| Facilities Management Office |
The office within the Directorate of Technology and Facilities Management that is responsible for managing the Parliament's accommodation, providing a range of support services (some through contractors), and advising on health and safety and environmental issues. |
| fallen bill |
If the Parliament does not agree to the general principles of a public bill after debate at Stage 1, then the bill falls. In the case of a private bill, if the Parliament does not agree to the general principles after debate at the Preliminary Stage, or does not consider that the bill should proceed as a private bill, then the bill falls. |
| family travel allowance |
An allowance which can be claimed by MSPs for travel between Edinburgh and the relevant constituency, region or main residence by members of their immediate family, as defined in the members' allowances scheme. |
| Festival of Politics |
An event held over several days by the Scottish Parliament in August. It features a series of debates, workshops, talks, music and lively discussion. The first Festival of Politics was in August 2005. |
| Final Stage |
In the procedure for a private bill, Final Stage is the stage for final consideration of the bill and a decision whether it should be passed or rejected (rule 9A.10). |
| Finance Committee |
A mandatory committee of the Parliament, of 8 members, the remit of which is to consider and report on Executive reports/documents on proposals for, or budgets of, public expenditure, or for tax-varying resolutions; committee reports concerning public expenditure; any report made by a committee setting out proposals concerning public expenditure; and Budget bills, and (discretionary) timetable for such bills and handling of financial business; and any other matter relating to or affecting the expenditure of the Scottish Administration or other expenditure payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund. The committee must be established within 21 sitting days of a Scottish Parliament election. |
| Finance Office |
An office within the Directorate of Resources and Governance that undertakes a range of functions, such as processing invoices, setting and monitoring budgets, and preparing the Parliament’s annual accounts. |
| Financial Issues Advisory Group (FIAG) |
A group established by the Scottish Office in February 1998 to advise it and the Consultative Steering Group on procedures and practices for the Scottish Parliament in the handling of financial issues. Its report was published in January 1999. |
| financial memorandum |
An accompanying document to a public bill. The financial memorandum sets out best estimates of the bill’s costs on the Scottish Administration, local authorities and others. |
| financial resolution |
A financial resolution is required for bills which have or which are likely to have certain financial implications (as set out in rule 9.12.3). This is a resolution of the Parliament expressing its agreement to those implications. The motion for a resolution can be moved only by a Minister. If a bill requires a financial resolution, no further proceedings beyond Stage 1 can be taken until it has been agreed to, and the bill will fall if no resolution is passed within 6 months of the completion of Stage 1. |
| financial year |
A year beginning 1 April, for the purposes of financial business. |
| First Minister |
The head of the Scottish Executive. The First Minister is an MSP appointed by the Queen within 28 days of a general election or vacancy. His or her appointment follows election by MSPs and nomination by the Scottish Parliament, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Standing Orders (rules 4.1-4.2 and 11.10). |
| First Minister’s Question Time (FMQT) |
A period of up to 30 minutes each week, normally on Thursdays at 12.00, when MSPs ask questions of the First Minister at a meeting of the Parliament. 6 questions are selected by the Presiding Officer, and the members who ask those questions, plus other members, may be called to ask supplementary questions. By convention, the first 2 or 3 questions selected are by the leaders of the main opposition parties. FMQT replaced Open Question Time, following a revision of the Standing Orders in December 1999. |
| first past the post |
Voting system used to elect the 73 MSPs from the single-member constituencies, where the candidate who obtains the largest number of votes is elected, regardless of whether or not this represents a majority of the votes cast. |
| frontbench, frontbencher |
A colloquial term, derived from Westminster, to denote those MSPs who are Ministers or shadow Ministers (i.e. the spokespersons of opposition parties on the main areas of Executive responsibility). |
| Futures Forum |
A Scottish Parliament initiative to develop strategic thinking on the issues which will shape Scotland's future. It was established on 18 August 2005. |
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