The Work of an MSP

This was a very common exam question at Standard Grade/Intermediate 2

Describe, in detail, how MSPs find out about their constituents problems and/or help solve them

Example question

How do MSPs find out about the problems their constituents have?Take a few minutes and list the ways they find out information

Finding out about people’s problems• Surgeries – Held throughout the month in various locations

• Social Media – Twitter, facebook etc.

• Through the newspaper – Reading letters in columns is a good way to find out about people’s problems

• Visiting schools – Talking to young people in schools is a good way to find out their concerns

Solving people’s problems outside the parliament• Speak to the relevant department at the council – environmental services could be contacted if fly tipping was problem in an area

• Write to a senior police officer – If crime was a particular problem in an are they could contact the police to ask what they are doing about it

• Can write to constituents and make them aware of an important issue – Ann McTaggart MSP wrote to elderly constituents over the winter to make them aware of the help available to protect against the cold weather

Case Study – Working in the parliament• There is a condition called plagiocephaly - better known as “flat head syndrome” – which can leave children with unsightly cranial deformation

• MSP John Pentland has taken up the fight in the Scottish Parliament on behalf of parents as currently the NHS does not provide the treatment required saying that it is ‘purely cosmetic’

• So what could he do to help his constituents?

• Take five minutes to decide what action he could take in the parliament

What John Pentland could do• Ask a question at First Minister’s Question Time – This would bring it to the parliaments attention and get the media reporting on the issue

• Write to the Health Minister – He could ask him to put pressure on the NHS to change their minds about the surgery

• Introduce a bill – He could look to introduce a Members Bill which could make it compulsory for the treatment to be made free on the NHS

• Bring it up in the Health Committee – He could ask the committee to bring in expert witnesses to find out more about the condition