IOG: Parliament News, issue 10/september 2001

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

Parliament resumed after its summer recess on September 3.

On 12 Sept following the previous day's terrorist attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York the First Minister, Henry McLeish, led a one minute silence and cancelled the day's scheduled Parliamentary business. Mr McLeish then addressed the Parliament with a speech of condolence which was followed by condolence speeches from John Swinney (SNP), David McLetchie (Con) and the Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace (LibDem).

MSPs

On 10 August Nick Johnston (Con) resigned his seat for Mid Scotland and Fife on health grounds. Mr Johnston was replaced by Murdo Fraser who was the next candidate on the regional list from the 1999 elections.

On September 9 the Scottish Executive added responsibility for asylum seekers to the portfolio of Jackie Baillie, Social Justice Minister. Ms Baillie will deal with devolved aspects of asylum issues such as health, education, social work and policing. The Home Office will remain in charge of immigration policy and the voucher scheme.

Appointments

16 July: Visitscotland appointed Philip Riddle to the post of Chief Executive.

26 July: Susan Stewart, a civil servant, was appointed to the Scottish Executive's new post at the British Embassy in Washington DC and will take up her position in October.

Parliamentary business

10 September: Robin Cook, MP, Leader of the House of Commons visited the Scottish Parliament to access the Parliament's procedures with a view to adopting some of them in the proposed modernisation of the House of Commons. Mr Cook confirmed that he would be looking at three areas in which the Scottish Parliament had been innovative:

the strength of the committee system
family friendly sitting hours
the way in which the wider public is involved.

11 September: Gareth Williams, Leader of the House of Lords, also visited the Scottish Parliament to learn about their modern working practices.

11 September: The Parliamentary Bureau recommended that the Scottish Parliament meet in Aberdeen in May 2002 when the Church of Scotland return to the Mound for their annual General Assembly.

13 September: Jack McConnell, the Education Minister informed Parliament that the Scottish Qualifications Authority will retain its status as a non-departmental public body but with some management reforms.

19 September: the public galleries in the Parliament were full to capacity to watch the debate on Mike Watson's Protection of Wild Mammals Bill.

24 September: the Scottish Executive announced that it intends to implement a proposal on free personal care for the elderly at a cost of £125 a year following recommendations by the Care Development Group chaired by Malcolm Chisholm. It is intended that the recommendations will be implemented on April 2, 2002.

26 September: to mark the European Day of Languages some MSPs made speeches in languages other than English and repeated their contribution in the English translation.

28 September: because of events in New York on 11 September Senator Hilary Clinton cancelled her planned trip to Edinburgh to address the Conference of Women Parliamentarians. Her address was instead transmitted by video.

Committee Reports

On 9 July the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee launched an inquiry into the need for a long-term, comprehensive strategy for continuing post-compulsory education and training in Scotland.

On 11 July the Rural Development Committee rejected the Wild Mammals Bill as a majority did not accept the general principles of the Bill. The full Parliament is not, however, bound by the Committee's recommendations.

On 6 August the Education, Culture and Sport Committee announced its intention to carry out an inquiry into the role of educational and cultural policy in supporting the developing Gaelic, Scots and minority languages in Scotland.

On 9 August following news that the Scottish Parliament has the third highest proportion of women members of Parliament across the world the Equal Opportunities Committee commented on the "Women in Parliament" report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission and said that it was important for Parliament to build on this success by focussing on race and disability equality.

On 26 September the Parliament Committee appointed Heriot Watt University to carry out a council tax banding study. The current council tax is based on 1991 valuations of property.

On 28 September the Enterprise Committee published research findings arguing that there is a lack of a coherent approach to the delivery of lifelong learning services.

Bills

On 28 June Stage 1 of the Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Bill in the name of Alasdair Morgan was debated and agreed in Parliament. The Bill will entitle any individual who has obtained, or is applying for, an interdict against another person for the purpose of providing protection from abuse to apply to the court to have a power of arrest attached to the interdict.

On 3 September the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Parliament in the name of Alex Neil. The Bill provides that appointments to certain public bodies be scrutinised and approved by the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Ministers will be prohibited from making any appointment or recommendation before the Parliament's approval process has been completed. The Parliament will have the power to veto appointment nominations if it is felt that the nomination does not meet the criteria set out in the Bill.

On 13 September Stage 3 of the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Bill in the name of Jim Wallace was debated and agreed in Parliament. The Bill makes it an offence under Scots law to commit genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. It allows such crimes to be prosecuted in Scotland if they are committed in Scotland, or outwith the UK by UK nationals or UK residents. It enables Scottish Ministers to assist the International Criminal Court if it requests help in gathering evidence, in tracking down and identifying individuals suspected of ICC crimes, or in locating and freezing proceeds of crime. It enables Scottish Ministers to issue warrants so that prisoners sentenced by the ICC or certain UN tribunals can serve their sentences in Scotland. It confers powers on the Scottish Ministers to make provision for the enforcement of fines, forfeitures and reparation awards for victims which are ordered by the ICC.

On 19 September Stage 1 of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill in the name of Mike Watson was debated and agreed in Parliament. The Bill's purpose is to protect wild mammals from being hunted with dogs. It does that by prohibiting such hunting, subject to exceptions, and making it a summary offence to contravene the prohibition or to facilitate its contravention in certain ways.

On 24 September the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Parliament. The Bill takes forward a number of the Scottish Executive's policy commitments on the care of people in Scotland, including implementation of free nursing care, free personal care and regulations of charging for non-residential social care.

On 26 September the Water Industry Bill was introduced in the Parliament. The Bill provides for the restructuring of the water industry to combine the three existing authorities into one, Scotland-wide authority. It will change the role of the Water Industry Commissioner to reflect the new, single authority and it creates a Drink Water Quality Regulator to ensure Scottish water adheres to drinking water rules.

On 27 September Stage 1 of the Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill in the name of Jim Wallace was debated and agreed in Parliament. The bill provides for the carry-forward of working balances by police and fire authorities at the end of each financial year.

On 27 September the Freedom of Information Bill was introduced in the Parliament. The Bill provides a right of access to information held by Scottish authorities, creates exceptions from the duty to disclose information and establishes the arrangement for enforcement appeal.

On 28 September the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Parliament. The Bill would enable parents of children aged between 4 years and 6 months and 5 years to make placing requests to start primary school and would enable existing assistant headteachers to be regraded as deputy headteachers without following advertisement and appointment procedures.

Recess

From October 8 to October 22 the Parliament will be in recess.

Research opportunities

The Scottish Parliament has a budget for commissioning research for Parliamentary committees and holds a database of researchers interested in tendering for committee research. Anyone wishing to be included in the database should complete the on-line form on the Parliament website at

www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/research/ext-res-form.html

Publications

Scottish Executive publications can be accessed on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/recent.asp

Some of those published in the last month include:

A Modern Complaints System: Consultation on Proposal for Public Sector Ombudsmen in Scotland: proposal for a complaints system 11.07.01

A guide for the Voluntary Sector to Scottish Executive Grants: information leaflet. 27.7.01

A summary review of Scottish Executive documents and action on lifelong learning over the past 2-3 years. 20.08.01

A Science Strategy for Scotland: sets out framework which will inform the detailed development of policy for the support and use of science to achieve Scottish Executive's objectives set out in Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government. 27.08.0.1

Action for Scotland's Biodiversity: publication setting out actions required to ensure a future for Scotland's wildlife and natural habitats. 3.09.01

An International Outlook: document setting out issues of how to develop in young people an international outlook. 11.09.01

Social Inclusion Research Programme Research Findings No. 4: Audit of Research on Minority Ethnic Issues in Scotland from a Race' Perspective: study highlighting significant research gaps and recommendations for future research. 13.09.01

National Statistics in Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry: Consultation on Three Year Work Programme for 2002/03 to 2004/05: document requesting comments by 26 October 2001. 19.09.01

Health and Homelessness Guidance: guidance to NHS boards to improve the health of homeless people. 18.09.01.

A Review of Options for the Future Status of the Scottish Qualifications Authority: papers describing review of the SQA and its conclusions. 20.09.01

Draft Budget 2002-03: document reflecting the additional funding of £200m and reallocation regarding health and education and introduction of free personal care for older people. 20.09.01

Health in Scotland: report of the Chief Medical Officer on the State of Scotland's Health for the Year ended 31 December 2000. 29.09.01

Removing the special protection of prime quality agricultural land from Development: document outlining changes and seeking views on proposed change. 27.09.01.

Social Inclusion Research Bulletin No. 6: bulletin looking at research and policy related to older people. 28.09.

UK paper on the Commission's Green Paper on the 2002 review of the Common Fisheries Policy: 28.09.01

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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