05/10/2012
The Heart of Hawick will be home to the Scottish Parliament next month as Holyrood comes to the town for the day. Politicians and Parliamentary staff will arrive in Hawick ahead of the first ever ‘Parliament Day’ on Monday 5 November, being hosted in the Tower Mill.
Speaking of this new initiative, the Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP said:
“I am looking forward to visiting Hawick for our first ever ‘Parliament Day’. With a formal Committee meeting, a programme of school visits and a series of meetings with local groups all taking place, Parliament Day will give the people of Hawick a great opportunity to see their Parliament in action.
“The Parliament represents all the people of Scotland and the work we do impacts on everyone so we have placed ‘Parliament Days’ at the heart of our engagement activities this session.
"I hope the people of Hawick will enjoy this opportunity to find out more about what we do at Holyrood and experience how easy it can be to get involved.”
During the day’s activities, the Finance Committee will hold a formal committee meeting, where they will examine the spending plans of the Scottish Government. A number of local organisations including businesses and third-sector organisations will attend informal workshops prior to the committee meeting and have the opportunity to have their say on the Government’s spending plans. Local school children will have the opportunity to watch the Committee meeting and ask MSPs questions.
Convener of the Finance Committee Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“We are delighted to be part of the first ever Parliament Day. We hope that everyone from members of the public, community groups and school children will come along to watch a committee of their Parliament at work, particularly when it is looking at how public money will be spent.
“We are inviting a number of local organisations and business groups to take part in an informal morning session of workshops with committee members. We look forward to hearing their views.”
The Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff will be formally welcomed to Hawick on Sunday by the convenor of Scottish Borders, Council Councillor Graham Garvie, at a civic reception hosted by the Presiding Officer and Finance Committee Convener.
The reception will include local young people welcoming MSPs to their town with a presentation about their experiences, and a fashion show highlighting the talent of Hawick High School and its partnership with local businesses.
Councillor Garvie said:
"It's an honour to host the Scottish Parliament in Hawick and I'm delighted that the Borders has been chosen as the first area in Scotland to hold such an historic event.
"It's a good opportunity for Borderers to see national politics at first hand and I hope as many people as possible get involved."
Background
The first ‘Parliament Day’ is Monday 5 November. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks, including details of the formal meeting of the Finance Committee; visits to local schools by MSPs; and a programme of engagements by the Presiding Officer.