Date

Event

Country

Request / Action / State of Play / Comments

Duration (Days)

01.10.03

Mr Michael Richardson MP

Australia

Member to visit Parliament for devolution discussion and receive tour of Holyrood Site 

1/2 day

07.10.03

Visit by Mr Joseba Azkarraga

Spain

Mr Azkarraga,  Minister of Justice, Employment and Social Security will visit the Scottish Parliament to meet with members and view the Parliaments Justice Committee followed by tour.

1/2 day

07.10.03

Public Petitions Committee of the Kosovo Assembly

Kosovo

Direct request from the Kosovo Parliament to look at how the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee operates.

1/2 Day

08.10.03

HE The Hon Russell Marshall

New Zealand

HE The Hon Russell Marshall, the New Zealand High Commissioner visit to the Scottish Parliament.  Direct request from High Commission.  Lunch with CPA Executive Committee, Courtesy call with the Presiding Officer plus other meetings, tour and VIP Gallery.  

1/2 day

Sunday 11 to Saturday 26 October (inclusive) - October Recess

16.10.03

Mr Richard Kinchen

UK

Mr Richard Kinchen, the new United Kingdom Ambassador to Belgium.The Ambassador will visit the Scottish Executive and Parliament to gain a further understanding of devolution in practice.

1 hour

27 to 29.10.03

Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers

Commonwealth

15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers being held in Edinburgh and organised by Commonwealth Secretariat with assistance from the Scottish Executive.Members of the Scottish Parliament observed the Conference.

3 days

29.10.03

Mrs Kessang Takla

Tibet

Mrs Takla will visit the Parliament in preparation for His Holiness The Dalai Lama's visit due in June 2004.Courtesy call with the Presiding Officer.

1 hour

29.10.03

Finnish Ambassador Mr Pertti Salolainen

Finland

Ambassador Salolainen will pay a short visit to the Parliament receiving courtesy calls with the Presiding Officer and Clerk/Chief Executive.

1 hour

29.10.03

Delegation from Lombardy

Italy

Delegation of 12 will visit the Parliament to discuss devolution and other Parliament related business.

1 day

29.10.03

Ogun State Parliament

Nigeria

Delegation led by the Speaker.All 26 Members plus officials (32 in total) will visit. Interested in Standards and the committee system.Lunch tours briefing etc.

1 day

29.10.03

London Assembly

UK

Members of the London Assembly to explore networking opportunities and to look at the impact of the Parliament and the scrutiny function

1 day

29.10.03

Mr Rauff Hakeem

Sri Lanka

Mr Rauff Hakeem, Minister for Port Development, Shipping & Muslim religious Affairs and his delegation of 7 will dine with members of the CPA Executive Committee and EER Committee.

1/2 day

30.10.03

Ethiopian Regional Speakers

Ethiopia

Three Ethiopian Regional speakers have been invited by the FCO to develop closer links with the UK.They will visit theScottish Parliament for a courtesy call with the Presiding Officer and observe First Minister's Questions.

1/2 day

30.10.03

Nigerian National & State House of Assembly

Nigeria

The National Institute for African Studies will bring a delegation of 12 for a short meeting on devolution and the Scottish parliament.Will also observe First Minister's Questions.

1/2 day

30 & 31.10.03

Delegation from Czech Senate

Czech Republic

2-day visit by a delegation of Senators from the Constitutional and Legislative Committee of the Upper House, the Czech Republic to look at the Scottish Parliament and devolution in detail. Meetings with Justice I & II, Procedures and Local Government Committees has been requested.

2 days