SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

a separate parliament for Scotland, based in Edinburgh in a new building which opened in 2004. It is made up of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament . 73 of them are directly elected to represent constituencies and 56 are elected to represent regions of Scotland using a form of proportional representation . It began work in 1999 and has the power to raise or lower the basic rate of income tax, and to make laws affecting Scotland in areas including education, health, agriculture and justice. It is led by a First Minister who is chosen by the Parliament and who chooses the other members of the Scottish Executive .