Scottish Parliament bound for Orkney

The Scottish Parliament is coming to Orkney next month, giving folk the chance to meet the presiding officer and MSPs.

The aim of Parliament Days is to inspire local people to take an interest in and engage directly with the Parliament and its work.

During Parliament Day Orkney, on June 18, the rural affairs, climate change and environment committee will tackle the issue of land reform when it hosts a public meeting at Kirkwall Grammar School.

The presiding officer will visit the Orkney Library to hear more about how they used Twitter to attract more than 10,000 followers.

Together with Liam McArthur MSP, she will also meet curator Sheila Garson at the Orkney Museum.

After a guided tour of the Pier Arts Centre, in Stromness, the presiding officer will host a community networking lunch for invited guests from the Stromness community, taking in local volunteers, businesses and community activists.

Rural affairs, climate change and environment committee convener Rob Gibson MSP commented: “Everyone is welcome to come to Kirkwall Grammar School on Monday, June 8, from 5pm and engage with members of the rural affairs, climate change and environment committee as we continue to tackle the issue of land reform. Our meeting will begin at 6pm.”

He added: “The public meeting is also an opportunity for you to give your views and quiz MSPs and a range of organisations on the land reform issues that matter to you. Who should own Scotland’s land? How should Scotland’s land be owned and managed to benefit us all? And should some land use take priority over others? These are all vital questions that we would like to tackle in Orkney.”