This 2009 publication was the first book about the new Scottish Parliament. It brought together a distinguished group of parliamentarians, commentators and academics to review the achievements, limits and challenges of the new Scottish Parliament after its first ten years.
The Scottish Parliament 1999-2009: The First Decade is a collection of essays by leading figures edited by Professors Charlie Jeffery and James Mitchell. In reviewing the first 10 years of the new Parliament's existence, across a wide range of topics, the book tackled key questions including:
To what extent have the founding principles for the Scottish Parliament set out by the Consultative Steering Group been delivered - access and participation, equal opportunities, accountability and power-sharing?
Has the Parliament changed how politics is done in Scotland?
Has the Parliament matured into an effective legislative body?
Have relationships between government, the Parliament and outside stakeholders in local government, interest groups and quangos been improved?
What’s the view from Westminster?
How does the Scottish Parliament fit into the UK’s changing constitutional architecture?
Foreword Alex Fergusson MSP, Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament
Chapter 1 Introduction: The First Decade in Perspective Emma Megaughin and Charlie Jeffery
The Parliament in Practice
Chapter 2 A Dozen Differences of Devolution Lord Steel of Aikwood
Chapter 3 Committees in the Scottish Parliament Chris Carman and Mark Shephard
Chapter 4 The Legislative Process: The Parliament in Practice James Johnston
Chapter 5 The New Scottish Statute Book: The Scottish Parliament's Legislative Record since 1999 Michael Keating and Paul Cairney
The Founding Principles
Chapter 6 Access and Participation: Aiming High Bill Thomson
Chapter 7 Travelling the Distance? Equal Opportunities and the Scottish Parliament Fiona Mackay
Chapter 8 Parliamentary Accountability: Aspiration or Reality? Chris Himsworth
Chapter 9 The Principle of Power-Sharing, 10 Years On Joyce McMillan
Representative Process
Chapter 10 The Scottish Parliament Electoral System: Can Credibility be Restored? Nicola McEwen
Chapter 11 New Parliament, New Elections James Mitchell and Robert Johns
Chapter 12 Do Devolved Elections Work? John Curtice
Chapter 13 Conundrums and Contradictions: What Scotland Wants David McCrone
Stakeholders
Chapter 14 New Scottish Parliament, Same Old Interest Group Politics? Paul Cairney, Darren Halpin and Grant Jordan
Chapter 15 Civil Society and the Parliament Lindsay Paterson
Chapter 16 The Media and Parliament Brian McNair
Chapter 17 Centre and Locality in Scottish Politics: From Bi- to Tri-partite Relations Neil McGarvey
Chapter 18 Quangos, Agencies and the Scottish Parliament Richard Parry
The View from Elsewhere
Chapter 19 The Scottish Parliament as seen from London Peter Riddell
Chapter 20 Opening Doors: Devolution in Wales and the Scottish Parliament, 1999-2009 Alan Trench
Futures
Chapter 21 The Scottish Parliament, Constitutional Change and the UK's Haphazard Union Charlie Jeffery
Mark and Ruth look at the growing fashion for re-writing Bills mid-air as they pass through Parliament, adding on all sorts of policy bells and whistles at the last minute.
Delegated legislation is the most common form of legislation in the United Kingdom. It is the legislation of everyday life, impacting millions of citizens daily. But the terminology and procedures that surround it are complex and often confusing. This explainer unpacks delegated legislation - the terminology and Parliament's role in scrutinising it - to reveal more about how delegated legislation really works.
What a week! Suella Braverman's sacking from Government was immediately eclipsed by the appointment of former Prime Minister David Cameron as the new Foreign Secretary. Mark and Ruth explore the many questions this raises, not least for scrutiny of foreign affairs by MPs.
The Prime Minister’s decision to cancel the next stage of HS2 has given rise to criticism that once again the Government has ridden roughshod over Parliament. Just over 1,300 hours of legislative time have been spent on four HS2-related Bills over nine Sessions in the last decade. Why has it taken so long and what now happens to that legislation?
When parliamentarians reassemble at Westminster on 7 November for the start of the new Session, all eyes will be on the legislative programme to be announced in the King’s Speech. Speculation about the likely date of the next general election is rife at Westminster, but until the date is settled there are a lot of parliamentary issues still to be tackled. We’ve picked out a few things to look out for on the political horizon.
