Written Evidence May. 20 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: DED0036 - Defending Democracy University of Oxford Written Evidence
Found: democracy and creating a framework for measuring impact, SB 24-13 52: Deliberative democracy background
Found: democracy and a creating a framework for measuring impact, SB 24-13 52: Deliberative democracy background
Asked by: Regan, Ash (Alba Party - Edinburgh Eastern)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to citizens' assemblies; when it next plans to hold one, and on which topic.
Answered by Hepburn, Jamie - Minister for Independence
Scottish Government recognises that Citizens’ Assemblies are an important and effective method to involve the public in policy and decision making.
Our longer term commitment to using Citizen’s Assemblies remains unchanged, and any Citizens’ Assembly will be targeted to help tackle some of Scotland’s most difficult issues.
As outlined in our response to the Institutionalising Participative and Deliberative Democracy working group, to ensure any future Citizens’ Assemblies build upon the learnings of previous Citizens’ Assemblies delivered in Scotland, a key first step in our approach will be to undertake an impact assessment of the Citizens' Assembly of Scotland and Scotland’s Climate Assembly.
Budget to deliver participatory work is dispersed across policy areas, which currently allocate funds and undertake activities as required. The financial situation facing the Scottish Government continues to be the most challenging since devolution, and we set out the limitations that budget constraints have posed to the delivery of Citizens’ Assemblies to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions committee in October 2023 (see page 4, paragraph 6).
We will update Parliament in due course when we arrange for the next Citizens’ Assembly to be convened.
Mentions:
1: Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) situation we find ourselves in at the moment.There are other good reasons for greater public engagement and deliberative - Speech Link
2: Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) everyone seemed to get so much out of it.I have long been convinced of the importance of participative, deliberative - Speech Link
3: Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) Rather, general and other elections must be part of a process of deliberative democracy that engages - Speech Link
4: Simon Hoare (Con - North Dorset) I think our representative democracy, as set out in Burke’s famous address to the electors of Bristol - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Mountain, Edward (Con - Highlands and Islands) The first is to make more use of tools of deliberative democracy such as people’s panels, as was recommended - Speech Link
Jul. 10 2008
Source Page: A national framework for greater citizen engagement. A discussion paper. 26 p.Found: The Government believes that greater use of deliberative engagement will add value to the national policy
Mar. 30 2010
Source Page: People and power: shaping democracy, rights and responsibilities. Incl. appendices. 130 p.Found: People and power: shaping democracy, rights and responsibilities. Incl. appendices. 130 p.
Dec. 12 2023
Source Page: List of working groups set up within the Communities Directorate: FOI releaseFound: Government - Y/N Recommendations taken forward by Government Institutionalising Participatory & Deliberative
Mentions:
1: Carlaw, Jackson (Con - Eastwood) I wonder why they were so unenthusiastic about that.In doing that, we worked out how deliberative democracy - Speech Link
2: Carlaw, Jackson (Con - Eastwood) We think that Parliament has a role to take forward in extending deliberative democracy and we recommend - Speech Link
3: Adam, George (SNP - Paisley) In our response to the institutionalising participatory and deliberative democracy expert working group - Speech Link
4: Whitfield, Martin (Lab - South Scotland) I will talk about the definition of deliberative democracy. - Speech Link
5: Thomson, Michelle (SNP - Falkirk East) First, I propose to consider further the barriers to participative and deliberative democracy, rather - Speech Link