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The Scottish Parliament and law making
The Scottish Parliament and law making

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2.1 The many roles of an MSP

MSPs will become involved in law making and may propose new laws, take part in Chamber debates, participate on Parliamentary Committees, suggest amendments to laws, participate in campaigns to change the law, speak in debates, and ask questions of Government. Their work is varied. Each MSP has an office at the Scottish Parliament and their offices form part of the iconic images of the Scottish Parliament. Box 4 explains this in more detail.

Box 4 MSP accommodation at the Scottish Parliament

The unique façade of the Members’ office accommodation quickly became the first iconic image of Holyrood. The shape of the windows is said to have been inspired by an outline of the Reverend Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch taken from Raeburn’s famous painting.

The windows are made from stainless steel and framed in oak, with the oak lattices providing privacy and shade for MSPs. The cladding around the windows is a mosaic of materials, including Kemnay granite from Aberdeenshire and darker granite from South Africa. To break the uniformity of the façade the windows jut out at differing widths and face in both directions.

There are 114 projecting bay windows in total. MSPs occupy 108 of the offices and the others are used as party resource rooms.

Internal image of an MSP think window
Figure 4 Internal image of an MSP think window
External image of an MSP think window
Figure 5 External image of an MSP think window
Description of Members’ office accommodation taken from Scottish Parliament website (Scottish Parliament, 2015)

To learn more about the work of MSPs watch the following short videos.

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Transcript: In the Parliamentary Chamber

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR:
As part of their working week MSPs debate issues, take part in question and answer sessions and vote on business in a debating chamber. Debates can be on any topic and sessions are chaired by one of the presiding officers. A member’s business debate is an opportunity for a backbench MSP to highlight and discuss an issue. MSPs regularly cross-examine members of the Scottish government, cabinet secretaries and ministers during sessions like portfolio questions and general questions. First Minister’s Questions takes place on Thursdays at noon and is a chance for MSPs to question the head of the Scottish Government. Voting on the day’s business takes place during decision time, which usually begins at five p.m..

[MUSIC PLAYING]

End transcript: In the Parliamentary Chamber
In the Parliamentary Chamber
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Transcript: In Committees

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR:
Many MSPs are members of committees. A committee is a small group of MSPs that meets on a regular basis and has a specific remit, such as justice or health and sport. The work of a committee is varied and includes taking evidence from experts often as part of an inquiry initiated by the committee itself, travelling around Scotland to find out about issues firsthand, scrutinising the work of the Scottish government and cross-examining cabinet secretaries and ministers, examining proposals for new laws, known as bills, in detail.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

End transcript: In Committees
In Committees
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Transcript: Out and about

NARRATOR:
MSPs’ work isn’t limited to the parliament building. Meeting people in the constituency or region they represent is an important part of every MSP’s working week. Constituency and region-based work will often involve a surgery, which is a meeting where members of the public can raise issues with an MSP in person. MSPs may also visit a variety of local businesses, to discuss issues with them. MSPs also meet regularly with organisations in their area, such as Police Scotland.
End transcript: Out and about
Out and about
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