IOG: Parliament News, issue 24/january 2003

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

6 January: Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Young People, launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of paedophiles over the internet. The campaign website http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk contains advice and information on safe surfing for young people and their parents or carers.

7 January: Jack McConnell, First Minister, launched a Healthy Eating campaign, aimed at educating Scots about healthy eating. The Executive has allocated £1.7 to the campaign in the first financial year (2002-3). There is a special helpline 0845 2 78 88 78 and website www.healthylivingscotland.gov.uk offering advice and information on choices ad options.

8 January: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, made a Parliamentary statement on the fishing industry. Mr Finnie emphasised that the decisions reached with the Commission in Brussels, of limiting fishing to 15 days per month, was the only achievable outcome. Mr Finnie also stated that the Executive is considering a financial package.

8 January: Dr Elaine Murray, Deputy Minister for Sport, was joined by her Welsh counterpart Jenny Randerson and the UK Sports Minister Richard Caborn for the first Sports 'Cabinet' of 2003. These Sports Cabinets meet to consider and contribute to the development of sports policy and decisions on funding which have an impact on a UK-wide basis.

9 January: the Executive sought to amend the Local Government in Scotland Bill by introducing measures which would allow councils to close fire stations without first seeking ministerial permission (repeal of section 19 of the 1947 Fire Service Act). MSPs were split 56-56, four Labour backbenchers voted against the Executive while two abstained. George Reid, Deputy Presiding Officer then used his casting vote to reject the amendment. This marked the third Executive defeat in the full parliament.

14 January: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced a grant scheme worth £3.7 million over three years to bring renewable energy to Scotland's communities. Mr Finnie announced the funding while visiting Edinburgh's new regional one-stop advisory service on renewable energy, the Scottish Community Renewable Initiative (SCRI helpline 0800 138 8858).

17 January: debate in the Chamber on Iraq, with SNP and Liberal Democrat motions criticising the Prime Minister's stance on war with Iraq. Labour was forced to rely on support from the Conservatives on every vote to secure victory.

20 January: publication of the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 2001-2 (GERS) report, which gives information on budgetary issues in Scotland.

20 January: publication of the Executive's response to recommendations within the Custodians of Change report, which identifies priority environmental issues for Scottish agriculture in the next five to ten years. The Custodians of Change report was produced by the Agriculture and Environment Working Group (AEWG).

22 January: Iain Gray, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, announced that the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) funded bodies in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is to be transformed into a full research council, working for the first time alongside those for the sciences. The change will require legislation in the Scottish and UK parliaments.

23 January: Mary Mulligan, Deputy Minister for Health, announced the new regulations to control tobacco sponsorship in Scotland. These regulations are part of the UK-wide ban on advertising which will end most tobacco sponsorship by July of this year.

23 January: Andy Kerr, Minister for Finance and Public Services, announced an initiative to ensure EQUAL opportunities are an important part of the employment policies in Scotland and Europe. Part of the programme will be delivered by the Equal Access Development Partnership in Edinburgh. EQUAL is an EU funded programme providing Scotland with £20 million for the period 2000-2006.

27 January: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced from Brussels that Scottish and UK Ministers share concerns over the Commission's position on the Mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. These include the effect of the Commission's proposal on extensive production, which is an area of particular concern to Scotland.

27 January: Des McNulty, Deputy Minister for Social Justice, announced a £6 million funding package designed to support the development of Scotland's social economy. The money will be used in areas such as housing, childcare, care in the community and the New Deal.

28 January: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced a financial package worth up to £50 million to help Scotland's fishing communities.

29 January: Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Education, announced the publication of the Executive's response to the National Debate on Education. Key areas for action are: smaller classes at crucial stages, simplified assessment, review of school curriculum, improved information for parents, more control over budgets for head teachers.

Appointments

16 January: the Honourable Lady Cosgrove was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session. The Inner House comprises the 10 most senior judges in Scotland who make up the Appeal Court in criminal and civil cases. Lady Cosgrove is the first woman to be appointed to this post.

31 January: Nick Kuenssberg was appointed as new Deputy Chair of the Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

System Three poll (for The Herald)

(1009 people in 51 constituencies surveyed between January 30 - February 6, 2003)

The System Three poll, carried out at the beginning of February, noted voting intentions for both the Scottish Parliament (two votes) and the House of Commons.

	Holyrood 1st vote	Holyrood 2nd vote	Westminster
Lab	32%	28%	42%
SNP	31%	28%	25%
LibDem	16%	17%	15%
Con	11%	10%	14%
SSP	5%	7%	1%
Green	3%	6%	} 2%
Others	2%	4%	} 2%

Bills

8 January: the Local Government in Scotland Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The Bill provides a package of measures designed to improve public service delivery.

9 January: Parliament agreed the general principles of the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation & Fishing) (Scotland) Bill: Preliminary Stage, and agreed that the Bill should proceed as a Private Bill.

23 January: the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3, was passed by Parliament. The Bill will extend community ownership of land, remove barriers to social, economic and environmental development and establish new rights of access. The Bill was passed by 101 votes to 19 (all Cons) votes with no abstentions.

29 January: the Water Environment & Water Services (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3, was passed by Parliament. The objectives of the Bill are to promote sustainable management and protection of the water environment in Scotland and to change the arrangement for funding new connections to the public water and sewerage infrastructure.

Committees

8 January: the Justice 2 Committee published a report calling for a faster justice system for asbestos sufferers and other terminally ill people making personal injury court claims. These findings are the result of 20 months of investigation following a public petition lodged on behalf of Clydesdale Action on Asbestos in January 2001.

9 January: the Rural Development Committee published a report dealing with issues that include planning, affordable housing, rural transport, the many organisations in charge of rural policy and the economic difficulties of the primary sector industries. Although the inquiry was carried out before the current problems of the fishing industry arose, the Committee urges the Executive to take the opportunity to renegotiate structural funds to be made available to the fisheries sector.

14 January: the Health and Community Care Committee published a report on Genetically Modified (GM) crops, expressing concern about the monitoring procedures currently in place and calls for the Executive to examine the effects on human health in relation to the local population around GM sites.

15 January: the Audit Committee published a report stating that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has made good progress on improving its performance management systems, but expressed concern over SEPA's inability to give assurances as to the accuracy of its performance information.

17 January: the Rural Development Committee published its report on Stage 1 of the Organic Farming Targets (Scotland) Bill which seeks to set legal targets for increases in organic farmland in Scotland. Although sympathetic to the Bill, the Committee stated there was insufficient evidence to convince them that a specific target for organic conversion of land is the best way to support the organic sector in Scotland. The Committee chose to make no recommendation to Parliament.

24 January: the Local Government Committee published a report recommending that young people should be allowed to vote in local government elections from the age of 16. The report also makes recommendations aimed at modernising local government, with a view to making it more relevant to local people and easier for a wide variety of people to become councillors.

29 January: the Enterprise Committee published a report calling for industry operators to take the lead to drive forward tourism growth in Scotland, as well as calling for a more proactive approach to be taken in attracting new direct air services to Scotland, especially low cost carriers.

30 January: the Health and Community Care Committee welcomed the Executive's statement on the provision of financial assistance to Hepatitis C sufferers, who contracted it through NHS treatment, although the Committee is concerned that the Parliament may not have the power under the Scotland Act to make these payments.

30 January: the Audit Committee published a report calling on the Executive to strengthen systems to identify financial and management problems before they develop in public organisations.

31 January: the Equal Opportunities Committee heard evidence from various organisations on '2003 European Year of Disabled People' (EYDP). The Committee is finding out about preparations for EYDP, the key objects of the Year, people's hopes and expectations for the outcomes.

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/contracts/contract02-01.htm

Scottish Executive 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:

Community Regeneration Statement: Implementation of Action Plan: action plan for Closing the Gap. 6.1.03

Building Better Cities: Delivering Growth and Opportunities: Executive policy statement. 9.1.03

The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 - Regulation of Care Services by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. Proposals for Maximum Levels for 2003/04. Fees to be set by Scottish Ministers for 2003-04: consultation paper. 7.1.03

Animal Health & Welfare Strategy for Great Britain - Consultation: consultation paper. 10.01.03

Policy & Financial Management Review of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board: consultation for review. 10.1.03

Scottish Executive Response to Recommendations from Transport and Environment Committee Report: inquiry into the Rail Industry in Scotland: 15.1.03

Draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill: consultation document. 17.1.03

Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland: 2001-2002: report 20.1.03

A Review of the Scottish Executive's Policies to Promote the Social Economy: social economy report. 27.1.03

Scotland's Budget Documents 2003-04 Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill for the year ending 31 March 2004: support documentation. 24.1.03

Educating for Excellence: Choice and Opportunity: The Executive's Response to the National Debate on Education: document setting out the first steps the executive will take in response to the National Debate on Education. 29.1.03

Guide to Transport Assessment in Scotland: Consultation Paper: guide setting out the requirements for the preparation of a Transport Assessment. 30.1.03

Local Government Bill: Sewel Motion. 30.1.03

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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