CommonSpace introduces its new regular summary of the day ahead in Holyrood
WELCOME to the new CommonSpace Parliamentary Round-up, where readers can get a preview of what lies ahead in the Scottish Parliament each day and a summary of why it matters.
Although Holyrood sits in recess on Mondays and Fridays – meaning no committee business nor, sadly, the Socratic Thunderdome that is the parliamentary Chamber – the Scottish Parliament nevertheless hosts a bustle of exhibitions, ceremonies, official visits and protests throughout the week.
Some of the time, anyway. Other times, the parliament’s three-day schedule can leave the place feeling like the Overlook Hotel with marginally better weather, occupied only by a few tourists, grannies in search of a scone, the ghost of Donald Dewar, and worst of all, journalists.
The parliament’s three-day schedule can leave the place feeling like the Overlook Hotel with marginally better weather, occupied only by a few tourists, grannies in search of a scone, the ghost of Donald Dewar, and worst of all, journalists.
Monday’s events involve schoolchildren, which is gladdening, since they always bring a welcome sense of maturity to parliament. Today, Holyrood will receive visitors from Uddingston Grammar School and Buckstone Primary School.
Many of parliament’s usual inhabitants will be elsewhere however, as the recess at the beginning and end of the working week allows MSPs to conduct constituency business or other activities, such as planned visits to Banchory Primary School in Aberdeenshire and Bellyeoman Primary School in Dunfermline.
A list of the MSPs visiting the schools was not available at the time of publication, but presumably the parliamentarians in question will be able to tell the children about all the standardised testing they have to look forward to.
The week ahead includes a Stage 1 debate on the Scottish budget, Stage 3 proceedings of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, Green MSP Ross Greer’s Member’s Business on rising bus fares, and a celebration of fine Scottish food. Stay tuned.
Picture courtesy of Paula Funnell
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