Scottish Politics Explained: Navigating Public Service Reform

Whether you're new to Holyrood or a seasoned observer, a firm grasp of how the Parliament works is the foundation for effective engagement. This two-part session begins with an overview of the Parliament's structure, composition, and powers, before turning to its future.

- How the Parliament is structured, who sits in it, and how it is elected
- The powers Holyrood holds, and where responsibility lies with Westminster
- Recent reforms to the Parliament and how they have changed the way it operates
- The case for further change, and what the next phase of reform could look like

The Scotland Act is the legal foundation of devolution, shaping what Holyrood can and cannot do. This session, delivered by one of Scotland's leading legal voices, will explore what the act is and how it operates.

- What the Scotland Act is, why it was passed, and how it underpins the devolution settlement
- How the powers of the Scottish Parliament and Government are defined, and where the boundaries with Westminster lie
- How the Act has been amended since 1998, and where its limits and ambiguities have been tested
- What the Act's operation means for PSR, and or organisations seeking to engage with government

To understand where Scotland's public services are heading, you first need to understand how they got here. This session sets the scene for the day by looking back at over a decade of reform in the devolved era.

- What the Christie Commission found and the principles it recommended
- The reforms that followed, and where progress stalled or never materialised
- The consequences of those decisions for services, budgets, and communities
- Lessons from the past that should shape the current reform agenda

Behind every reform proposal sits a difficult financial reality. This address cuts through the technical detail to explain what is driving the need for change and what is at stake if the Government fails to act.

- The state of Scotland's public finances and the scale of the funding gap
- The likely consequences of inaction for services and budgets
- How the Finance and Public Administration committee scrutinises anything that comes before them
- The financial delivery challenges ministers are likely to face

With a new Parliament comes a new landscape for anyone seeking to influence policy. This session brings together politicians and their staff to reveal what makes engagement effective, followed by practical guidance you can put to use straight away.

- Insight from MSPs and staffers on what works, and what doesn't, when organisations approach them
- How to adapt your engagement approach to the new Parliament
- Examples of successful campaigns and what made them effective
- Practical tips for making your organisation stand out

Public Service Reform is the defining challenge of this Parliament, but can the Government's plans deliver? Rather than a traditional Q&A, this session is a lively debate, putting the strategy to the test.

- Whether the Government's reform strategy is ambitious enough to meet the scale of the challenge
- What reform will mean in practice for public, private, and third sector organisations
- Where there is cross-party consensus, and where the real disagreements lie
- The biggest risks to delivery, and what success should look like