The Public Affairs Guide to Scotland

978-1-86057-126-8
    Delivery time:5-7 days
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  • Description

‘I've worked in Scottish public affairs for many years but this book is still a great resource for clear guidance, ideas and planning. We keep one in our office and refer to it often. Colleagues new to the field of public affairs describe it as invaluable.’
Kim Hartley, Head, Royal Col. of Speech & Language Therapists Scotland

‘Whether you need to engage with the legislative procedures of the Scottish Parliament and its policy development or hope to inform the development of a Bill, this book provides in depth help.’
Satwat Rehman, Director, One Parent Families Scotland

‘Both authors have used their tremendous experience to really good effect. I really can't praise their efforts highly enough.’
Bill Scott, Policy Director, Inclusion Scotland

'Contains all a person needs to know to engage with the Parliament, the Government, local authorities and civic society in an effective and efficient way.'
Michael P Clancy OBE

'Mark Ballard and Robert McGeachy, through the pages of this important book, are ... doing democracy a service'
Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll & Bute

CONTENTS

Foreword by Mike Russell
Preface by Michael Clancy

1. Stripping Away the Mysteries
2.
Parliamentary Monitoring
3. Engaging with Key Policy Makers
4. Working with Individual MSPs
5. Working with Politicians and Political Parties
6. Responding to Consultations
7. Influencing Scottish Parliamentary Committees
8. Engaging with the Legislative Process:
Pre-legislation to Stage 1
9.
Engaging with the Legislative Process:
Stage 2, Stage 3 and beyond
10.
Members’ Bills
11. Oral Questions and Written Questions
12. Scottish Parliamentary debates
13. Parliamentary Motions
14. Public Petitions to the Scottish Parliament
15. Cross Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament
16.
Parliamentary receptions and other events
17. Party Conferences
18. Partnership Working
19. Working with the Media
20. Online Communications
21. Influencing Local Government

Written by two award-winning public affairs professionals,The Public Affairs Guide to Scotland provides practical advice and guidance to individuals and organisations wishing to influence policy makers, and to contribute to legislative change in Scotland.
The Public Affairs Guide to Scotland strips away the mysteries and misconceptions of engaging with the Scottish Government, Opposition parties, MSPs and the civil service and explains how to deliver cost effective public affairs activities that can achieve tangible outcomes.
Robert McGeachy and Mark Ballard’s step-by-step guide will empower private, public and third sector organisations to manage their own public affairs programmes, without the need to hire expensive consultants or specialist lobbying companies, by comprehensively outlining:

  • What your organisation could achieve by developing its own in-house public affairs activities

  • How to identify the correct policy and legislative context via effective parliamentary monitoring and by engendering good relations with key policy makers

  • How to engage with the legislative process including Parliamentary Committees, Members’ Bills, Public Petitions, Cross Party Groups, and Parliamentary Motions & Debates

  • How to create, organise and undertake a public affairs programme most appropriate for your organisation including  hosting  parliamentary receptions, attending party conferences and joint-working with a partner organisation

Full of useful hints and tips, and written with the benefit of years of experience and success in the profession,The Public Affairs Guide to Scotland is the essential tool for those organisations needing to engage with the legislative process of the Scottish Parliament and its policy development. The authors are award winning public affairs professionals, and have proven track records in helping to shape and influence legislation and policy development in the Scottish and UK parliaments. Mark Ballard is Head of Policy for one of the largest voluntary organisations in Scotland and an ex-MSP. Robert McGeachy is one of the few public affairs professionals in Scotland who can offer demonstrable public affairs experience of both the Scottish and Westminster political systems, and legislative processes.
What your organisation could achieve by developing its own in-house public affairs activitiesHow to identify the correct policy and legislative context via effective parliamentary monitoring and by engendering good relations with key policy makersHow to engage with the legislative process including Parliamentary Committees, Members’ Bills, Public Petitions, Cross Party Groups, and Parliamentary Motions and DebatesHow to create, organise and undertake a public affairs programme most appropriate for your organisation including hosting parliamentary receptions, attending party conferences and joint-working with a partner organisation
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