Please note, we're showing you information for Scotland only.

Learn about the role of the Scottish Parliament

You can vote in Scottish Parliament elections when you’re 16.

What’s your school, college or university course like? Are there hospitals in your local area? Is it easy to get where you want to go by train?

The Scottish Parliament makes decisions about all of these issues.

The Scottish Parliament, as we know it today, was set up in 1999, but the first parliament in Scotland was created over 600 years ago.

Responsibilities held by the Scottish Parliament are called devolved matters. They include: 

  • health 
  • education
  • training
  • local government
  • housing
  • tourism
  • economic development