Politics / Awareness of Scottish Parliament’s role is growing – says presiding officer
UNDERSTANDING the role of the Scottish Parliament plays in forming public life has significantly improved over the last 25 years thanks to the parliament’s extensive education service.
That is the view of the parliament’s presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who said during a visit to Shetland this week that Scotland has become a different country since the parliament’s opening in May 1999.
She and a number of Highlands and Islands MSP hosted a meeting in the Lerwick Town Hall on Monday morning to highlight the contribution the voluntary sector makes to society.
The event coincided with celebrations to mark another, more local landmark: the 25th birthday of the Shetland Bike Project charity.
Johnstone said thanks to modern technology it was easier than ever to follow the legislative process and participate by raising issues and feeding those into the political system.
However, nothing beats meeting people face to face and visit places in person, the former Green MSP said who, as presiding officer, has no party affiliation.
The visit to Shetland is the second of a tour of all eight parliamentary regions to mark and reflect upon the 25th anniversary.
A small exhibition highlighted the work of the parliament over the last 25 years, including a timeline with some key legislation such as the introduction of free personal care in 2002.
Participants could also make suggestions of what Scottish law makers need to turn their attention to next such as proposals for increased community benefit from wind farm projects and more help with high energy bills.
Asked what the parliament could do to improve the general understanding of devolution and the different role the Westminster and the Holyrood parliaments play, Johnstone said she was convinced that the generation who has grown up with the parliament over the last 25 year will have a much greater awareness.
“It is complex, and we are all have a role to play,” she said. “The parliament has an excellent education service, and I know that because one of the privileges of my role is to visit other parliaments across the globe and they are all very keen to learn from our service.
“There is an in-depth programme and I think what we will see going forward is that they [younger people] have a clearer understanding of what Holyrood can deliver, what the UK parliament is responsible for, and what local government does.”
Johnstone said that since 1999 more than 170,000 pupils from 6,000 schools have visited the Scottish Parliament, while its outreach service was in contact with around 5,000 schools during the last 25 years.
“Groups of young people come to visit the parliament week in and week out. They come with their school, as a class with their teachers,” she said.
“So, I think that understanding is growing though, and education is key to that.
“Whenever I have a moment and if there is a group visiting parliament, I go and say hello and have a discussion with them, and so will MSPs from all the parties.
“They are all keen to meet with these young people when they come to visit the parliament; it is hugely important.”
