IOG: Parliament News, issue 12/november 2001

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

6 November: Helen Liddell, the Scottish Secretary, announced a formal consultation on the future number of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. This is in response to the proposed boundary changes which will reduce the number of Scottish seats at Westminster and the implied reduction in the number of MSPs in Edinburgh. Mrs Liddell said that it is intended to review the link between Holyrood and Westminster constituencies in the light of the experience of the workings of the Scottish Parliament.

8 November: Henry McLeish resigned from his post as First Minister. In a personal statement to the Parliament Mr McLeish acknowledged that he had made mistakes regarding the declaration of constituency office sublets and the way in which he handled the matter. Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister, was designated to carry out the First Minister's functions until appointment of a new First Minister.

16 November: Sir David Steel, the Presiding Officer, paid his respects to the victims of the September 11 atrocities and laid a wreath at 'ground zero' during a visit to New York.

20 November: Jack McConnell told the LibDems that he was committed to the reform of council voting in Scotland, promising that a timetable would be published by Christmas.

22 November: Jack McConnell, (Labour), Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, was elected by the Parliament to the post of First Minister, with a total of 70 votes, against John Swinney (SNP) with 34, David McLetchie (Con) with 19 and Dennis Canavan (Independent) with 3.

27 November: a new scheme, the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange, to be known as 'The Exchange', was launched. The scheme aims to give MSPs direct experience in business through placement in a commercial or a not-for-profit organisation, in organisations within a particular industry sector or in one or more than one company and industry sector. MSPs will be expected to make a serious commitment, generally between 18 to 25 days with the company or companies involved. The Exchange's office is located in Edinburgh University premises at Chisholm House, High School Yards.

28 November: Jack McConnell announced his new Ministerial Team:

The Ministers:

Jim Wallace retained his post as Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice

Cathy Jamieson was appointed Minister for Education and Young People (previously held by Jack McConnell)

Wendy Alexander retained her post and acquired responsibility for Transport (previously held by Sarah Boyack) and is now Minister for Enterprise, Transport, and Lifelong Learning

Ross Finnie retained his post as Minister for Environment and Rural Development

Mike Watson was appointed Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sports (previously partly held by Allan Wilson as Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture)

Andy Kerr was appointed Minister for Finance and Public Services (previously held by Angus MacKay)

Iain Gray was moved from his post as Deputy Minister for Justice to Minister for Social Justice (previously held by Jackie Baillie)

Malcolm Chisholm was moved from his post as Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care to Minister for Health and Community Care (previously held by Susan Deacon)

Patricia Ferguson was appointed Minister for Parliamentary Business (previously held by Tom McCabe)

The Deputy Ministers:

Richard Simpson was appointed Deputy Minister for Justice (previously held by Iain Gray)

Nicol Stephen retained his appointment as Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (previously called Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs)

Lewis Macdonald was moved from his post as Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning to Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (previously partly held by Alasdair Morrison as Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Leaning and Gaelic)

Allan Wilson was moved from his post as Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture to Deputy Minister for Rural Development (previously held by Rhona Brankin).

Elaine Murray was appointed Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (previously partly held by Allan Wilson)

Margaret Curran retained her post as Deputy Minister for Social Justice

Peter Peacock retained his post as Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services

Hugh Henry and Mary Mulligan were both appointed Deputy Ministers for Health and Community Care (previously held by Malcolm Chisholm).

Euan Robson retained his post as Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Business

Colin Boyd retained his post as Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini was appointed Solicitor General (previously held by Neil Davidson)

29 November: Murray Tosh (Con) was voted Deputy Presiding Officer in a secret ballot in the Parliament with 68 votes against Cathy Peattie (Labour) with 45 votes. Mr Tosh replaces Patricia Ferguson who has moved to a Cabinet post as Minister for Parliamentary Business.

System Three poll (for The Herald)

(1025 people in 40 constituencies between 22-28 November 2001)

The System Three poll carried out during November noted voting intentions for both the Scottish Parliament (two votes) and the House of Commons.

	Holyrood 1st vote	Holyrood 2nd vote	Westminster
Lab	40%	35%	47%
SNP	32%	31%	25%
LibDem	11%	13%	10%
Con	11%	11%	14%
SSP	3%	6%	2%
Green	1%	3%	} 1%
Others	1%	2%	} 1%

Bills

1 November: the Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was agreed by Parliament. The bill makes provision for the carrying forward by police authorities, joint police boards and joint fire boards of unspent balances from one financial year to the next.

15 November: a motion was debated that the Parliament recognises the urgency of enhancing anti-terrorist capability and security in the current international situation and it was agreed that the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill specified in the Scottish Executive's memorandum that relate to devolved matters should be considered by the UK Parliament.

15 November: the general principles of the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. This bill amends the law about the provision of education for children under school age for whom placing requests have been made, and makes provision relating to the abolition of the post of assistant headteacher.

21 November: the general principles of the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. If passed, the bill will ban an accused in a sexual offence case from conducting his or her own defence, it will strengthen the existing law regulating the use of evidence about the complainer's character and past behaviour, and it will require any defence of consent or belief in consent to be notified before the trial.

22 November: the principles of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. The bill has three main provisions. The first is a four-year mandate for councillors. The second relates to council elections being rescheduled to coincide with ordinary elections of the Scottish Parliament and cancels the planned 2002 council elections. The third is a provision for ministers to approve pilot schemes for the modernisation of the administration of council elections.

28 November: the general principles of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. The principles of the Bill include implementation of free nursing care for older people, free personal care and regulations of charging for non-residential social care.

Committees

5 November: the Rt Hon Peter Hain, MP, the UK Minister for Europe appeared before the Parliament's European Committee to discuss issues relating to the 'Future of Europe'. He is the first Westminster Minister to address a Committee.

6 November: the Finance Committee began a major parliamentary inquiry investigating the costs and benefits for the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

7 November: the Justice 1 Committee published a report stating that current eligibility criteria for civil legal aid are not satisfactory and should be up-rated in line with inflation dating back to 1983 and up-rated on an annual basis.

12 November: the European Committee published a report stating their disappointment at the current state-of-preparation in Scotland for the January 1 Euro launch across the Continent. The Committee called for urgent measures to address the issue if Scotland is not to be disadvantaged.

23 November: the Health Committee endorsed the general principles of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill which will deliver free personal care services in Scotland but made a number of recommendations for changes to the Bill to ensure that the definition of personal care should be laid down explicitly in statute.

28 November: the Justice 2 Committee issued a call for evidence on the general principles of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Bill has two main purposes. It would confer and regulate public rights of access to land and it would allow bodies representing rural and crofting communities to buy their land.

29 November: the Environment Committee published a report of Stage 1 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill approving the general principles of the Bill but voicing concern regarding accountability.

29 November: the Local Government Committee issued a call seeking views on the general principles of the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill. The Bill aims to establish a public sector complaints system which is open, accountable and easily accessible. The key objective of the Bill is to establish a one-stop shop headed by a new Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman to deal with complaints currently dealt with by the existing Ombudsmen.

29 November: the Education, Culture & Sport Committee published a report criticising Scottish Ballet's handling of the process of change to become a contemporary dance company.

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 New Special Health Board for Education in NHSScotland: Consultation: consultation paper asking for responses on the new Special Health Board. 12.11.01

National Qualifications Task Group: English and Communication - Report of Review Group. 15.11.01

Analysis - Protecting our Rights. A Human Rights Commission for Scotland?: report offering factual analysis of responses to the consultation. 15.11.01

The NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill - memorandum: 16.11.01

Standards: Care Homes for Older People: document describing what each individual person can expect from the service provider. 20.11.01

Ownership of Land Holdings in Rural Scotland: study examining the nature of the need for information on ownership of rural land holdings. 21.11.01

Social Justice Annual Report 2001: Summary: summary of approach based on preventing poverty happening in the first place and promoting social inclusion. 26.11.01

Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1991-2001. 30.11.01

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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