N E W S F E E D S >>>
Caithness Community Web Site

Community Pages

Scottish Parliament
Some Facts & Figures

[Political Index] [MSPs] [Electoral Wards] [MP] [Regional Councillors]
Scottish Government Links

   


Representation

  • There are 129 elected Representatives in the Scottish Parliament.
  • They are known as MSPs (Members of Scottish Parliament)
  • They are be made up from 73 MSPs from the current Westminster constituencies (Orkney and Shetland become 2 constituencies) and
  • 56 additional MSPs, 7 MSPs each from the 8 current European constituences.  These 7 people are drawn from political party "lists" of candidates.  These are allocated on a basis of overall vote.
  • Every elector has two votes, one for their constituency MSP and one for their favoured party.  There is no need for these to match.
  • MSPs are elected for four years.   This is a fixed term and the First Minister whaving the power to decide the date of the next election.
  • There is a Presiding Officer (the Speaker's role) and two deputies who are elected by the whole Parliament.
  • The First Minister ( leader of the Scottish Executive) and the Speaker are elected by the whole Parliament.
  • MSPs are full time and the Parliament will meet in normal office hours, usually, though not exclusively in Edinburgh.

  • Scottish Executive

    The First Minister and the team of Scottish Ministers  form the Scottish Executive. 
    Statutory powers and duties of the current Scottish Ministers at Westminster has been transferred to the Scottish Executive.  
    MSPs may legally also simultaneously act as a MP of UK or European Parliaments.

     

    Westminster

    The Westminster Parliament  remains sovereign.  A Secretary of State for Scotland  continues to sit at Westminster.   They will work with the Scottish Parliament and represent the interests of Scotland in the UK Parliament.  The number of MPs (currently 72) will be reviewed in due course.

     

    Financial Arrangements

    The Scottish Parliament is financed by the same Block Grant as the present Scottish Office with the freedom to determine its "priorities and balance" within the areas outlined above.  This Block Grant is determined by the "Barrett Formula" and gives Scotland 10.8% of UK expenditure in certain areas of Public Spending.  The Scottish Parliament will have limited powers to lower or raise personal income tax by 3p in the pound.



    The Scottish Parliament has control over:
     
  • Health
  • School Education
  • Further & Higher education, science and research funding
  • Training policy and lifelong learning
  • Vocational qualifications
  • Careers advice and guidance
  • Local government
  • Social Work
  • Voluntary Sector
  • Housing
  • Area Regeneration
  • Land-use planning and building control
  • Economic development
  • Financial assistance to industry
  • Inward investment
  • Trade and exports
  • Tourism
  • Passenger and road transport
  • Air and sea transport
  • Inland waterways
  • Criminal Law
  • Civil Law
  • Electoral law
  • Judicial Appointments
  • Criminal justice and prosecution
  • Civil and criminal courts
  • Tribunals
  • Legal Aid
  • Parole
  • Prisons
  • Police and fire services
  • Civil defence and emergency planning
  • Functions under various international legal agreements
  • Liquor licensing
  • Protection of animals
  • The environment
  • The natural heritage
  • The built heritage
  • Flood prevention, coast protection and reservoir safety
  • Agriculture
  • Food standards
  • Forestry
  • Fisheries
  • Sport
  • The Arts
  • Statistics, public registers and records