Democracy: Roles of MSP's

Question 1

take part in debates

Answer 1

• can raise awareness of issues + give their view at this time, they also debate proposals for new laws (bills)
• Kenneth Gibson has taken part in debates over covid measures + vaccine passports

Question 2

ask questions during First Minister’s Question Time

Answer 2

• every Thursday between 12pm - 12:45pm, MSP’s can scrutinise + ask the First Minister important questions on the work of her government
• Kenneth Gibson asked the First Minister when the £60 million that was promised to renew play parks in Scotland would be given to councils

Question 3

voting

Answer 3

• at the end of the days when the parliament sits, MSP’s can vote at ‘Decision Time’, this is usually at 5pm with MSP’s voting on any business that has passed through parliament that day
• in 2020 MSP’s voted in favour of a bill to make Scotland the first country in the world to make sanitary products free in an attempt to tackle period poverty

Question 4

working in/ membership of a committee

Answer 4

• committees conduct inquiries into specific topics within their area + can then ask parliament to consider their findings
• there’s a covid 19 committee + our MSP Kenneth Gibson is the Convenor of the Finance + Public Administration Committee