As part of Parliament Day Motherwell, the Convener of the European and External Relations Committee, Christina McKelvie MSP, will meet with staff and pupils from local schools to explore preparations for the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the education system and communities.
In the evening, local people are also invited to an informal Q&A session, hosted by the Presiding Officer, where they can quiz MSPs about how their Parliament works for them.
Members of the local community are invited to come along and find out more, with refreshments available.
The Presiding Officer said:
“The Scottish Parliament is there to represent all of Scotland’s communities and it’s important we hear directly from local people about what matters to them. I’m sure the people of Motherwell will take this opportunity to make their voice heard about issues affecting their daily lives.
“I would encourage everyone who can to come along to the GLO Centre to chat to me, my fellow MSPs and Parliament staff and find out more about the work of the Parliament. We want to hear from you.”
John Pentland, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw said:
“The Scottish Parliament has brought democracy closer to people in a variety of ways. It is easy for the public to visit Holyrood and many of my constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw and the surrounding villages have done so. The Scottish Parliament is very accessible in terms of engagement with the policy process, with the public able to submit views, and take part in committee meetings and cross party groups. We also have a very open system for the consideration of petitions.
“This visit by the Parliament to Motherwell and Wishaw takes this one step further, by bringing the parliament to the people. I hope that as many local people as possible will participate in the visit and help build interest in our democratic processes.
“I am pleased that the Convener of the European and External Relations Committee will be taking part in the Parliament Day, discussing refugee resettlement. This is particularly appropriate because Motherwell was the first and so far the only resettlement in Scotland under the UK Gateway Protection Programme, organised in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees programme. North Lanarkshire Council won the "Creating Integrated Communities" category in the UK Housing Awards for its involvement in the Programme, having resettled 80 refugees who fled war in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007, and I am sure the experience and expertise that was developed will be helpful in addressing the future needs of refugees in communities across Scotland.”
Background
Parliament Day Motherwell will be held at the GLO Centre, 78 Muir Street, Motherwell, ML1 1BN. The informal Q&A session with the Presiding Officer is open to all from 5:30pm.
Launched in November 2012, the Parliament Day initiative takes the Parliament out of Edinburgh and into communities across Scotland. Parliament Days allow people to see the Parliament at work – both official parliamentary business such as committee meetings, and on a less formal level by meeting local MSPs and Parliament staff.
Twelve Parliament Days have been held across Scotland from Orkney to Hawick, and from Stornoway to Arbroath.
Parliament Day Homepage: Motherwell