Another first announced from Scotland Week as Conference of USA legislative leaders is to be held at the Scottish Parliament

09.04.2013

In another first for the Scottish Parliament, it has been announced that an influential group of legislative leaders from the USA will meet in Holyrood this summer, the first time the three day event will have taken place outside of North America.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will take place on 10-12 July in Holyrood bringing together house speakers, senate presidents, majority and minority leaders from state legislatures in the USA’s 50 states.

The agreement follows a meeting on Tuesday 09 April during Scotland Week between the Presiding Officer and the President of NCSL, Speaker Terie Norelli, in Washington D.C.

The Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:

“I am delighted to announce that the Scottish Parliament will host this meeting of influential US state legislative leaders, taking place for the first time outside of North America. Coming close on the heels of last summer’s successful International Culture Summit and only a few months before the Warhol exhibition and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in October, it will provide yet another significant opportunity to showcase Scotland and the Scottish Parliament to an international audience.

“The conference will provide a platform for politicians on both sides of the Atlantic to discuss a range of issues which affect the lives of both Scots and Americans alike.  I look forward to chairing the lively and thought provoking debate the conference will no doubt provide.”

Representative Terie Norelli, President of the NCSL, and Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, said:

“Our conference is always an important time for us to gather as legislative leaders and reflect.  To be able to do this in the inspiring landscape of Scotland and the dramatic building of Holyrood will be a fantastic opportunity.

“We are heartened by the Presiding Officer’s warm welcome for our first conference outside the United States.  There is much we can learn from each other’s experiences and I know delegates will be particularly keen to learn more about Scotland from a business and cultural perspective.” 

Five key note speakers that will address the conference include:

• Professor Tom Devine of the University of Edinburgh; 
• Professor Charlie Jeffrey of the University of Edinburgh
• Professor Michael Keating of the University of Edinburgh
• Professor James Mitchell of the University of Edinburgh
• Nigel Pain, Head of the Economic Outlook Unit, Macroeconomic Policy Division, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
   

Background

A detailed programme of speakers, who will address themes such as the current financial environment, international trade and leadership, will be announced in the near future. 

NCSL is a bi-partisan organisation representing legislators at State level in the USA and supporting the legislators and staff of the USA’s 50 States, commonwealths and territories.