NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Act of the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba in Gaelic, Scots Pairlament in Scots) is the national unicameral legislature of Scotland. The original Parliament of Scotland (or 'Estates of Scotland') merged in 1707 with the Parliament of England through the Act of Union to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The current Parliament was established by the Scotland Act 1998. The first meeting of the new Parliament as a devolved legislature was on 12 May 1999. The Parliament of Scotland, was the legislature for the independent Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Act of Union 1707 creating a Parliament of Great Britain. ... Scottish Gaelic (GÃ idhlig; IPA: ) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Scots or Lallans (Eng: Lowlands), sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from the Gaelic language of the Highlands, is a West Germanic language used in Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, and border areas of the Republic of Ireland, where it is known in official circles as Ulster Scots or... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... The Parliament of Scotland, was the legislature for the independent Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Act of Union 1707 creating a Parliament of Great Britain. ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal April 25 - Allied army is defeated by Bourbonic army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession. ... The Parliament of England can trace its roots back to the early medieval period. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Today's Parliament

Constitution and powers

The modern Scottish parliament was created to deal with matters that have been devolved to it by the UK Parliament. The Scottish Parliament has the power to pass laws and has limited tax-varying capability. Another of its jobs is to hold the Scottish Executive to account. The "devolved matters" over which it has responsibility include education, health, agriculture, and justice. A degree of domestic authority, and all foreign policy, remains with the UK Parliament in Westminster. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... The term Scottish Executive is used in two distinct but closely related senses. ... The Palace of Westminster, known also as the Houses of Parliament, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. ...

The public take part in Parliament in two ways that are not the case at Westminster: a public petitioning system, and Cross Party Groups on policy topics which the interested public join and attend meetings of alongside MSPs.

Legislative Powers of the Scottish Parliament

In the United Kingdom reserved matters, also referred to as reserved powers, are those subjects over which power to legislate is retained by Westminster, as stated by the Scotland Act 1998, Northern Ireland Act 1998 or Government of Wales Act 1998. ... An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of persons or corporations. ...

Current members

There are currently 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The current (As of 2005) state of the parties is: (1999 seat totals are in italics): Logo of the Scottish Parliament This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Logo of the Scottish Parliament This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Download high resolution version (766x1024, 418 KB)Construction continues on Enric Miralles elaborate new complex for the seat of the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood park (opposite Holyrood Palace, and below Arthurs Seat). ... Download high resolution version (766x1024, 418 KB)Construction continues on Enric Miralles elaborate new complex for the seat of the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood park (opposite Holyrood Palace, and below Arthurs Seat). ... Miralles Santa Caterina Market Enric Miralles (1955 - July 3, 2000) was a Catalan architect. ... The Royal High School is currently a state comprehensive school located in the Barnton area of the city of Edinburgh. ... The Scottish Parliament is composed of 129 members called Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) or, in Gaelic, Buill PÃ rlamaid na h-Alba (BPnA). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Independent MSPs are Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West), Margo MacDonald (Lothians), Dr. Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden), Campbell Martin (West of Scotland), and Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife). These Independent MSPs, plus the sole representative of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party, form a party group in the Parliament and so are entitled to propose items of debate for their few debating slots and to sit on the Parliamentary Bureau, which selects business and is made up of the party whips plus the Presiding Officer. There is currently one vacancy following the death of the Scottish Nationalist Party MSP Margaret Ewing. The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the right-of-centre in the United Kingdom. ... The Scottish Unionist Party is a name of two organisations, one now subsumed into the UK Conservative Party, and the other being a recent creation in response to the Conservative Partys support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... The Scottish Green Party (PÃ rtaidh Uaine na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the Green party of Scotland, and a full member of the European Federation of Green Parties. ... The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is a far left wing Scottish political party which campaigns for a socialist economic platform and Scottish independence. ... The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) were formed in February 2003, in time to contest that years elections to the Scottish Parliament. ... Dennis Canavan (born 1942) is a Scottish politician, and an indepedent member of the Scottish Parliament. ... Margo MacDonald was born in 1945 in Hamilton, Scotland and educated at Hamilton Academy, she trained as a teacher of physical education. ... Jean McGivern Turner (Born December 23, 1939) is an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden. ... Campbell Martin, born March 10, 1960 is a Scottish politician. ... Brian Monteith, born on January 8, 1958 is an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament. ... The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) were formed in February 2003, in time to contest that years elections to the Scottish Parliament. ...

Voting system

Elections for the Scottish Parliament were the first in the United Kingdom to use the additional member system (AMS), which is a method of proportional representation (PR). (Various other forms of PR had been used already, however, in European Parliament elections, and in Northern Ireland for local council elections and Northern Ireland Assembly elections.) The Additional Member System (AMS) is a voting system in which some representatives are elected from geographic constituencies and others are elected under proportional representation from party lists. ... Proportional representation, also known as full representation, is an electoral system in which the overall votes are reflected in the overall outcome of the body or bodies of representatives. ... The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)2 Northern Irelands location within the UK Main language English Other recognised languages Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area - Total Ranked... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly is a six flowered linen or flax plant, chosen for the plants historical economic importance to the region. ...

Of the 129 MSPs, 73 are elected to represent first past the post constituencies, whilst the remaining 56 are elected by the additional member system. These 56 are elected in eight different electoral regions, of which constituencies are sub-divisions. (They correspond also to former European Parliament constituencies in Scotland.) Each region returns seven additional member MSPs. The eight regions are: Highlands and Islands; North East Scotland; Mid Scotland and Fife; West of Scotland; Glasgow; Central Scotland; South of Scotland; and Lothians. The plurality voting system, also known as first past the post, is a voting system used to elect a single winner in a given election. ... The Highlands and Islands is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. ... North East Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. ... Mid Scotland and Fife is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. ... West of Scotland is one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament through which 7 of the 56 Additional Members System MSPs are elected. ... Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions for elections to the Scottish Parliament from which 7 of the parliaments 56 Additional Members System (AMS) MSPs are elected. ... Central Scotland (Meadhan-Alba in Gaelic) is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. ... South of Scotland is one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament through which 7 of the 56 Additional Members System MSPs are elected. ... The Lothians is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. ...

One MSP is elected by the other MSPs to be Presiding Officer, a position similar to that of the Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom Parliament. The current Presiding Officer is George Reid. The Presiding Officer (Oifigear-Riaghlaidh in Scots Gaelic) is the person elected by the Members of the Scottish Parliament to chair their meetings. ... In the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the First Commoner of the Land. ... George Reid The Right Honourable George Reid is a Scottish politician, and a former member of the Scottish National Party (SNP). ...

The Parliament also elects a First Minister, who heads the Scottish Executive. In theory the Parliament also elects the members of the Executive, but in practice it is the First Minister who chooses them. The current First Minister is Jack McConnell. The term First Minister refers to the leader of a cabinet United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, the term First Minister was once used interchangeably with Prime Minister, as in Winston Churchills famous line: I did not become Her Majestys First Minister so that I might oversee the... The term Scottish Executive is used in two distinct but closely related senses. ... Jack McConnell The Right Honourable Jack Wilson McConnell MSP (born June 30, 1960 in Irvine, North Ayrshire) is a Scottish politician, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland and the current First Minister of Scotland. ...

Building

Since September 2004 the official home of the Scottish Parliament has been a new Scottish Parliament Building, in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh, designed by Catalan architect Enric Miralles with leaf-shaped buildings and a grass-roofed branch merging into adjacent parkland, Gabion walls formed from the stones of previous buildings, and many repeated motifs such as shapes based on Raeburn's Skating Minister, stepped gables, and the the upturned boat skylights of the Garden Lobby. The Queen opened the new building on 9 October 2004. Inside the debating chamber of the scottish parliament building. ... Inside the debating chamber of the scottish parliament building. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in... The Scottish Parliament building in January 2005 The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Edinburgh. ... A 19th century view of Holyrood Palace from Calton Hill. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... Miralles Santa Caterina Market Enric Miralles (1955 - July 3, 2000) was a Catalan architect. ... Historically, Gabions were round cages with open tops and bottoms, made from wicker and filled with earth for use as fortifications. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms (and has previously been Queen of sixteen others). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (283rd in Leap years). ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

Whilst the building was being constructed the Parliament's temporary home was the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Official photographs and TV interviews were often held in the courtyard adjoining the Parliament, which is part of the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. At Holyrood, such interviews take place in the Garden Lobby, which seems to have become the place where the real political business takes place. In March 2006, one of the roof beams slipped out of its support and was left dangling above the Conservative back benches during a debate. The debating chamber was subsequently closed, and MSPs had to move to The Hub while inspections and repairs were carried out. The Church of Scotland (C of S, also known informally as The Kirk; until the 17th century officially the Kirk of Scotland) is the Christian national church of Scotland. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... New College, Edinburgh was founded in 1846 as a college of the Free Church of Scotland, later of the United Free Church of Scotland, and currently the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh and a Divinity college of the Church of Scotland. ... The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... To suggest a relevant news story for the main page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. ... Silhouette of the spire of the building The Hub, at the top of Edinburghs Royal Mile, is the home of the Edinburgh International Festival, and a central source of information on all the Edinburgh Festivals. ...

History

Prior to the Act of Union 1707, Scotland was an independent nation with a legislature known as the Parliament of Scotland. Initial Scottish proposals in the negotiation over the Union suggested a devolved Parliament be retained in Scotland but this was not accepted by the English negotiators. The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... The Parliament of Scotland, was the legislature for the independent Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Act of Union 1707 creating a Parliament of Great Britain. ...

For the next three hundred years the Scottish Parliament remained an important element in Scottish national identity, and suggestions for a 'devolved' parliament were made before 1911. The triggering event that caused an increase in Scottish nationalism was the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the late 1960s. Scottish nationalists began to argue that the funds from this oil were not benefiting Scotland as much as they should. 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that ended Scottish independence. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

The 1979 Scotland referendum to establish a devolved Scottish Parliament failed. Although a slim majority of voters voted for the Parliament, the referendum failed to reach the 40% of the total electorate threshold deemed necessary to pass the referendum. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s demands for a Scottish Parliament grew in part because the government of the United Kingdom was controlled by the Conservative Party while Scotland itself elected very few Tory members of Parliament. Devolution became part of the platform of the Labour Party and in May 1997, the Labour Party under Tony Blair took power. This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Scotland referendum of 1979 was a post-legislative referendum held in Scotland only, over whether there was support for Scotland Act 1978, which if passed would have created an assembly for Scotland. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the right-of-centre in the United Kingdom. ... The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ...

In September 1997 a referendum of the Scottish electorate secured a large majority in favour of the establishment of a new devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. An election was held in May 1999, and power was transferred from Westminster on 1 July 1999 to the new Parliament in its temporary home in the Church of Scotland's General Assembly Hall on the Royal Mile. 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Church of Scotland (C of S, also known informally as The Kirk; until the 17th century officially the Kirk of Scotland) is the Christian national church of Scotland. ... Royal Mile The Royal Mile is the popular name for the succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of Edinburgh. ...

Debate over historical connection

At the first meeting of the parliament on 12 May 1999, Winnie Ewing (the Mother of Parliament or "Oldest Qualified Member" as she was described in the Official Report of debates) declared that the "Scottish Parliament which adjourned on 25 March 1707, is hereby reconvened". May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Winnie Ewing (born July 10, 1929) is a prominent Scottish nationalist and was formerly a Member of Parliament (MP), Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). ... Mother of Parliament is an informal term for the most senior member of a Parliament when that person is a woman. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal April 25 - Allied army is defeated by Bourbonic army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession. ...

Critics of this view argue that the old Parliament of Scotland remains merged in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, because the United Kingdom parliament continues to represent constituencies in Scotland, and Scotland remains subject, ultimately, to a government responsible to the United Kingdom parliament. The new Scottish parliament has adapted and adopted, however, some of the ceremonial traditions of the old parliament, including the Riding of Parliament.

Criticism

The Parliament has been criticised for various reasons, both pragmatic and ideological. Since 1999, the death in office of Donald Dewar, Scotland's first First Minister, and the resignation brought on by a business conflict of interest of his successor Henry McLeish, have meant that the first years of the parliament have not been easy. The escalating costs of the construction of the new parliament building have led to widespread criticism. Popular arguments against the parliament before the UK general election of 1997, levelled mainly by the Conservative Party, were that the Parliament would create a slippery slope to Scottish independence, and provide the pro-independence Scottish National Party with a route to power. John Major, the Tory prime minister before May 1997, famously claimed the parliament would end '1000 years of British history', although the political entity of Great Britain was still less than 300 years old at the time. The equally pro-Union Scottish Labour Party met these criticisms by claiming that devolution would fatally undermine the SNP, and remedy the long-felt desire of Scots for a measure of self-government. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Statue of Donald Dewar in Glasgows Buchanan Street The Right Honourable Donald Campbell Dewar (August 21, 1937 â€“ October 11, 2000) was a Scottish politician and the first First Minister of Scotland after devolution in 1999. ... The Right Honourable Henry McLeish (born June 15, 1948) is a Scottish politician. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the right-of-centre in the United Kingdom. ... Sir John Major, KG, CH, (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ...

Perhaps the main criticism of the parliament as it enters its second term is that it has not changed Scotland enough. For many the entire point of devolution was that things could be done differently. Expectations that Scottish government would dramatically change as a new, non-confrontational, politics took hold in Holyrood have been disappointed, but were arguably based on naïve perceptions of the nature of politics. Adversarial politics is still commonplace after devolution, and frequently overshadow events at Holyrood. Moreover, the electorate has twice chosen a moderate centre-left (some would claim centre-right) executive, in voting predominantly for the Labour Party. The acid test in judging the success or failure of the parliament may not be to measure whether it is well loved by Scots, but whether, given the opportunity, they would vote to abolish it. Polling continues to show that they would overwhelmingly vote to keep it. Regardless, the Scottish Parliament has proved able to act quickly to deal with longstanding issues that repeatedly escaped action at Westminster. Hunting with dogs was banned (2002) with hardly any of the controversy seen in England and Wales, 'feudal' land tenure was abolished (2000) and a far more generous subsidy for old age care was implemented (2002) than that seen south of the border. The name Holyrood may refer to: the official seat of the Scottish Parliament, or the Scottish Parliament Building Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh Holyrood Park near Edinburgh, facing the palace one of the areas of Edinburgh Holyrood is an anglicisation of the Scots haly ruid (holy cross). ... A fox hunt Fox hunting is a form of hunting for foxes using a pack of scent hounds. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... For specific national programs, see Social Security (United States), National insurance (UK), Social Security (Sweden) Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ...

Miralles' new Scottish Parliament building opened for business on the 7 September 2004, three years late. The estimated final cost was £431 million. The White Paper in 1997 estimated that a new building would have a net construction cost of £40 million, although this based on the presumption that the old Royal High School would be used, as had long been assumed. After the devolution referendum it was quickly announced that the high school, which is smaller than many British city council chambers, was entirely inadequate for the parliament, and negotiations began for a new building on a new site. This led critical media and politicians to claim the final building was "ten times over budget". Miralles' building was in fact costed at £109 million, prior to major increases in space. £431 million for a national parliament might still be argued to be within reason when compared to Portcullis House - a new parliamentary office block in Westminster - built for use by 200 MPs, which cost £250 million however much of the cost of this came from the alterations needed to Westminster undeground station and over £100 million was spent on bronze bomb cladding of the building. Lord Fraser's Inquiry reported on the 15 September 2004 and identified the choice of the construction management procurement route as the main factor in the fourfold increase in estimated costs establishing that a £270 million value building ended up costing £431 million, an identifiable waste of £181 million. This was portrayed as clearing Donald Dewar of any blame. The cost of the building remains more controversial than any of the legislation so far passed by the parliament. In March 2006, the debating chamber had to be evacuated when a roof beam came loose, and swung perilously over the opposition benches. September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal High School is currently a state comprehensive school located in the Barnton area of the city of Edinburgh. ... Portcullis House, London Portcullis House is a building in Westminster, London, used as offices for members of Parliament. ... Peter Lovat Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, PC, QC (b. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

See also

The Parliament of Scotland, was the legislature for the independent Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Act of Union 1707 creating a Parliament of Great Britain. ... This is a list of Acts of the Scottish Parliament. ... As the Sovereigns personal representative Lord High Commissioners were appointed to the Parliament of Scotland between 1603 and 1707. ... Scotland is one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... The Scottish Parliament is composed of 129 members called Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) or, in Gaelic, Buill PÃ rlamaid na h-Alba (BPnA). ... The Scottish Parliament is composed of 129 members called Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) or, in Gaelic, Buill PÃ rlamaid na h-Alba (BPnA). ... The Scotland referendum of 1997 was a pre-legislative referendum held in Scotland only, over whether there was support for the creation of an assembly for Scotland and whether there was support for an assembly with tax varying powers. ... The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO) was created in 1999, at the same time as the new Scottish Parliament was established. ... The Scottish parliamentary election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on May 6, 1999. ... The Scottish parliamentary election, 2003, was the second general election of the Scottish Parliament. ... The third elections to the Scottish Parliament will be held in May, 2007. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (RÃ¹naire StÃ ite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... A Sewel motion is a motion passed by the Scottish Parliament, in which it requests the Parliament of the United Kingdom, or Westminster to pass legislation on a topic extending to Scotland. ... The West Lothian question was a question posed by Tam Dalyell, MP for the Scottish constituency of West Lothian during a debate over Scottish devolution in the 1970s. ... This is a list of topics related to the United Kingdom. ...

External links

Category: Scottish Parliament Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Archaeology and geology continue to reveal the secrets of prehistoric Scotland, uncovering a complex and dramatic past before the Romans brought Scotland into the scope of recorded history. ... Dunnottar Castle in the Mearns occupies one of the best defensive locations in Great Britain. ... The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between Scotland and England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. ... The Scottish Enlightenment was a period of intellectual ferment in Scotland, running from approximately 1740 to 1800. ... Scottish colonization of the Americas consisted of a number of failed or abandoned settlements in North America, a colony at Darien, Panama and a number of wholly or largely Scottish settlements made as part of Great Britain. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... This article concerns the political movement supporting the restoration of the House of Stuart, not the earlier Jacobean period. ... The Highland Clearances were part of a process of agricultural change throughout the United Kingdom, but the late timing, the lack of legal protection for year-by-year tenants under Scottish law, the abruptness of the change from the Clan System in the Scottish Highlands and the brutality of many... The Lowland Clearances in Scotland were one of the results of the Agricultural Revolution, which changed the traditional system of agriculture which had existed in Lowland Scotland for hundreds of years. ... Scotland is one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... Parties represented in the Scottish Parliament (in order of number of representatives): Labour Party - Centre-left, unionist - 50 MSPs Scottish National Party (SNP) - Centre-left, pro-independence- 27 MSPs Conservative and Unionist Party - Centre-right, unionist - 18 MSPs Liberal Democrats - Centre, federalist - 17 MSPs Scottish Green Party - Environmentalist, pro-independence... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The term Scottish Executive is used in two distinct but closely related senses. ... The First Minister (First Meinister in Scots; PrÃ¬omh Mhinistear in Scots Gaelic) is the leader of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the reconvened Scottish Parliament. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (RÃ¹naire StÃ ite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... The Scotland Office (Oifis na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a department of the United Kingdom government, responsible for reserved Scottish affairs. ... Scots law (or Scottish law) is the law of Scotland. ... The United Kingdom does not have a single unified judicial system - England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. ... The Lord Justice General of Scotland is head of the High Court of Justiciary, Lord President of the Court of Session and head of the judiciary in Scotland. ... The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is a government department in Scotland that is responsible for the public prosecution of alleged criminals. ... Her Majestys Advocate, known as the Lord Advocate (Morair Tagraidh in Scots Gaelic), was the chief legal adviser of the United Kingdom Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters until the passing of the Scotland Act 1998. ... Her Majestys Solicitor General for Scotland (Ã€rd-neach-lagha a ChrÃ¹in an Alba) is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Executive on Scots Law. ... The procurator fiscal is the local public prosecutor in Scotland. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Scotland has an incomparable variety of geology for an area of its size. ... Scotland is the most mountainous region of the United Kingdom. ... Freshwater Lochs Loch Arkaig Loch Awe, the third largest loch by surface area, also the longest Loch Dochfour Loch Ericht Loch Katrine, an important water reservoir Loch Leven, site of Loch Leven Castle Loch Lochy Loch Lomond, the largest by surface area Loch Lubnaig, Loch Maree, the fourth largest by... The Economy of Scotland is closely linked with that of the United Kingdom, and is essentially a capitalist economy with little government interference in private enterprise. ... This is a list of companies incorporated in Scotland. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... The Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS) is one of Scotlands four national clearing banks and one of the oldest in the UK, founded in Edinburgh in 1727 by Royal Charter. ... North Sea oil refers to oil and natural gas (hydrocarbons) produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea. ... Scotch whisky is a whisky made in Scotland. ... Scotland is a well-developed tourist destination, with tourism generally being responsible for sustaining 200,000 jobs mainly in the service sector, with tourist spending averaging at Â£4bn per year [1]. Domestic tourists (those from the United Kingdom) make up the bulk of visitors to Scotland. ... All Harris Tweed items are hand woven on the islands off the Northern coast of Scotland (outer Hebrides). ... Scotland covers an area of 78,782kmÂ² or 30,341miÂ², giving it a population density of 64 people/kmÂ². Around 70% of the population live in the Central Lowlands - a broad, fertile valley stretching in a northeast-southwest orientation between the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and including major settlements... Scottish Gaelic (GÃ idhlig; IPA: ) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Scots or Lallans (Eng: Lowlands), sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from the Gaelic language of the Highlands, is a West Germanic language used in Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, and border areas of the Republic of Ireland, where it is known in official circles as Ulster Scots or... Scottish English is taken by some to include Scots and by others to exclude it. ... Highland English is the variety of Gaelic influenced Scottish English spoken in the Scottish Highlands. ... A burgh (pronounced burruh) is the Scots language equivalent of the English language borough. ... Addressing the haggis during Burns supper: Fair fa your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin-race! The culture of Scotland is the national culture of Scotland (which has a civic culture somewhat distinct from that of the rest of the British Isles). ... Hogmanay (pronounced â€” with the main stress on the last syllable - hog-muh-NAY) is the Scots word for the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. ... John Logie Baird, the Scottish inventor of television. ... This is a list of flags that are used exclusively in Scotland. ... The Saltire, the flag of Scotland, with an official Pantone 300 coloured field. ... The Royal Standard of Scotland The Royal Standard of Scotland, also known as the Lion Rampant is a flag used historically by the Kings of Scotland. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scots The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland is the historical coat of arms of the Kings and Queens of Scots, used by them until the personal union with the Kingdom of England in 1603. ... A tartan is a specific woven pattern that often signifies a particular Scottish clan in the modern era. ... A piper playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. ... Sean Connery at a Tartan Day celebration in Washington D.C. with members of the USAF Reserve Pipes and Drums. ...

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