Scotland Week is being marked by the Scottish Parliament as a delegation visits New York, Québec City and Washington DC.
The delegation, led by the Presiding Officer, and comprising Johann Lamont MSP and Clare Haughey MSP, took part in the annual Tartan Day parade alongside Grand Marshall KT Tunstall – the first female Grand Marshall in the parade’s 20 year history. The MSPs joined pipers, bands and dancers as they make their way down New York’s Sixth Avenue.
In addition to representing the Parliament at the parade, the delegation will be meeting bodies including UN Women and the New York City Mayor’s Office. They will discuss innovations including New York’s Smart City initiative, and women leadership in political participation.
The delegation will then move on to Québec where they will meet with the President, Members and officials of the National Assembly of Québec. They will discuss topics including parliamentary reform, how the Scottish Parliament responded to the sexual harassment allegations that came to the fore here last autumn in the wake of the #MeToo movement, external engagement and education.
Finally, in Washington DC, the delegation will meet with various think-tanks, the Office of the Mayor and the Congressional Budget Office. The focus of the discussions will be the work of the Scottish Parliament’s ‘in-house think tank’, Scotland’s Futures Forum. The efforts being made by the Forum, attempting to address controversial policy issues, such as robotics and drugs policy, in a long-term, non-partisan way, will be informed by, and shared with US counterparts.
Speaking ahead of departure, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP, said: “This trip is a chance to reaffirm the friendships and ties that have reached out across the Atlantic Ocean for many generations, and to make sure that they continue to exist for years to come.
“Scotland Week and Tartan Day are a chance for millions of people to mark their connections with Scotland. Our delegation will join them in celebrating those links not only on the streets of New York, but also in the corridors of power around North America.
“In addition to sharing what we do well, and where we are innovating, we are also going to be listening and looking to learn lessons from our opposite numbers wherever we can”.
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