Parliament News
issue 28 / june 2003
Institute of Governance > Parliament News, issue 28 / june 2003 |
|
Parliament Newsissue 28 / june 2003 |
|
|
|
|
Events3 June: the Queen addressed MSPs in the Parliament for the formal opening of its second session. 3 June: the launch of a UK public debate on Genetic Modification. Ross Finnie, Minister for the Environment, welcomed the debate saying that the Executive is keen to hear people's views and encouraged as many people as possible to participate in the debate by joining in, or organising local discussions. People wishing to participate or to organise their own discussion events can contact the debate team on tel. 020 7261 8616 or via the web at: www.gmnation.org.uk 5 June: George Reid, the Presiding Officer, unveiled a new 'portfolio' structure for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB). With the new portfolios, each corporate Body member will now take on responsibility for answering Parliamentary Questions within their respective policy areas. 5 June: the Parliamentary Corporate Body received a report that the cost of the new Holyrood Parliament building could rise by a further £37m, taking the total projected cost to £375m, including the landscaping costs. 6 June: the Equality Advisory Group (EAG) held its first meeting in Edinburgh. The EAG will provide the Executive with independent expert advice on the impact of current and future policies on equality issues. Establishment of this group was a key objective of the Executive's Race Equality Action Plan. 6 June: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced that funding of £14 million was being shared between five local authorities to invest in initiatives to improve recycling, waste management facilities and kerbside collection services. Mr Finnie said that the money would help develop strategies to build on the targets of the National Waste Plan, outlined in February. 9 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, addressed more than 70 diplomats, including 30 Ambassadors and High Commissioners, representing 56 countries at a conference in Edinburgh. The 'World Comes to Scotland Conference' examined devolved Scotland's development as a modern European nation in an increasingly competitive and innovative world. 10 June: consultants working on the Holyrood project agreed to cap the overall level of professional fees associated with the completion of the new Parliament building. This follows a meeting between the Parliament's Corporate Body and the main Holyrood project consultants, at which George Reid, the Presiding Officer, called for the external professionals to consider a reduction in the fees they receive. 18 June: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced the launch of a consultation to seek industry views on inshore fisheries management. The consultation will examine controls such as seasonally closed areas, weekend bans and length of restrictions to identify benefits and drawbacks. Mr Finnie said that the consultation would help develop a future management system for inshore fisheries. 19 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, and President Claudio Martini of Tuscany, signed an action plan which builds on the Co-operation Agreement signed by the two leaders last year. The action plan includes: pursuing joint action on economic development and innovation through European funding, including agriculture and sharing information on economic development strategies and agencies; to co-operate on the bringing to Scotland of the Gardens of Tuscany exhibition and the Etruscan masterpieces exhibition; and to work in partnership with the administration of Edinburgh and Florence to support the running of 'Tuscan' week. 19 June: launch of the Parliament's Partner Focus Project which will help schools and communities find out more about the Parliament. Activities will run between June 2003 and November 2004 and will include educational sessions for schools and information sessions for community groups as well as training for librarians and information professionals. 24 June: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced that the Executive would work with Westminster for the creation of a Nuclear Decommissioning Agency to oversee the clean up of civil nuclear sites. 25 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, welcomed the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his wife, Mrs Lyudmila Putina, on his visit to Edinburgh. President Putin later addressed an invited audience including parliamentarians in the Signet Library. 25 June: the Parliament launched its fourth Annual Report showing 22 bills passed and 40 inquiries completed. A Gaelic version will be published in July. Copies of the Annual Report are sent to all Scottish secondary schools and to Partner Libraries in every constituency. 26 June: Tavish Scott, Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business, attended the Ministerial European Co-ordination Committee (MINECOR) meeting in Downing Street with the Prime Minister in attendance. MINECOR was set up following the 1997 general election under the chairmanship of the former Minister for Europe Keith Vaz to discuss how to communicate European policy priorities. The members meet every two to three months. 26 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, launched a consultation document with proposals for a strategy to crack down on all forms of anti-social behaviour and which emphasises prevention first, voluntary measures next, and tough sanctions for those who persistently fail to respond. 27 June: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary published a Pride and Prejudice report on police race relations in Scotland. The Report makes 24 recommendations to Chief Constables. Appointments16 June: Sarah Gundry was appointed as the new Gaelic Information Officer. The post will provide an enquiry and information service to Gaelic speakers contacting the Parliament. 27 June: Duncan Macniven, currently Head of Corporate Services at the Forestry Commission, was appointed as the new Registrar General for Scotland. Mr Macniven will replace John Randall who is retiring. 27 June: Sandra Hood, a former assistance Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, was appointed as Chair of the Expert Group on Prostitution. System Three poll (for The Herald)No poll in June. Bills11 June: the Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The Bill has the purpose of amending section 53 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 ('the 1980 Act') to add an additional criterion by which pupils qualify for free school meals. 26 June: the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation & Fishing) Scotland Bill: Final Stage, was passed by Parliament. The objective of the Bill is to give the promoters statutory authority to interfere with the public right of navigation and trawling for the purposes of building and operating Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm within the Solway Furth. A summary of the Bills passed by the Parliament in the 1999-2003 session can be downloaded (pdf file) from the Parliament website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parl_bus/bills/bill%20summaries.pdf
CommitteesThere are eight Mandatory Committees which are stated within the Standing Orders: 1. Audit The subject Committees this session will be: 1. Communities In their first meeting this session, the Committee members also declared any interests and in many instances discussed the 'legacy' papers from the previous session's Committee (s). The Convenership and make up of the Committees will be as follows: Subordinate Legislation Committee Finance Committee Health Justice 1 Equal Opportunities Committee Audit Committee Environment and Rural Development Local Government and Transport Communities Justice 2 Standards Committee Education European and External Relations Committee Enterprise and Culture Public Petitions Committee Procedures Committee
25 June: the Standards Committee decided that it will conduct its own investigation and hear further evidence in relation to a complaint made against Kenny McAskill MSP, and Tricia Marwick MSP. The complainer, Dorothy-Grace Elder alleged that Kenny MacAskill and Tricia Marwick acted in breach of the Code of Conduct by retaining a file relating to an inquiry which she was undertaking as a Reporter for the Public Petitions Committee in the last Parliamentary session. 26 June: the Finance Committee published a report stating that the Executive needs a step change to make further progress in dealing with the problem of abolishing child poverty. The report also made several recommendations. Research opportunitiesThe 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 online form on the Parliament website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/contracts/contract02-01.htm Scottish Executive PublicationsScottish Executive publications can be accessed on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/recent.aspx Some of those published in the last two months include: National Dossier on Education and Training in Scotland: Summary 2003. 9.6.03 Scotland's Budget Documents: The 2003-04 Summer Budget Revision to the Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Act for the year ending 31 March 2004. 16.6.03 Separate Waste Collection Systems Best Practice Review Summary. 17.6.03 Modernising Justice in Scotland: The Reform of the High Court of Justice: White Paper for the proposed Bill reforming the High Court of Justiciary. 19.6.03 Pride and Prejudice: A Review of police Race Relations in Scotland. 27.6.03
Links to other issues of Parliament NewsContactShould you have any comments or enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Margaret MacPherson at the Institute of Governance. |
|
|
| Online Articles & Papers |
Scottish
Affairs journal |
CONSULTANCY at the Institute |
home | news & events | about | consultancy & research | publications | parliament news | online articles & papers | internship programme | site map | search | contact |
|
|
Institute of Governance |
|
Institute of Governance |
|
This page last updated 29 May 2004. |
|
back
to top