The Scottish Parliament's experience in using information and communications technology to develop a new form of engaged politics will be the subject of a presentation by the Presiding Officer George Reid MSP to a major conference in Lisbon next week.
Speaking at the Microsoft Government Leaders' Forum – Europe conference on Tuesday 31 January, the Presiding Officer will outline how innovations such as the Parliament's e-petitions system have helped to make the Parliament more accessible to the Scottish people.
Other speakers at the event include United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson; Chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates and President of the European Commission, the Hon Jose Manuel Barroso.
Presiding Officer George Reid said: "We have received many international delegations at Holyrood keen to see first hand the innovative ways we helping Scots to access the political process.
"Attending this conference offers Scotland the opportunity to take our ideas to a new level. We have much to offer in terms of developing ideas in this important area of democracy but I am also keen to contribute to the debate about how we can bridge the ‘digital divide' between those who have access to IT facilities and those who do not.”
Ahead of attending the conference, the Presiding Officer met yesterday with Bob McDowell, Vice President of Business Critical Solutions for Microsoft Corporation. Mr McDowell was in Holyrood to address the Cross Party Group on the Economy.
