Map of Scotland showing the location
of the former Central region

Regional Council

Central was a local government region of Scotland from 1974 to 1995. It is now divided into the council areas of Falkirk, Stirling, and Clackmannanshire, which had previously been distiricts under Central.

Central continues to have a joint police service, fire service, and electoral, valuation, and health boards. The latter is called Forth Valley Health Board.

Scottish Parliament

Central Scotland is also the name of one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament from which the 56 Additional Members System MSPs are elected. It covers a different geographical area from the former Central Region though, stretching from Kilmarnock, through most of Lanarkshire up to Falkirk.

The seven currently sitting MSPs to be elected through the AMS electoral method in Central Scotland are:

• Alex Neil (Scottish National Party)
• Michael Matheson (SNP)
• Linda Fabiani (SNP)
• Margaret Mitchell (Conservative)
• Donald Gorrie (Lib-Dem)
• Carolyn Leckie (Scottish Socialist Party)
• John Swinburne (Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party)

Scottish Parliament Vote, 1999

MSPs Elected:

• SNP - Alex Neil, Andrew Wilson, Michael Matheson, Gil Paterson, Linda Fabiani
• Conservative - Lyndsay McIntosh
• Lib-Dem - Donald Gorrie

Scottish Parliament Vote, 2003