. Jyne yin o the Cross-Pairty Groups (CPGs)
Jynin a CPG will lat ye meet in wi MSPs and ither
individuals and organisations that aw share the same
interest or concern.

7. Pit forrit a public petition
Ye can pit forrit a public petition tae gar the Pairlament
speir intil a maitter o national public interest or concern,
mak cheenges tae existin laws or bring forrit new laws.
Tae attract a braider audience ye can aye upsteer a petition
online throu the e-petition system.
8. Add yir name in support til an online
public petition
Ye can access the e-petition wab page tae eik yir name
til an e-petition that interests ye or tak pairt in an online
collogue at: http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk
9. Apply, wi an MSP’s support, tae haud an
information display or event aboot an issue
Events and information displays gies ye opportunities
tae raise awareness anent issues. Ye can
finn oot mair by contactin yin o yir MSPs
or the Events and Exhibitions Team
on 0131 348 6933.
10. Staun for election
Ye can staun for election as an MSP gin ye are 18 or
aulder and a citizen o the UK, Commonwealth or Republic
o Ireland, or a European Union citizen that bides in the UK.
An MSP can represent a pairty or be independent. For mair
information, hae a keek at:
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
“Takkin pairt in an online forum
for an e-petition is a guid wey tae
mak yir views kent and collogue
wi ithers on an issue o national
public concern.
It’s a guid wey tae ettle at sweyin
thocht on an issue.
“
9

Bill A set o proposals that micht become law gin the
Scottish Pairlament cairries it.
Candidate A person that stauns for election as a
memmer o a political pairty or as a lane independent.
Comatee A comatee is a sma group o MSPs that looks
at specific issues in detail. MSPs are waled in sic a wey as
tae reflect the balance o the sindry political pairties and
independent MSPs in the Pairlament.
Constituency Scotland is dividit intae 73 local areas
for elections; ilkane o thae areas is kent as a constituency,
and ilka constituency elects yin MSP kent as a
constituency MSP.
Cross-Pairty Group A group made up o MSPs frae sindry
pairties and independent MSPs alang wi individuals and
organisations frae ootwith the Pairlament aw sharin an
interest in a subject or issue.
Debate A collogue atween MSPs that aften leads tae a
vote. Debates ordinarly gets held in the Debatin Chaumer.
Halyrude The Scottish Pairlament is aften cried Halyrude
efter the pairt o Embra whaur it stauns. The Scottish
Pairlament biggin at Halyrude wis officially handselt on
9 October 2004.
10
Some words explaint
MSP Memmer o the Scottish Pairlament. MSPs are the
individuals electit tae ser and represent the people o
Scotland in the Scottish Pairlament.
Public petition A signed statement frae an individual or
a group that speirs for the Pairlament tae dae somethin
aboot a particular issue or law.
Region Scotland is dividit intil 8 greater areas for
elections; ilkane o thir airts is kent as a region and ilka
region elects 7 MSPs, kent as regional MSPs.
Surgeries Regular meetins that MSPs haud in a local
place in their constituency or region, sic as a community
ha, a library or a supermercat. Ye can gang alang tae
collogue aboot issues on a yin-tae-yin basis wi yir MSP.

Leids and formats
Tha a’ bhileag seo ri faighinn ann an grunn chruthan is chànanan. Cuir fios gu Seirbhis
Fiosrachaidh a’ Phobaill airson lethbhreacan.
11

Contact details
Public Information
Public Information can help ye finn oot aboot the business,
memmership and procedures o the Scottish Pairlament.
Address Public Information
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Telephone 0131 348 5000
0800 092 7500 (public speirins)
Folk yaisin textphones can contact us on 0800 092 7100.
We walcome caws that yaise the RNID Typetalk service
as weel.
Fax 0131 348 5601
Text 07786 209 888
Email sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Wabsite www.scottish.parliament.uk
Pairlamentary Copyricht. © Scottish Pairlamentary Corporate Body 2008.
Please tak tent that the Scottish Pairlament isna responsible for the content
o external wabsites.
1st edition, Januar 2009
Prentit in the UK on paper wrocht frae pulp sourcit frae tentily managed and
renewit forests, able for tae hailly be recycled. The inks yaised are vegetable-foondit
yaisin linseed ile.
Veesitor Services
Veesitor Services can help ye book tickets, arrange a guidit
tour or a group visit.
Address Visitor Services
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Telephone 0131 348 5200
0800 092 7600
Folk yaisin textphones can contact us on 0800 092 7100.
We walcome caws that yaise the RNID Typetalk service
as weel.
Fax 0131 348 5601
Email sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk
Wabsite www.scottish.parliament.uk
Tae book a place in the crèche, please telephone
0131 348 6192 or email creche@scottish.parliament.uk
19060/03.09/1K