Scottish Parliament shares web expertise with European Parliament

101/2005 | 2 November 2005

Dr Michael Shackleton visiting the Holyrood.tv offices with Presiding Officer George Reid

The European Parliament is looking to the Scottish Parliament for guidance on setting up a web television channel.

A European Parliament official, based at the Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, is visiting Holyrood today to learn more about the Scottish Parliament’s webcasting service, www.holyrood.tv.

The Scottish Parliament first broadcast parliamentary proceedings live on the internet in May 2000 to coincide with the Parliament meeting in Glasgow.

Ever since it has been a forerunner amongst legislatures, broadcasting live all public parliamentary proceedings and many parliamentary events.

Dr Michael Shackleton, Project Manager in the Secretariat of the European Parliament, is visiting to learn about the trailblazing online service, including how it is managed and supervised, and how Holyrood.tv will develop in the future.

Dr Shackleton is leading a project team of European Parliament officials who are working specifically on creating the organisation’s own new web channel.

He said: “The European Parliament has looked at the web TV channel set up at Holyrood and recognised it as an extremely cost-effective way to respond to the right of citizens to understand the work of their elected representatives.

“Quite simply, the public has a right to know what the Parliament is doing. This is a chance for the European Parliament to have a close look at Holyrood.tv and learn from the Scottish experience.”

As well as meeting technical staff, Dr Shackleton also met the Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon George Reid.

Mr Reid said: “The Scottish Parliament was the first parliament to webcast its proceedings and Holyrood.tv has provided access to the work of a parliament on an unprecedented level. It embodies the need for democratic institutions to be open and accountable.

“As a forerunner in its efforts to engage and interact with the Scottish people, and those further afield, it is welcome that the European Parliament is keen to follow our lead.”

Dr Shackleton is also gathering information on the facilities for visitors at the Scottish Parliament, as the European Parliament is establishing a visitors' centre.

Dr Shackleton said:

“We are keen to gather as much information as we can about the way in which the Scottish Parliament has succeeded in making Holyrood a "must see" for visitors to Edinburgh.”

Background Note

Holyrood.tv is the Scottish Parliament’s internet broadcasting website. It was launched in September 2004 when the Parliament moved to its new purpose built home at Holyrood. It was the successor to the Parliament’s original webcasting site, scottishparliamentlive.com which began in 2000.

Scottishparliamentlive.com first broadcast live, when the Parliament met in Glasgow in May 2000. The Parliament moved out of its accommodation on Edinburgh’s Mound to make way for the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The website hosts live coverage of proceedings in the Main Chamber and all six committee rooms, as well as hosting an archive of business from the previous month and a selection of other material.

Photographs of Dr Shackleton meeting George Reid have been sent to picture desks by the Parliament’s Media Relations Office. If you have not received these please call Andrew Cowan on 0131 348 6269.

The Parliament's media contact is:

Richard Holligan: 0131 348 6269
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk