The Work of a Member of the Scottish Parliament

Areas of Responsibility of the Scottish Parliament

MSPs deal with the issues for which the Scottish Parliament is responsible. These are called devolved matters. They include:

• health

• education and training

• transport

• social work services

• housing

• planning

• the environment

• economic development

• law and order (the police, the courts and lawyers)

• police and fire services

• local government

• natural and built heritage

• agriculture, forestry and fishing

• the arts

• sport

The Scottish Parliament can also vary taxation (up or down) by up to 3p in the pound.

The United Kingdom Parliament

The United Kingdom Parliament

Other issues are known as reserved matters. They are dealt with by the UK Parliament at Westminster. They include:

• constitutional matters

• UK foreign policy, including the European Union

• UK defence and national security

• fiscal, economic and monetary system

• immigration and nationality

• energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy

• telecommunications

• employment

• social security benefits

• equal opportunities

The role of an MSP

Parliamentary business is conducted in the Chamber in Plenary (full) Session on Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays and in Committee Session on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

The business of the Chamber includes debates on motions, bills (proposed new laws) and members' business. Members' Business normally takes place at 5pm on Chamber days and is an opportunity for MSPs to raise issues of concern to them (often matters affecting their constituency).

MSPs also have a weekly opportunity to ask oral questions of the first Minister and Scottish Executive Ministers. Written questions can also be tabled for answer by Ministers.

In this way Members can ensure that the Scottish Executive is accountable for all the decisions made and the money spent.

In Committee sessions, time is spent reviewing proposed new laws from the Scottish Executive or from individual MSPs. Evidence is also taken from experts on topics chosen by the Committee or passed to them as petitions raised by citizens or groups with the Public Petitions Committee. Committees are also able themselves to propose new laws.

There are 16 committees and Robert Brown is on the Justice Committee and the Standards Committee. Committee members spend time outwith committee sessions meeting representatives from relevant bodies and visiting organisations associated with their committee work.

Time away from the Chamber and Committees is spent preparing for debates and submitting oral or written questions to the Scottish Executive. Robert also spends time dealing with individual problems and replying to the many letters and phone calls from members of the public and interest groups.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs are also involved in Cross-Party groups. These groups are made-up of members from across the parties who share an interest in a particular subject or cause. These groups may contain people outwith the Parliament.

Mondays and Fridays are normally devoted to Constituency business. Robert normally spends these days in Glasgow assisting constituents with matters of concern and visiting Glasgow based organisations.

Robert meets constituents at his weekly surgeries and at his Queen Street office in the city centre. Weekends are often devoted to constituency business and party political activities.

As Policy Vice Convener of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Robert was a senior Party Officebearer with considerable influence over the development of the Liberal Democrat programme.