IOG: Parliament News, issue 1/october 2000

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

The first Issue of Parliament News coincides with the sad and untimely death of the First Minister, Donald Dewar, MSP. His contribution to the setting up of a Scottish parliament was without parallel, and his wise counsel and sound judgement will be sorely missed. We dedicate the first issue of the News to his memory.

LEGISLATION

When the Scottish Parliament reconvened in September for its second year in office, the Scottish Executive announced its legislation plans for the year ahead. The most significant of these are:

A Graduate Endowment Bill will target resources to widen access to higher education. The bill will also ensure distance learning students will receive financial support from the Executive and will improve support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A Human Rights Bill to be introduced this Autumn that will make Scots law compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
A Housing Bill is to be introduced before the end of the calendar year and aims to invest more in property to rent; and enable tenants to take control through community ownership and have improved rights.
An international Criminal Court Bill will reflect the joint responsibility of the Executive and the Parliament for implementing the UK's international obligations relating to devolved matters. The Bill will give effect in Scotland to the UK's obligations under the relevant international treaty.
A Regulation of Care Bill is aimed at strengthening the protection of children and vulnerable adults and will establish two new national bodies: The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and The Scottish Social Services Council.
A Bill to prevent the accused from cross-examining the victim in person in sex offence cases will be introduced.
A Water Services Bill will increase competition in the water industry and ensure that new entrants pay a fair share of the cost of maintaining public networks

A number of Private Members' Bills will also be proceeding through parliamentary business in the coming year (eg, Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland), Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales, Family Homes and Homelessness). In addition, there is the possibility that one or more of the Parliamentary Committees may initiate legislation.

Debates and Motions

The first weeks of Business in the Main Chamber were dominated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority difficulties and although the Parliament is currently in recess (from 9 October to 23 October), the Education, Culture and Sport Committee met in Hamilton on 9 October as part of the School Exams Inquiry, taking evidence from local young people, parents and teachers, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools and Bill Morton of the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The next School Exams meeting is scheduled for 23 October.

Debates and Question Time from the Chamber of Parliament take place every Wednesday and Thursday during the sitting of Parliament and are transmitted live on the Web on www.scottishparliamentlive.com

Research opportunities

The Scottish Parliament's in-house research specialists SPICe (Scottish Parliament Information Centre) are offering researchers the opportunity to put forward their names for future possible research contracts. So whether you are an expert on health, education, business, law and order, whatever your specialism, if the Parliament covers it there could be a research contract for you. Head of Research at the Parliament, Janet Seaton, explains:

"SPICe is responsible for providing all MSPs and parliamentary committees direct research support on a broad range of subjects. Where we can't provide that information ourselves, we can commission external organisations to carry out the work.

"Most of the work done in SPICe is generated by the Parliament's committees. The committees shoulder the main burden of responsibility for scrutinising government policy and legislation and consideration of relevant subjects. As a result they rely upon our specialist support for information and research on topical issues. Once a committee identifies the research that it requires, it falls to SPICe to commission and manage that body of work.

"The good news is that we have a budget of £170,000 available for the financial year 2000 - 2001 to commission external research on behalf of the parliamentary committees. This is the first year in which the procedures for commissioning external research will be fully operational. And it is likely that research work will be commissioned by way of selective competitive tendering."

For further information about SPICe, please contact Connie Smith, Senior Research Assessor at SPICe, by email.

Publications

The Scottish Executive produces numerous practical publications, and listed here are examples of some of the most recent of these.

Schools: The Use of Information and Communications Technology in Learning and Teaching: a report involving 10 primary schools and 22 secondary departments focusing on evaluating the ways in which pupils knowledge, understanding and skills were being promoted through using ICT. (8.9.00)

Women's issues: Women's Issues in Local Partnership Working. This research project was commissioned in spring 1999 and raises several important issues and makes a number of recommendations that require full consideration within the new policy context. (22.9.2000).

Information Technology: September 2000 - Digital Scotland: The Way Forward - The Scottish Executive's Response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force: detailing a set of actions for embracing the opportunities provided by digital technology and for Scotland to become a world class digital nation. (14.9.00)

Education and employment: Scottish Union Learning Fund Prospectus: This Prospectus gives more detail about the Fund and how to apply and it is hoped that the trade union movement will respond by initiating a range of projects to support the lifelong learning agenda in Scotland. (19.9.2000)

Scottish Executive: Making A Difference For Scotland: Spending Plans for Scotland 2001-02 to 2003-04. This document sets out the SE draft budget and spending plans. (20.9.2000)

Labour market: New Deal for Unemployed People in Scotland: Statistics to end July 2000. This is the latest News Release in a monthly series giving summary information up to the end of July 2000. Information is given on the numbers of people at different stages of New Deal processes in Scotland, the equivalent figures for Great Britain, and the different routes that they have followed. (28.9.00).

Housing: Scotland's People: Results from the 1999 Scottish Household Survey: providing the most definitive new source of information about people living in Scotland today, detailing Scottish life during the first year of devolution (11.9.00).

These and other publications can be accessed on the Scottish Executive publications website.

Links to other issues of Parliament News

Contact

Should you have any comments or enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Margaret MacPherson at the Institute of Governance.

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