Lesson StarterCreate a diagram which

outlines the role of the First Minister.

•The legislative procedures of the Scottish Parliament.

•The different procedures of the parliament - questions, debates, motions and parliamentary business.

What will I learn?

The Debating Chamber‘An area for conflict, cooperation and

decision making’

The Debating Chamber

• Focal point for the Scottish Parliament.

• 129 MSPs come together to debate issues and decide on new laws.

• It is also where MSPs question the FM, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers and where statements are made on key policy developments.

The Debating Chamber (2)

• The Parliamentary Bureau is responsible for allocating time in the chamber.

• The government gets most of the debating time, while time is allocated to the opposition parties in proportion to the number of seats they hold in parliament.

Debates• Usually based on a motion.• Motions are used by MSPs as a

device to initiate debate or propose a course of action.

• Cabinet Secretaries or Ministers generally give a speech to open and then close a debate.

Voting on Motions• Amendments can be suggested to

motions. • MSPs vote on these before deciding

on the motion itself. • A motion that has been agreed by

the parliament is called a resolution.

Example Motion• Motion S4M-02305: Nicola

Sturgeon, Glasgow Southside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 12/03/2012

• That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.

Members’ Business• Members’ business is a debate on a

motion proposed by an individual MSP who is not a cabinet secretary or minister.

• It allows individual MSPs to influence the decision making process by highlighting an issue of concern.

General Question time. MSPs can ask

questions to the cabinet. Questions following a ministerial statement

First Minister’s question time. Every Thursday.

Questions submitted on a Tuesday. Selected by the Presiding Officer.

Parliamentary Questions

Example• Question S4W-09330: John Mason,

Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 31/08/2012

• To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions have been secured using the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012

How can individual MSPs influence decision-

making?

How can individual MSPs influence decision-

making?• Create a mind-map or bullet point list of ways you can think of…

• Add examples

• Get answers from your group

Role of MSPs in decision-making

1. Principles of Scottish Parliament/Electoral System •Principles include openness and accountability – this means that individual MSPs have a voice and can influence policy in a number of ways… •Scottish Parliament electoral system (AMS) means that it is unlikely that one party will dominate. Most likely scenario is coalition or minority government. Influence of individual MSPs is arguably greater. However, current government is an SNP majority to perhaps influence of individual MSPs has been reduced.•Previous SNP minority Government. Had to rely on support from other parties to pass legislation. Defeated over trams, minimum alcohol pricing and plans to replace Council Tax with Local Income Tax. Had to drop plans for a Referendum Bill. Past difficulties in passing Finance Bills (Budgets): Conservative MSPs able to secure a commitment to extra police officers in return for them voting yes to SNP policies.

Role of MSPs in decision-making

2. First Minister’s Question Time/Question Time (hundreds of questions and answers to questions, both written and oral over the course of a parliamentary session). •Possible for opposition MSPs to influence decision making but FM has backing of Civil Service that puts opposition at disadvantage. •Alex Salmond regarded as strong FM but can be held to account by MSPs, e.g. in 2010, John Swinney issued an apology over so-called loss of ‘tartan tax’ powers. This was when the SNP Finance Cabinet Secretary refused to pay £7million to update the computer system which enabled the SP to vary rate of income tax by 3p in the pound…meaning that SP could not vary the rate of income tax if it had wanted to. Swinney did not make other MSPs in SP aware of this and so he and Alex Salmond were heavily criticised by other Party leaders and MSPs.•MSPs can also question Ministers at Question Time (Cabinet Secretaries, e.g. Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney etc.)

3. MSPs in Committees

•There are 19 committees in SP.•Most MSPs are members of at least one committee. Committees conduct inquires and produce reports. Scrutinise Government legislation and have power to alter bills. Committees can put forward their own proposals for new legislation in the form of committee bills.

Role of MSPs in decision-making

4. Members’ Bills

•MSPs have right to introduce legislation (Member’s Bill). Patrick Harvie’s Bill (Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice Act 2009)) was adopted by SG. •However Margo MacDonald’s End of Life Assistance Bill, where MSPs had a free vote, was defeated.

Role of MSPs in decision-making

5. Calman Commission•This was set up by opposition parties to review devolution in Scotland. SNP Government did not support motion to set up – this shows how MSPs not in government can influence decision-making.•Scottish Government does not require legislation to implement all policy e.g. abolition of prescription charges or bridge tolls – non government MSPs have little power here.

Role of MSPs in decision-making

6. Other Parliamentary Business•Individual MSPs can introduce motions and take part in debates.•This can influence policy (see examples and research to find more)

Role of MSPs in decision-making

2011 Exam Question• To what extent do Members of the

Scottish Parliament (MSPs) influence decision making in the Scottish Government?

• 15 marks

Homework task - research

• Research to find your own examples of the following:

1.Questions asked by MSPs at FMQT2.Motions proposed by MSPs3.Bills proposed by MSPs that went on to

become Acts of the SP4.MSPs holding Government to account –

recent examples (this may be attacks/criticisms of Scottish Government)