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Scottish Parliament to host the UK’s first Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum

068/2006 | 20 September 2006

Holyrood, the seat of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, is to host the 2007 Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum (GLF) for Europe it was announced today.

The annual forum brings together Prime Ministers, Ministers, EU Commissioners and policy advisers from across Europe, marking one of the most senior gatherings of European leaders Scotland has seen.

This will be the first time that the high-level conference has been hosted in the UK or in a parliamentary institution.

The Government Leaders’ Forum Europe is one of Microsoft’s flagship events for government, parliamentarians, education and business leaders across the continent and is being supported by a partnership of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive.

Bill Gates, chief software architect and chairman of Microsoft, addressed this year’s GLF held in Lisbon.

The event provides a forum to formulate successful strategies in key areas relating to connected government, digital learning, employability skills and the transition to the knowledge economy. This year will reflect a number of Scotland’s experiences as the host country.

The move to bring the event to Holyrood follows an approach by Microsoft to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive to host the 2007 international forum.

Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, George Reid MSP said:

“Our Parliament is committed to the widest possible engagement with the people, one important element in this being the use of technology. From my attendance at this year’s forum in Lisbon, it is clear that the Scottish experience has much to share with the political institutions of Europe.

“This conference provides an opportunity to debate key issues of engagement and economic development which affect citizens and states across Europe.

“I look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum. Once again, Holyrood will provide the stage that puts Scotland at the heart of international debate.”

The President of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois said:

“The Scottish Parliament offers a unique setting to hold a very interactive and participative Government Leaders’ Forum. This event offers an excellent opportunity to bring together top policy makers and industry leaders from across the continent to facilitate a discussion around the impact of ICT on parliaments and their citizens. Microsoft is grateful to both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive for their support and cooperation in bringing the GLF to Edinburgh.”

Background notes

The Microsoft Government Leaders’ Forum (GLF) Europe will be held in Edinburgh on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 January 2007 in Holyrood.

The forum will include plenary and workshop sessions hosted across the parliamentary campus, including the Chamber.

It is expected that between 300 and 350 invited delegates from across Europe will attend. The line up of keynote speakers and presenters will be announced closer to the event along with details of the conference agenda. Previous GLF Europe speakers have included the Hon José Manuel Barroso, President, European Commission and the Honourable José Sócrates, Prime Minister, Portugal.

The 2007 forum will be the fourth time the annual event has been held in Europe: Lisbon (2006), Prague (2005) and Rome (2003).

In January 2006, Presiding Officer George Reid addressed the Lisbon forum on the subject of 'Redefining citizenship in a digital world'. Mr Reid demonstrated how technology enables the Scottish Parliament to connect with the people of Scotland through its website, the webcasting of Chamber and Committee Business, and its online e-petitions system.

For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:

Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

Microsoft: Janelle Poole +1 425 830 2053
email: janpoole@microsoft.com

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