Making your voice heard ...

in Government

We have a multi-layered government, and it is often difficult to know who to approach about different matters.

Europe-wide legislation
UK-wide legislation
Scottish-legislation
Local Council

European legislation

The is divided into 12 regions, of which Scotland is one and has 7 MEPs (Members of the European Parliament). There is also an European Parlimentary office in Scotland , which provides further information about EU legislation and Scottish matters. To find our more about its activities, or to find out how to contact ’s MEPs, see the European Parliament website.

UK government

The government at Westminster is responsible for certain types of legislation ('reserved matters'):

• constitutional matters
• foreign policy
• defence and national security
• fiscal, economic and monetary system
• immigration and nationality
• energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy
• common markets
• trade and industry, including competition and customer protection
• some aspects of transport, including railways, transport safety and regulation
• employment legislation
• social security
• gambling and the National Lottery
• data protection
• abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, genetics, xenotransplantation and vivisection
• equal opportunities

Lobby your MP (Member of Parliament)

Your MP will have an office in Westminsterand in your local constituency. Unsure who your representative is? Check the UK Parliamentary website.

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Scottish Parliament

The Scottish parliament is responsible for 'devolved matters':

• health
• education and training
• local government
• social work
• housing
• planning
• tourism, economic development and financial assistance to industry
• some aspects of transport, including the Scottish road network, bus policy and ports and harbours
• law and home affairs, including most aspects of criminal and civil law, the prosecution system and the courts
• the Police and Fire services
• the environment
• natural and built heritage
• agriculture, forestry and fishing
• sport and the arts
• statistics, public registers and records

Lobby your MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament)

Your MSP will have an office in Westminster and in your local constituency. Unsure who your representative is? Check the Scottish Parliament website.

Parliamentary Petitions

The Parliamentary Petition is another way open to individuals to ask for a change in Scottish legislation (there is no comparable method in the parliament).Anyone can lodge a petition with the Petitions Clerk asking the committee to look into the matter or amend existing legislation. The process is simple. Once lodged, the Public Petitions Committee may ask you to come and speak to them, ask another committee to look into the matter, suggest that your petition is debated in the Scottish Parliament, or agree not to take any action. To find out how to submit a petition, see the Scottish Parliament website.

Petitions are published on the Scottish Executive website, and you can comment on any which are ongoing. See http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk

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Local Council

Your local council delivers a range of services in line with and Scottish legislation. Their decisions impact on your local community in a wide range of areas – education, housing, care for the elderly, and much, much more.  Local councillors need to know what people think – and they need to hear women’s as well as men’s voices.

• Keep abreast of local issues – read your local paper or listen to the local news.
• Find out who your local councillor is, and let him or her know about what you think.

HighlandCouncil 
Moray Council
Argyll & Bute Council

• The Single Outcome Agreement (SOA)

Local authorities are required to produce a Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) which sets out how they will contribute to the 15 national outcomes in a local context as well as achieving their local priorities. The SOA is document demonstrating an agreement between the Scottish Government and the local public sector. As well as contributing to the achievement of the national outcomes it is also a local improvement plan for Community Planning Partnerships and includes joint commitments to outcomes and targets for the benefit for the local community. Click here to find out more.

• Gain an understanding of planning laws. It is complicated – but important. Try to influence the planning issues by having a say in the development and local plans – the framework for any development.  Useful publications are:

Scottish Executive Planning Guides

Local Council planning information
Contact your council planning department of your local council for information about the planning system and responding to plans.

 

Environmental Campaigning.

A Friends of the Earth Scotland handbook which explains the Scottish Planning System, and how to campaign effectively.

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