Publications / Reports

The Scottish Parliament 1999-2009: The First Decade

1 Jan 2009
Scottish Parliament, Holyrood

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

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 30 June - 4 July 2025

MPs will vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. Motions objecting to ratification of the UK–Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago will be debated by Peers. MPs will debate the proscription of Palestine Action. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces MPs’ oral questions and the Defence Secretary John Healey MP faces select committee scrutiny. MPs will formally approve the continued existence of the armed forces for the next 12 months, as required annually. Consideration of the Bill to create an Armed Forces Commissioner may also be completed this week. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill returns to the Lords for Report Stage while Peers will also scrutinise the Renters’ Rights and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

29 Jun 2025
Read more

News / What Westminster gets wrong about the NHS - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 98

We are joined this week by two guests who bring invaluable insight into the intersection of health policy and parliamentary life. Dr. Sarah Wollaston and Steve Brine – both former MPs, health policy experts, and co-hosts of the podcast Prevention is the New Cure – share their experiences of how the House of Commons handles health and social care. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

27 Jun 2025
Read more

News / Assisted dying bill: Special series #14 - MPs back assisted dying bill in historic vote - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 97

This week, we reflect on a landmark moment in UK parliamentary history: the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, moving one step closer to legalising assisted dying in England and Wales. We are joined once again by former House of Commons Clerk Paul Evans to examine how this Private Member’s Bill navigated the political and procedural obstacles in its path and to explore what lies ahead in the House of Lords. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

21 Jun 2025
Read more

Guides / How does Parliament approve Government spending? A procedural guide to the Estimates process

In order to incur expenditure the Government needs to obtain approval from Parliament for its departmental spending plans. The annual Estimates cycle is the means by which the House of Commons controls the Government’s plans for the spending of money raised through taxation.

16 Jan 2023
Read more

Blog / What role does Parliament play in the Spending Review?

The UK Spending Review outlines how Government funds will be allocated over several years. Unlike the Budget, which raises revenue, the Review decides how it is spent. But how is it approved? What role does Parliament play if it doesn’t vote on the Review itself? This blog explores how the Spending Review works, how it differs from the Budget, and how Parliament holds the Government to account through the Estimates process.

09 Jun 2025
Read more