h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi DD

I can see you’ve got plenty on your mind at the mo, but can i add my ?

There’s technically no such thing as the Speaker of the Scottish parliament, and the word is *never* used there. The position is laid down in law as the “Presiding Officer” - everybody calls him the PO. The post is quite different in powers to the Speaker, but I can understand using providing a comparative though “presding officer - a role similar in many ways to that of the Speaker at the House of Commons” Hmm?

Here’s the anorak bit, if you’re bothered:

Scotland Act:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80046--b.htm#19

CSG Report:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w5/rcsg-06.htm

Standing Orders
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parl_bus/sto-1.htm#1 Chapter 3

Hope you don’t mind me sticking my nose in

Quite right clovis cat. Hope we can get this changed before it goes live.

I could win awards for being a bit too late

Not quite yet Cloviscat.

OK, I've added this information. I hope I've done it correctly.
I'm sure you'll tell me if I haven't.

I can't think that you could possbly mean either of us!

Looks fine from my pov, thanks for taking the time

Sam

You're both welcome.

Random hypothetical question: If Scotland ever became fully independent, would the country issue its own passport? If so, although I don't live in Scotland, would I qualify for one (born there, Scottish parents, granparents etc).

A Scottish passport would be really cool. Aesthetically at least.

This is a hypothetucal question indeed.

It involves firstly a change in teh current government in Scotland.

Then whether in Coalition of majority a certain Party getting a referendum question put before the electorate.

Then the result of that referendum being voted on in favour of independence.

However the independence/dependence of Scotland is a reserved matter and can only be discussed at Westminster. So failing a bloody revolution it is likely to fail at this stage as no Scotland would claim the North Sea Oil, which Westminster would want to keep.

However should all these steps be passed I will campaign on the behave of people qualifying through parents and Grandparents after all FC had the misfortune to be born south of the border after all.



Now off for same real campaigning.

I can see it now...

Cover: Tartan naturally, possibly an amalgim of the Rangers and Celtic plaids for maximum retinal damage, surmounted by crossed thistle and deep-fried mars bar, on a shield of Irn-Bru.

Declaration: "The Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland wishes to affirm that the bearer of this passport is not English, and therefore should be welcomed everywhere. Ta."

Of course, having said that, if we apply the same criterion for nationality as our footie/rugger teams, half the planet would be eligible

Sssh. I wasn't going to mention that special clause.

<> Who's gonna be king, then?

There is a list as long as my arm of claimants to the throne. I've met a few: they didn't inspire homage in me! (A Google search on "Prince Michael of Albany" will tell you about one of the most high profile ones )

From the internal wranglings I've seen so far, I feel we'd descend into splinter groups and civil war over the National Anthem, name of the country, monarch, tartan, internet abbreviation, capital city... within a week, at a guess

Thank you one and all for your replies! Very interesting.

FC says she'll back you claim as well.

Ha! Brilliant.

Hmmm. According to the SNP website, the Queen would continue to be the head of state, similar to Australia et al. I assume the SSP's position may be a teeny bit more republican.

Rab C Nesbitt for King!

Yeah I think there are coinsidering T Sheridan for King on a peasants salary.

Hey, why not be democratic about it. The monarch could be chosen at random every so often. Age no object, class no object. After all, they couldn't be any more embarassing than some of the current lot, surely?

"You too can be King for a day"