Scottish Media Training’s Devin Scobie, takes a look into the effectiveness of preparation for a parliamentary committee session
The first question from an MSP can change the entire direction of a committee evidence session. With half the Members of the Scottish Parliament changing this May, that has never been more likely.
You may have spent weeks preparing your written submission, refining your statistics and agreeing your organisation’s key messages. Then the Convener invites questions — and suddenly you are being challenged on an assumption you hadn’t expected, asked for a figure you don’t have at your fingertips, or pressed to explain why your organisation’s position differs from someone else’s evidence.
That is why preparing to be an effective oral witness has never been more important.
Following the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, committees are operating in a significantly changed political environment, with many new MSPs bringing fresh perspectives, priorities and approaches to scrutiny. For organisations invited to give evidence, that presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
Committee evidence is not simply a presentation followed by a few questions. MSPs can probe your evidence, test assumptions, challenge inconsistencies and pursue issues that may not have been anticipated.
Good preparation therefore means much more than knowing your subject. You need to understand the committee’s remit, anticipate the difficult questions, agree clear messages across your organisation and practise answering concisely under pressure.
And remember: you are not there simply to answer questions — you are there to make your evidence count.
A well-prepared witness can turn an intimidating session into a valuable opportunity to influence MSPs, put evidence on the parliamentary record and ensure decision-makers understand the real-world impact of the issues being considered.
With so many new MSPs finding their feet in the Parliament and its committees, now is the time to make sure your organisation is ready when that invitation to give evidence arrives.
Scottish Media Training has prepared many organisations for their appearance in front of a Holyrood committee. Don’t leave it to chance. Fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch.