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The Scottish Parliament Trivia Quiz

The first election to the new Scottish Parliament took place in September 1999. The following quiz asks general questions about the Parliament. There are also a few questions about the people and events in the first term of the Parliament.

A multiple-choice quiz by Roslyn. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Roslyn

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
101,821

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
594

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (14/15), Guest 79 (0/15), Guest 82 (12/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Before 1999, there was another Scottish Parliament. When was it dissolved? Hint

1897

1492

1707

1314

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which political party gained the most seats in the 1999 general election to the Scottish Parliament? Hint

The Labour Party

The Scottish National Party (SNP)

The Conservative Party

The Liberal Democrats

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Question 3 of 15

3. Which of the following politicians was not the leader of one of the main political parties in the Scottish Parliament in 1999? Hint

Donald Dewar

John Swinney

Jim Wallace

David McLetchie

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Question 4 of 15

4. The Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) vote by walking through two different corridors to be counted. True or false?

True

False

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which of the following is *not* an issue on which the Scottish Parliament can pass laws? Hint

Defence

The Arts

Education

Fishing

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of the following has not been a First Minister during the first term of the Scottish Parliament? Hint

Donald Dewar

David Steel

Henry McLeish

Jack McConnell

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Question 7 of 15

7. What name is given to the person who controls the debates in the Scottish Parliament? Hint

The Speaker of the House

The Judge

The Chairperson

The Presiding Officer

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who was elected to the position of Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament in 1999? Hint

David Steel

Patricia Ferguson

Rosanna Cunningham

Robin Harper

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Question 9 of 15

9. Each new law passed by the Scottish Parliament has to be signed by the Monarch. True or false?

True

False

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Question 10 of 15

10. In 1999 one independent Member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) was elected. Who was he? Hint

Robin Harper

Ross Finnie

Tommy Sheridan

Dennis Canavan

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Question 11 of 15

11. Where does the Scottish Parliament normally meet? Hint

Edinburgh

Inverness

Glasgow

Aberdeen

12. In 2000 and 2002 the Scottish Parliament had to move for a few days while the Church of Scotland held their General Assembly in the building that the Parliament was using. Where did the Parliament sit during that time? Hint

The Highlands and Perth

Inverness and Dunfries

Glasgow and Aberdeen

Dundee and Dunfermline

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Question 13 of 15

13. What name was given to the scandal that led to the resignation of Henry McLeish from the Scottish Parliament in November 2001? Hint

Cashgate

McLeishgate

Rentgate

Officegate

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Question 14 of 15

14. Which prominent SNP politician did Stuart Stevenson replace as the MSP for Banff and Buchan in a by-election in 2001?

Answer: (Two Words or just surname)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which political party or parties formed the Scottish Parliament government in 1999? Hint

Conservative

Labour and Liberal Democrats

Labour

Conservative and Liberal Democrats

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 23 2024 : Guest 86: 14/15
Apr 04 2024 : Guest 79: 0/15
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 82: 12/15
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 92: 11/15

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Before 1999, there was another Scottish Parliament. When was it dissolved?

Answer: 1707

The "Act of Union" in 1707 was the union of England and Wales (on the one hand) and Scotland (on the other) under the name of Great Britain. The union benefited England's need for political safeguards against a possible Jacobite restoration through Scotland, and it gave Scotland economic security by freedom of trade with England. From 1707 until 1999 all laws affecting Scotland were decided in the House of Commons in London.

2. Which political party gained the most seats in the 1999 general election to the Scottish Parliament?

Answer: The Labour Party

Labour won 59 seats, the SNP 35, the Conservative 19, Liberal Democrats 17, and the Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party got 1 seat each. There was also one independent MSP elected.

3. Which of the following politicians was not the leader of one of the main political parties in the Scottish Parliament in 1999?

Answer: John Swinney

Alex Salmond was the SNP leader in 1999. He was replaced by John Swinney.

4. The Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) vote by walking through two different corridors to be counted. True or false?

Answer: False

This is how MPs in the House of Commons vote. In the Scottish Parliament, MSPs use an electronic voting system to vote.

5. Which of the following is *not* an issue on which the Scottish Parliament can pass laws?

Answer: Defence

The Scottish Parliament can pass laws on local government, social work, housing, health, education, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, transport and economic development, sport and the arts, the environment, law and home affairs.
Areas reserved for the UK Parliament in Westminster are: the European Union, foreign policy, employment law, defence, most tax and economic issues and social security.
The Parliament can, however, debate reserved issues when they affect Scotland.

6. Which of the following has not been a First Minister during the first term of the Scottish Parliament?

Answer: David Steel

After the death of Donald Dewar in October 2000, Henry McLeish took over as First Minister. He was forced to resign due to a scandal over his office expenses. Jack Mcconnell was elected First Minister in November 2001 to replace Henry McLeish.

7. What name is given to the person who controls the debates in the Scottish Parliament?

Answer: The Presiding Officer

The Presiding Officer ensures the parliament's business is conducted effectively, on time, fairly, within the rules and in an orderly manner.

8. Who was elected to the position of Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament in 1999?

Answer: David Steel

David Steel was one of the most experienced politicians elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. He is a member of the Liberal Democrats.

9. Each new law passed by the Scottish Parliament has to be signed by the Monarch. True or false?

Answer: True

The Royal Assent is a formality, as with laws passed by the UK Parliament.

10. In 1999 one independent Member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) was elected. Who was he?

Answer: Dennis Canavan

He resigned from the Labour Party and stood as an independent candidate for Falkirk West.

11. Where does the Scottish Parliament normally meet?

Answer: Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city.

Answer: Glasgow and Aberdeen

The Scottish Parliament went to Glasgow in 2000 and Aberdeen in 2002.

13. What name was given to the scandal that led to the resignation of Henry McLeish from the Scottish Parliament in November 2001?

Answer: Officegate

McLeish's Parliamentary office was being sub-let to an outside organisation while he was claming full allowances from the House of Commons.

14. Which prominent SNP politician did Stuart Stevenson replace as the MSP for Banff and Buchan in a by-election in 2001?

Answer: Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond decided to stand for the House of Commons again, instead of the Scottish Parliament.

15. Which political party or parties formed the Scottish Parliament government in 1999?

Answer: Labour and Liberal Democrats

In the Scottish Parliament, the system of voting (a form of proportional representation) makes it very difficult for any one party to obtain an outright majority.

Source: Author Roslyn

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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