| languages |
Under rule 7.1 of the standing orders, the Parliament is normally to conduct its business in English, but MSPs, or any other person invited by the Parliament to address it, can speak in Scots Gaelic or any other language with the agreement of the Presiding Officer. The Parliament also has a language policy which deals with matters such as the publication of material in other languages and the provision of translation and interpretation facilities. |
| Law Officers |
The senior legal advisers to the government. The two Scottish Law Officers, who are Scottish Ministers and members of the Scottish Executive, are the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. Unlike other Ministers, the Scottish Law Officers need not be MSPs. In such cases, the Scotland Act 1998 and the Scottish Parliament’s Standing Orders provide for their participation in certain parliamentary proceedings. The UK Government’s Scottish Law Officer is the Advocate General for Scotland, a post created at devolution. |
| laying documents |
Chapter 14 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders provides rules on laying documents before the Parliament. Many types of documents, such as financial reports or annual reports of public bodies, must be laid by law. |
| lead committee |
The parliamentary committee within whose remit a particular bill or item of subordinate legislation falls, and which, under the Standing Orders, takes the lead role in reporting to the rest of Parliament on that legislation. If a measure falls within the remit of more than one committee, the committees concerned may decide, with the agreement of the Parliamentary Bureau, to consider the matter jointly. Alternatively the Parliament may designate one to be the lead committee, acting on a motion from the Parliamentary Bureau. |
| leader of the opposition |
An informal term, derived from Westminster parliamentary practice, which is sometimes applied to the leader of the largest non-Executive party in the Scottish Parliament. By convention, the leader of the opposition (along with the leaders of other large non-Executive parties) may be given some degree of priority in proceedings such as First Minister’s Question Time. |
| Learning Resource Centre |
An internal resource provided by the Personnel Office for MSPs, their staff and Parliament staff to facilitate individual learning. |
| legislation |
Any written law agreed to and given authority by a legislative body (such as the Scottish Parliament) is legislation. The Scottish Parliament has the power to enact both primary legislation (i.e. Acts) and approve or reject secondary (also called subordinate or delegated) legislation. Bills are draft legislation. |
| legislative competence |
Legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament is only valid if it is within the Parliament's legislative competence. The Scotland Act 1998 sets out matters that are outwith the Scottish Parliament’s competence, such as the reserved matters listed in schedule 5 or anything that is incompatible with Convention rights or with Community law. The Parliament can legislate on everything else. |
| Legislative Consent Memorandum |
A document prepared by the Executive or by a Member describing a Westminster Bill that contains provisions on devolved matters, or provisions that would alter the devolved competence of the Parliament or the Executive. In most cases, the memorandum will also explain why the Executive (or the Member) wishes the Parliament to give consent to Westminster legislating in this way. See also Legislative Consent Motion, Sewel Convention. |
| Legislative Consent Motion |
A motion expressing the Parliament’s consent to provisions in a Westminster Bill on devolved matters or to alter the devolved competence of the Parliament or of the Executive. Previously (and still, colloquially) known as a “Sewel motion”. |
| legislative process |
The stages of parliamentary consideration that a bill must go through to enable it to become an Act. |
| letters patent |
In the legislative context, royal assent to bills passed by the Parliament is signified by letters patent signed in the monarch’s own hand, passed under the Scottish Seal and recorded in the Register of the Great Seal. |
| list member |
An informal term for a regional MSP, derived from the party lists used for their election. |
| lobbying |
The Scotland Act 1998 makes provision for the ethical conduct of the Parliament. There is a transitional scheme for the regulation of MSPs’ interests including the prohibition of paid advocacy by MSPs. The Code of Conduct for MSPs includes additional provisions and guidance in relation to MSPs’ interaction with lobbyists. See section 5 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. |
| Local Government and Communities Committee |
A subject committee of the Parliament, of 8 members, the remit of the committee is to consider and report on (a) the financing and delivery of local government and local services and planning; and (b) housing, regeneration, anti-poverty measures and other matters (apart from sport) falling within the responsibility of the Minister for Communities and Sport. |
| Lord Advocate |
The senior Scottish Law Officer and a member of the Scottish Executive. As well as providing legal advice to the Scottish government, the Lord Advocate is also in charge of the prosecution of crime and the investigation of deaths in Scotland.
The devolution legislation contains various provisions to protect the independent position and role of the Lord Advocate, especially in connection with criminal prosecutions and the investigation of deaths.
Although not a member of the Cabinet, he or she does attend Cabinet meetings. |
back to top