1. WORKING WITH PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT Kate Udy

2. ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARY OFFICER A Two Way Exchange of Information –To inform the Work of the Council –Influence the policy and legislative Process

3. INFORMING AND INFLUENCING Tracking and Monitoring - provision of briefs, issuing of consultations Networking - Parliamentary, Governmental and Political contacts Engaging - responding to consultations, lobbying, corresponding and meeting with stakeholders

4. BUSINESS BULLETINS Business Bulletin No. 69 / 2004 »Section A: AnnouncementsSection A: Announcements »Section B : Business Programme Section C : Agendas of Committee MeetingsSection B : Business Programme Section C : Agendas of Committee Meetings »Section D: Oral Questions Selected for Answer Section E : Written questions lodged on...Section D: Oral Questions Selected for Answer Section E : Written questions lodged on... »Section F : Motions and Amendments Section G : Bills: Notices and Amendments Section H : New DocumentsSection F : Motions and Amendments Section G : Bills: Notices and Amendments Section H : New Documents »Section I: Petitions LodgedSection I: Petitions Lodged »Section J: Notice of Decisions (Parliamentary Bureau) Section K : Progress of Parliamentary BusinessSection J: Notice of Decisions (Parliamentary Bureau) Section K : Progress of Parliamentary Business Written Report, Answers to Written Questions

5. THE SCOTTISH SYSTEM First elected in 1999 PR + First Past the Post = Coalition Government = Partnership Agreement Parliament - Single Chamber Committee system Combination of Standing and Subject Committees 3

6. HOW ARE MSPs ELECTED? 2 methods of electing Members to the Scottish Parliament:  73 constituency members, based on the UK parliament constituencies, using the "first past the post" system.  56 regional members, 7 for each of 8 regions using the "Additional Member" System, a form of proportional representation using party lists. 129 MSPs in total

7. POLITICAL MAKEUP 1997 Labour 56 SNP 35 Lib Dem17 Conservative18 Green1 SSP1 Independent1 2003 Labour 50 SNP 27 Lib Dem17 Conservative18 Green7 SSP6 Independent4

8. THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT AND MSPS To represent the views and priorities of constituents To scrutinise the Executive To legislate To carry out inquiries and to publicise issues in the public interest To agree the Executive’s budgetary priorities Debate the major issues of the day

9. HOW? Asking Oral Questions Submitting Written Questions Tabling Motions for Debate Scrutinising and amending legislation

10. COMMITTEES Mandatory committees Procedures Committee Standards Committee Finance Committee Audit Committee European & External Relations Committee Public Petitions Committee Equal Opportunities Committee Subordinate Legislation Committee Subject committees Education Communities Enterprise and Culture Health Justice 1 & Justice 2 Local Government & Transport Environment & Rural Development Ad Hoc Committees Waverley Railway Bill

11. ROLE OF COMMITTEES Carrying out inquiries Proposing/initiating Legislation Scrutinising legislative proposals –European Parliament –International Conventions and Agreements –UK Parliament –Scottish Executive

12. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS - SCOTLAND Stage 1 - consideration of general principles, and a decision whether they are agreed to (by Parliamentary Committee and by the Parliament) Stage 2 - consideration of the details of the Bill (by Parliamentary Committee) Stage 3 - final consideration and a decision whether it should be passed or rejected (by the Parliament). Royal Assent 4

13. STAGES OF A BILL – THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT 1. Consultation 2. Publication of 1 st Draft 3. Stage One 4. Call for Written Evidence 5. Committee Oral Evidence Sessions 6. Stage One Report 7. Publication of Bill as amended at Stage One 8. Stage One Debate and Vote 9. Stage Two 10. Tabling of amendments 11. Publication of marshalled list of amendments 12. Consideration of amendments 13. Publication of Bill as amended at Stage Two 14. Stage Three 15. Tabling of amendments 16. Stage Three Debate and Vote 17. Royal Assent

14. OPTIONAL STAGES  Referral to Finance Committee (Stage 1, if required, and at each stage should relevant part be amended)  Referral to Subordinate legislation Committee (Stage 1, if required, and at each stage should relevant part be amended)  Referral to other subject Committee (Stage 1, if required, and at each stage should relevant part be amended)  Referral of all or part of Bill for further consideration (Stages 1 & 3 only)

15. THE UK SYSTEM 13th Century origins, 17th Century - Civil War and 1688, 1707 union with Scotland 20th Century, universal sufferage, reform of HoL Elected by First-past-the-post 659 Members: Labour 412, Conservative 166, Liberal Democrats 52 666 Peers, 92 hereditary

16. THE UK PARLIAMENT The main functions of Parliament are to:  make all UK law  provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government  protect the public and safeguard the rights of individuals  scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure  examine European proposals before they become law  hear appeals in the House of Lords, the highest Court of Appeal in Britain  debate the major issues of the day.

17. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 1. Consultation - White or Green Papers - optional 2. Publication - optional 3. First Reading - no debate or decision 4. Second Reading - debate on general principles 5. Committee Stage - average 18 members 6. Consideration of each Clause 7. Consideration of amendments 8. Publication of Bill as amended 9. Report Stage 10. Consideration of amendments by whole House 11. Tabling of Report Stage Amendments 12. Third Reading - Immediately after Report - Debate and vote on Bill as amended at Report No amendments may be made 13. Bill sent to House of Lords 1. First Reading - Publication of Bill as amended in the Commons 2. Second Reading - debate on general principles 3. Committee Stage - of whole House 4. Consideration of each Clause 5. Consideration of amendments 6. Report Stage and Third Reading 7. Consideration of further amendments 8. Amended Bill Returned to Commons 9. Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments 10. If content, vote in favour, Bill passed. 11. If not content, Commons make amendments and return to the Lords for Lords Consideration of Commons amendments etc until 12. Evocation of 1911 Parliament Act 13. Royal Assent

18. OPTIONAL STAGES Reasoned Amendment –to prevent a Bill from getting a Second Reading Programme Motion –For scheduling of the Bill - non debateable Guillotine Motion –To enforce an end time to 2nd Reading Debate, debateable for up to 3 hours