THE SCOTTISH Parliament will mark a decade of devolution on July 1. The date will mark 10 years since the Parliament was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen. Kirkcaldy MSP Marilyn Livingstone has worked in the building since its inception in 1999. She spoke to Press reporter DEBBIE CLARKE about what it was like to be part of Scottish history and what changes have been made since the Parliament opened.
"WHEN I was elected in 1999, one of the things I was really proud of was being one of the first women in the new Scottish Parliament.
"No landowners or women were allowed in the previous parliament (which first met in the early 13th century) so to be one of the first women elected this time was very important to me."
Marilyn Livingstone has been a member of the Scottish Parliament since the building was officially opened over 10 years ago. She lives locally in Dysart and has represented Kirkcaldy on a national level since the end of the 1990s. The Scottish Labour member said the task was daunting at first, but it was something she was delighted to do.
"I was really proud to represent the constituency of Kirkcaldy because it was where I lived and I knew the people," she said.
"I came from working in Adam Smith College, where I had been for over 10 years, so I was out of my comfort zone. I had come from a place where I knew a lot about one subject to having to find out about a lot of things. It was a huge learning curve. I was really nervous when first elected but over the last decade my staff and I have had the opportunity to help a lot of people."
Marilyn said she has enjoyed seeing the Parliament develop from its inception.
"It has grown and matured since its creation," she said. "We fought for the Parliament in the 1970s and it is something I feel very passionately about. Some of the laws have made such a change in peoples' lives and that's what I came into politics to do."
Marilyn said Kirkcaldy has benefited from the work which has been done over the past ten years: "We have a lot of new school buildings, the NHS Right for Fife modernisation plan which looked at the future of health services and ProjectScotland (a volunteering project which offers 16 to 25-year-olds the chance to gain skills, experience and confidence on a series of placements).
"The other group I have been working with is Fife Cares. We are looking at funding levels and support for people who need it at home. I have been working closely with Abbeyfield Care Home in Kirkcaldy and I am on the Cross Party Group for Alzheimers."
Another project, supported by the Scottish Government, which is close to Marilyn's heart is the £11m regeneration initiative in Dysart.
The scheme will see new homes built by Fife Housing Association as well as work on the Tolbooth and major transformation works to the harbour.
The Kirkcaldy MSP is also the chairman of the Parliament's Cross Party Group on Town Centre Development. She said her work in Parliament will ensure improvements are made, particularly in the Lang Toun.
"What is happening is very concerning because shops are moving out of the High Street. I have been trying to impress on government the need for a coherent plan for Kirkcaldy.
"I would like to see more made of the promenade and it would be great to see a cafe culture and more leisure facilities rather than a succession of car parks. Affordable housing is also important."
She said other priorities to be looked at over the next 10 years include a new high school for Kirkcaldy east and improvements to the Redhouse Roundabout: "There is a seven-year delay on this and it is very concerning. The work there needs to be done. I have made motions in Parliament and representations but the Government doesn't see it as a strategic priority."
One of the biggest controversies of the first 10 years of the Parliament was the cost of the building. Initially it was estimated at £50m but this quickly escalated and the structure ended up costing £414m.
Marilyn said: "There was a scandal over the cost of the building but hopefully we now have a Parliament that everyone can be proud of.
"The next ten years will be challenging, exciting and hopefully we will have some improvements. I want to see the regeneration of Kirkcaldy, more jobs in the economy and education. I am also looking forward to seeing the developments at Victoria Hospital. It's important to get the right learning environment for our young people and we have proper care and support in place for those who need it most.
"I am from a working class community and I want to do what I can to make things better, this can be achieved through having our own Parliament."
