representation

• What are functions of committees

  • Closely examine bills and make recommendations to parliament
  • Suggest bills
  • Consider all petitions submitted
• One function of a committee is to closely examine bills and make recommendations to parliament

  • They will do this by going through each line of the bill, gathering evidence from experts and the public
  • For example, the Health and Sport Committee spent a lot of time going over Patrick Harvey's assisted suicide bill. The committee found it had significant flaws in its report to parliament. This influenced the vote and the bill did not pass
• Another function of a committee is to suggest bills

  • An important role of committees is to suggest bills that they feel would benefit Scotland or are needed. A committee will only introduce a bill of Scottish if Scottish government does not have plans to create their own bill
  • For example, the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People was set up to stand up and protect children and young people's rights after a bill was introduced by the then Education committee
• Another function of a committee is to consider all petitions submitted

  • After reading the petition, they can introduce a bill to parliament order a response on the issue from the Scottish government, or take no further action
  • For example, the Public Petitions Committee previously explored calls for equal marriage which after passing to the Scottish Government soon became law
• What are the work of an MSP in Holyrood

  • Ask questions at FMQT
  • Join a committee
  • Vote on proposed laws
• One work of an MSP in Holyrood is to ask questions at FMQT

  • An opportunity to ask John Swinney questions about the work of his government on behalf of their constituents and they can hold the government to account
  • For example, John Swinney recently defended the actions of the Scottish Government in reducing the attainment gap at FMQT
• Another work of an MSP in Holyrood is vote on proposed laws

  • This takes place at the end of each day in the debating chamber where MSPs vote together to decide parliaments position on a debate or law. If the vote passes then it is counted as the will of parliament
  • For example, Jamie Hepburn voted to ban smacking in 2019 which then became law in Scotland
• Another role of an MSP is to join a committee

  • Committees are groups that look at the work of government in more detail. These are various committees looking at the work of government and MSPs can chose to join committees that they have interest in
  • For example, Mark Griffin is a member of the local government, housing and planning committee
• What are examples of constituency work MSPs do

  • Speak to local press
  • Hold surgeries
  • Attend meetings and events
• One work of an MSP in their constituency is to attend meetings and events

  • They can meet with people from their constituent and other organisations and talk about how the government can improve the constituency and what is going well in the constituency
  • For example, when North Lanarkshire Council was preparing to cut millions of pounds from its education budget, Jamie Hepburn attended meetings to better understand what was going on and how to represent the views of his constituents
• Another work of an MSP in their constituent is to hold surgeries

  • This is a particular time and place where constituents can meet their MSP and raise any problems with them
  • For example, Jamie Hepburn holds a weekly surgery in the Constituency of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth every Monday, where local people can go and discuss their problems
• Another work of an MSP in their constituency is to speak to local press

  • This can be an important way for MSPs to give their thoughts and opinions, or to update their constituents on ongoing issues
  • For example, Jamie Hepburn also speaks to our local press, the Cumbernauld news, to inform constituents of his views on local issues. He recently called for more affordable housing to be built