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Glossary

E-Day	6 May 1999. The first general election of MSPs to the Scottish Parliament.
EC	European Communities.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee	A subject Committee of the Parliament, of 8 members, the remit of the committee is to consider and report on the Scottish economy, enterprise, energy, tourism and all other matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth apart from those covered by the remits of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and the Local Government and Communities Committees.
Edinburgh accommodation allowance	An allowance set depending on the travel time from a member’s main residence to Edinburgh. It is for MSPs whose main residence is not in one of the nine constituencies in or around Edinburgh, as listed in Annex B of the members’ allowances scheme.
Education and Outreach	The team within Participation Services that is responsible for the Education Service (which deals with the visit programme for schools and teacher support through seminars and the production of resources); the network of 80 partner libraries (which act as focal points for parliamentary information and resources); Gaelic Outreach (which works with the Gaelic community); and an overall outreach service bringing together all elements of the service. Restructuring of Participation Services will occur on 1 September 2004.
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee	A subject committee of the Parliament of 8 members, the remit of the committee is to consider and report on (a) further and higher education, lifelong learning, schools, pre-school care, skills and other matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning; and (b) matters relating to culture and the arts falling within the responsibility of the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture.
election expenses	Expenses incurred before, during or after an election relating to the conduct or management of that election (as defined in article 83 of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc) Order 1999, SI 1999/787). See section 2 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs for further information.
electronic voting	The normal method of voting at a meeting of the Parliament. MSPs can vote ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Abstain’ by pressing the appropriate button on the console on their desks.
emergency bill	An Executive bill which, subject to the Parliament’s agreement, undergoes a faster legislative process. For example, all stages of the bill are considered by the whole Parliament rather than by a specific committee, and the usual requirements for intervals between stages do not apply (rule 9.21).
emergency business	Business which the Presiding Officer can allow to be taken at an appropriate point during a meeting of the Parliament. Such business would normally be announced in a revised daily business list.
emergency question	A question on an urgent matter which, if lodged by 10:00 on a day when the Parliament is meeting, may be asked that day if the Presiding Officer is of the opinion that it is ‘sufficiently urgent’ (rule 13.8).
emergency statement	A ministerial statement on an urgent matter. The Minister or junior Scottish Minister must give notice of the statement to the Presiding Officer on a day when the Parliament is meeting. If the Presiding Officer is of the opinion that it is ‘sufficiently urgent’ (rule 13.2.2), it can be made and debated on that day. Any necessary alterations are made to the daily business list.
employee travel allowance	Under the members' allowances scheme, an allowance for MSPs to be reimbursed for the cost of a specified number of journeys per year between the relevant constituency, region or the main residence of the employee and the parliamentary complex. It is also to fund journeys within the constituency or region made by MSP staff (employed through the SPCB payroll service) who support the member in his/her parliamentary duties. Commuting costs are excluded.
enactment	An Act, a part of an Act or, occasionally, a piece of subordinate legislation may be referred to as an enactment.
environmental statement	One of the accompanying documents for certain private bills relating to works of a class determined by the Presiding Officer, or to compulsory acquisition or use of land and buildings. The statement sets out environmental impact information as determined by the Presiding Officer.
equal opportunities	One of the 4 key principles of the report of the Consultative Steering Group. Equal opportunities are defined in the remit of the Equal Opportunities Committee (rule 6.9).
Equal Opportunities Committee	A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 7 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on matters relating to equal opportunities, and upon the observance of equal opportunities within the Parliament. The committee must be established within 42 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election.
equipment and furniture scheme	A separate scheme to the members' allowances scheme agreed on 21 June 2001 by Parliament. It regulates the provision of IT, other office supplies and furniture. The scheme replaced earlier arrangements agreed by the Parliament in this regard.
estimate of expenses and funding statement	One of the accompanying documents for certain private bills relating to the construction or alteration of works of a class determined by the Presiding Officer, or to compulsory acquisition or use of lands and buildings. The statement sets out the total cost of, and sources of funding for, the project proposed in the bill, and any other financial information determined by the Presiding Officer, or reasons for non-inclusion of any financial information.
EU	European Union.
Europe Matters	The electronic newsletter of the European and External Relations Committee, available on the Parliament’s website.
European and External Relations Committee	A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 8 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on proposals for European Communities legislation;the implementation of European Communities legislation;any European Communities or European Union issue;the development and implementation of the Scottish Administration's links with countries and territories outside Scotland, the European Communities (and their institutions) and other international organisations and co-ordination of the international activities of the Scottish Administration. The committee must be established within 42 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election. Until 5 March 2003, this committee was known as the European Committee.
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)	The title used for the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. An international agreement between most European states setting out a package of civil rights and liberties. The ECHR is applied in Scotland through provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
exceptional needs allowance	Under the members' allowances scheme, an allowance up to a specified limit to meet overnight expenses, which can be claimed by MSPs on grounds of the geographical size of their constituency or region or because they contain significant island communities. The areas concerned are listed in Annex C of the member's allowances scheme.
Executive	See Scottish Executive.
Executive bill	A public bill introduced into the Parliament by a member of the Scottish Executive.
Executive devolution	The extent of powers conferred on Scottish Ministers, which includes some responsibilities in areas which are reserved matters, i.e. matters over which the Scottish Parliament does not have legislative power (see section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998).
Executive note	Text attached to a Scottish statutory instrument explaining the policy background.
Executive statement on legislative competence	Each Executive bill must be accompanied on introduction by a statement by a member of the Scottish Executive stating that, in his or her view, the provisions of the bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
explanatory notes	A form of accompanying document, the purpose of which is to summarise objectively what the provisions of the bill do.
External Liaison Unit (ELU)	The ELU is responsible for co-ordinating visits to the Parliament from other legislatures, governments and international organisations. It also advises MSPs and Parliament staff on international issues, and supports the Scotland Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
extraordinary general election	A general election held because the Parliament either has resolved that it should be dissolved, or has failed to nominate a First Minister within the relevant statutory period. When either situation arises, the Presiding Officer proposes a date of poll, and the Parliament may be dissolved by royal proclamation for the election to be held on the proposed day (section 3, Scotland Act 1998).