Politicians under the spotlight

The Scottish Parliament has been sitting for two years

By BBC Scotland political correspondent Elizabeth Quigley

Two years down - another two to go.

We are only halfway through the lifetime of Scotland's first parliament in 300 years - and the tally of bills has already far exceeded the number of pieces of specifically Scottish legislation that Westminster would have produced in the same period.

A total of 24 bills have been passed - and at least another 20 are planned for the next two years.

These range from the first Housing Bill in 13 years and the scrapping of tuition fees through to legislation that Westminster never had time to address, such as the Incapable Adults Bill and abolishing feudal tenure.

A recent survey showed that Scots seem to be disappointed with their young parliament - because they had hoped it would achieve more

Elizabeth Quigley

The committee system has raised scrutiny of both proposed legislation and the Scottish Executive's performance to an unprecedented level while individual MSPs have as much chance of getting legislation onto the statute books as ministers - in theory at least.

Hundreds of people queue up every week to watch their MSPs in action in the parliament.

But this openness and accountability means our politicians and parliament are under the spotlight - and the first few years have not been free from problems.

The soaring cost of the new parliament building at Holyrood, the storm of protest over getting rid of Section 28 and the row over a decommissioning scheme for fishermen all grabbed the headlines, overshadowing the other achievements of the parliament.

A recent survey showed that Scots seem to be disappointed with their young parliament - because they had hoped it would achieve more.

Political landscape

But there is some comfort for MSPs in the finding that the overwhelming majority think it should be a more powerful institution than Westminster.

As the parliament celebrates its second birthday this weekend, the real difference to Scotland's political landscape will be clear.

The doors of the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh will be thrown open to the public to wander round the debating chamber, see inside the committee rooms and meet their MSPs.

Love them or loathe them, Scotland's politicians are now much closer to the people they represent.