Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years in Context

Citation

Sutherland EE, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (2011) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years in Context. In: Sutherland E, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (eds.) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 3-8. http://edinburgh.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748640195.001.0001/upso-9780748640195-chapter-001

Abstract
This chapter sets out the purpose of the book, which is to offer critical analysis of the first ten years of law making by the Scottish Parliament in a number of key areas, putting it into its wider policy and socio-legal context. Although the book does not seek to provide comprehensive coverage of all of the legislation of the Scottish Parliament, a number of significant issues emerge from the individual chapters, which are grouped loosely under five headings: the genesis and operation of the Parliament; rights and society; public administration and services; justice and legal system; and economy and environment. The overall thesis which emerges from the majority of the individual discussions is that of optimism tempered by experience. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.

Keywords
Scottish Parliament; rights; society; public administration; justice system; legal system; economy; environment

People

Professor Elaine Sutherland

Emeritus Professor, Law