In his capacity as Chairman of the House of Commons Information Committee,
Michael Fabricant will be leading a delegation of Westminster
Parliamentarians and officials to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh for
two days on Wednesday 24th April. "Although Westminster is the second
oldest Parliament in the world, we have a lot to learn from the new
Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in some respects.", says Michael Fabricant.
The visit will investigate how the Scottish Parliament uses the latest
technology for its Information and Communication systems for Members of the
Scottish Parliament and how it disseminates research from its Library.
There will be meetings with senior MSPs (Members of the Scottish
Parliament) and officials and demonstrations of equipment.

The delegation will comprise members of the Information Committee
(including fellow midlands MP, Peter Luff), the Head of the House of
Commons Library (which not only provides extensive reference material, but
also research and other services for Members of Parliament), and the
Director of Parliamentary Communications who provides the computer and
telephony systems throughout the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

"MPs are expected to stay on top of an overwhelming volume of information
from an ever-burgeoning number of sources and to provide immediate
responses." adds Michael Fabricant. "Our effectiveness in being able to
contribute to the development of quality legislation, scrutinise government
policy and performance, and satisfy constituency responsibilities is being
adversely affected by severe time constraints. We need a step change in the
quality and delivery of our information management services. This visit to
Edinburgh is a small part of a major exercise to improve those services to
Members of Parliament and, through them, the general public".