Towards an ICT-based parliament - digital meeting service for the committees

1. Towards an ICT-based parliament - digital meeting service for the committees Anne Rymer-Rythén Project manager at the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament)

2. Background to digital meetings at the Riksdag • Project tabletsin 2012 • Basis for a decision as to whether to buytablets or not • To look into the benefitsof1) tablets in general 2) a digital meeting service 3) a “Chamberapp” • Result: Decision to buytabletsbutwithout the digital meeting service thatwastested in the project. • Greatdemand from the MPs for digital meetings – decision to start feasibilitystudy and then a projectto developand introduce adigital meeting service in all interestedcommittees

3. Starting points for the project “Digital meeting service for the committees” To assist the MPs To improveefficiency in committees To use modern technology To benefit the environment

4. Solution overview

5. The digital meeting service in the tablet

6. Start site in PDF expert

7. Documents for committee meetings

8. Committee folders

9. Meeting folder

10. Current meeting folder

11. Demonstration of a “Summons withlinks” with the agenda

12. Utskottssite (committee site).

13. Benefits for the MPs The documentsareavailable in a structuredwayboth via tablets and computers. Historicaldocumentseasilyavailabletogetherwith the theirindividual original notes. Supplements and presentations by visitors, e.g. Government ministers, can be addedtogetherwith the otherdocuments. The documentsareavailable faster – not dependent on post

14. Otherbenefits Enables the transition to digital processingofdocuments. Environmentalbenefits and economising on workingtime at the Secretariatwhen not printing

15. Confidential information • Confidential information is not dealtwith in this service. • Still paper based

16. Current situation • The Committee on Transport and Communications havehad digital meetings for morethana year (sinceprojecttablet) • Committeesusing the newlydevelopedservice are: the Committee on Industry and Trade, the Committee on Social Insurance, as well as The Committee on Transport and Communications. • The Committeeon Civil Affairs and the committeeon Agriculture and Environment arestarting at the end of November.

17. Evaluation and prospects for the future Evaluationafter pilot Mixed reactions. Some say “At last!”, othersfind it hard only to get electroniccopieswithoutreceiving paper. Manyfind it verybeneficialthattheycanaddotherdocuments and syncronisewith the Riksdag servers. Evaluationdonewhentheyhad just used the service a fewtimes – peopleneedtime to get accustomed. All committees by the middleofMarch.

18. Kammarappen • “The Chamber app is an iPhone and iPad app that shows a selection of information adapted primarily for MPs, about what is happening, and when it is happening, in the Chamber.”

19. Always access to updated information • The Riksdag's in-house TV broadcasts from the Chamber • Schedule of meetings showing voting times and weeks when there are no meetings of the Chamber • List of order papers and list of speakers • Schedule of business • Periods for submitting private members' motions • Most recent interpellations, questions and private members' motions • Debating rules