Scotland outreach

The Scotland Parliamentary Outreach service aims to create awareness of the work of Parliament and show how the debates and decisions of the House of Commons and House of Lords are relevant to the area.

The Parliamentary Outreach service also promotes engagement with the processes of Parliament, demonstrating how the public can get involved at a local and national level.

Working with Parliamentary Outreach

In partnership with organisations such as the Fawcett Society, the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations and the Prince's Trust, Parliamentary Outreach in Scotland organises and participates in free training sessions, events and exhibitions.

Parliamentary Outreach activities in Scotland

The following are examples of the types of events that Parliamentary Outreach can organise or participate in:

  • Inverness - Thursday 29 March
    A workshop and question session at the Citizens Advice Conference on the work and role of the UK Parliament. The talk will focus on how groups in Scotland can engage on issues reserved to the UK Parliament.

If you are interested in holding an event with Parliamentary Outreach, please contact Chris Blanchett at blanchettc@parliament.uk.

Parliament news for Scotland

Related information

Contact details

For further information on how your organisation can get involved with Parliamentary Outreach in Scotland, please contact:

Chris Blanchett
Parliamentary Outreach
Houses of Parliament
London SW1A 0AA
T: 020 7219 4993 
E: blanchettc@parliament.uk

Devolution and reserved powers


The Scottish Parliament has responsibility for a number of matters (known as devolved matters). These include health, education and housing.

However, the UK Parliament still has responsibility for certain matters (known as reserved matters) including:

  • Constitutional matters
  • Foreign policy, defence and relations with the EU
  • Taxation (apart from the right to vary income tax by 3p in Scotland)
  • Overseas trade
  • Employment legislation and social security
Scottish Affairs Committee

The Scottish Affairs Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons.

It examines reserved matters within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland (including relations with the Scottish Parliament).