The Scottish Parliament e-petitioner system was launched in February 2004, providing citizens with a means to voice concerns through formal processes of Parliament. The e-petitioning model adopted is unique in that it is open to any citizen to raise and sign an e-petition, or to add comments to an online discussion if they wish. The e-petitioning management process is seamlessly integrated with procedures for handling paper petitions, which citizens can choose to use instead of or in conjunction with e-petitions.
Policy Context
Within a UK context the right of the subject to petition the Monarch for redress of grievances has probably been exercised since Saxon times. It was recognised in Magna Carta and more explicitly in an Act of 1406. In 1571 a Committee for Motions of Griefs and Petitions was first appointed. The Bill of Rights of 1688 reaffirmed the right of the subjects to petition the King and stated that all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal. In developing e-petition the Scottish Parliament is therefore applying technology to a rich historical tradition of political engagement with which citizens can easily identify. Petitioning is a simple and straightforward means of democratic participation and citizens have long used this mechanism as a means of raising issues of concern with their elected representatives. From its inception in 1999 as a legislative body with powers devolved from the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament has sought to maximise public participation. This e-petitioner system puts into practice the principles identified by the Consultative Steering Group set up to establish the Parliament. These are the principles of sharing power; accountability; access and participation; and equal opportunities. Scotland's population is widely dispersed and e-petitioning has lowered the time and space barriers to participation, as well as providing greater accountability by establishing a transparent process whose results are published online.
Technology solution
The system was developed through the collaboration of Napier University's International Teledemocracy Centre, BT Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament.
Main results, benefits and impacts
The e-petitioner system has made a real and beneficial contribution to public participation in the Scottish Parliament's decision-making. The impact of the Scottish Parliament system may be judged in terms of the evident willingness of the PPC and Parliament to innovate. More specifically it has been assessed in terms of: - the views of the Scottish Parliament's members on how well the system has met its objectives - petitioners' perceptions of the effectiveness of e-petitions they have raised - the views of other citizens on the system's value, particularly those who have signed e-petitions - third-party reports, for example in the media and in academic publications. The issues raised through e-petitioning are issues that are important to citizens, and are evidently addressed through local authority decision-making. E-petitions were raised on, for example, road crossings, telecoms masts, and Post Office closures. The e-petitioning pilot has increased transparency in part by formalising the process for handling petitions for the first time. The publication of the site and its associated guidelines on petitioning makes both the process and the petition outcomes more visible. The added visibility applies to paper as well as e-petitions, since paper petitions that are presented at Council meetings are also listed on the e-Petitioner page. Finally, the impact of e-petitioning is especially evident in the extent of interest in the system from other Parliaments and legislatures. Indeed the Scottish Parliament is a recognised global leader in e-petitioning as stated, for example, by the OECD (2004): 'few countries have used technology to enable electronic petitioning to the extent of the Scottish Parliament.' Innovation: Internet petitions distributed by e-mail or on websites are not new. However, they typically leave unanswered the question of how any support gained may influence the decision-making process. E-petitioner, therefore, draws on the familiarity of the petition format but builds it into accessible and transparent political processes. Key to this process is that once the e-petition has been submitted the petitioner continues to have an active participatory role. First, in terms of being able to respond to comments made on the discussion forum an e-petitioner is able to deliberate issues raised by a petition with a wide range of citizens. Second, an e-petitioner may have the opportunity to come and give evidence to the Public Petitions Committee in support of his or her petitioner. Third, a petitioner may provide further written evidence by e-mail or in writing to the Committee. Fourth, the petitioner may have the opportunity to respond to issues raised by the Committee's investigation of the petition. Finally, the petitioner may also be called to give evidence to a subject committee to which the Public Petitions Committee has referred a petition. In its first 12 months, e-petitioner attracted 20,812 signatures and 639 discussion comments, on 45 e-petitions. E-petition impacts included getting issues debated in Parliament, getting other public bodies to take action, and changing draft legislation.
Return on investment
Return on investment: Not applicable / Not availableTrack record of sharing
Given that petitioning is well recognised as a form of political action across European democracies, the Scottish Parliament's experience in developing e-petitioner is certainly general enough for other administrations to learn from. The system has already been successfully piloted and transferred to local authorities in England and has also attracted global interest.
Lessons learnt
The case demonstrates that by explicitly supporting e-petitioning, parliaments and other public sector actors can establish a dynamic platform for citizens to highlight issues through channels that are convenient for them, and to watch their concerns progress through the stages of public decision-making. It is enabling the Scottish Parliament to address the decline in civic engagement that has become widespread in Europe.
Scope: National