1. This document sets out the aims and focus of the Scottish Parliament’s international relations work as agreed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB). It builds on work from previous Sessions and seeks to ensure this work is relevant and constructive to the varying interests of the Parliament and that the resources of time, people and financial, are used effectively to achieve the best results.
2. A primary function of the Presiding Officer is to represent the Scottish Parliament at home and abroad while the SPCB is responsible for ensuring that the Parliament is provided with the services it requires. The International Relations Office (IRO) sits within the Office of the Presiding Officer with the key role of supporting the Presiding Officers and SPCB in the day-to-day development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of this Strategy.
3. The Strategy does not apply to the international work undertaken by individual committees, by MSPs in response to approaches made directly to them, or by Cross-Party Groups with a country theme.