Report to the People
Business in the Chamber
A popular misconception about the Scottish Parliament is that all the work is done in the chamber. Not so.
In reality, while the high profile exchanges and political jousting take place on the floor of the chamber, much of the real work is done behind the scenes. Take, for example, the Parliamentary Committees.
All too often overshadowed by more confrontational forms of debate, the committees have been quietly working in the background examining complex issues in a mature and rational way.
Whether addressing the detailed issues surrounding housing, drugs, or incapable adults, the committees have contributed enormously to the running of the Parliament and the development of policy.
Consider the committee on which I sit – the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee. We have been charged with investigating how local business is encouraged and supported by various government agencies and I have been pleased at the inventive, co-operative approach that has been adopted.
Indeed, as part of our inquiry, in what one senior political commentator described as "an innovative experiment in participative democracy," the business community turned the tables on us.
On Friday 18th February, the Committee hosted an event in the debating chamber of the Parliament involving over 100 representatives from businesses throughout Scotland, including several from the Greenock and Inverclyde area. Co-chaired by Greenock’s own Alf Young, deputy editor of the Glasgow Herald, the day’s objective was to allow the business community to contribute directly to the ongoing debate.
The format for the event was similar to a normal Parliamentary day in the Chamber, with those attending being invited to speak on the key issues surrounding local economic development. Due to the popularity of the event, not everyone could make individual contributions. However, during the course of the debate there were a number of opportunities for individuals to vote on some of the conclusions in our interim report. The debate itself was structured around the 3 areas of Economic Development Services, Business Support Services and Lifelong Learning and was the first of a number of initiatives sponsored by the parliament under its "Parliament in Partnership with the People" scheme.
This scheme aims to bring the Parliament closer to the people it represents, and give an opportunity for all elements of Scottish society to contribute to its work.
And, as I sat watching the debate from the public gallery, it seemed that this is what the Scottish Parliament should be about. To deliver policies which work well and meet a specific need, people other than politicians – the consumers of these services – must be involved. Politicians and other professionals do not have the monopoly on knowledge and expertise.
So, to return to the debate. What did the business community agree? Well, perhaps they were infected by the politicians’ curse: there was no consensus.
The services you require if you sell microchips are markedly different from those your require if you sell fish and chips. The diversity of Scottish business is such that delivering economic support which satisfies all sectors will not be easily done.
Nevertheless, the committee members left the debate better informed and with new perspectives and insights – brimming with raw material for our final report. Hopefully the business representatives left similarly enriched.
Our new Parliament is a two way street, after all.
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