IOG: Parliament News, issue 3/december 2000

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

BY-ELECTIONS

The Anniesland by-election for the late Donald Dewar's Westminster and Holyrood seats took place on 23 November. Labour's Bill Butler won the Holyrood seat and Labour's John Robertson was elected for Westminster.

Results:

Holyrood

Labour	9,838
SNP	4,462
Con	2,148
SSP	1,429
SLD	1,384
Green	662
Soc Lab	298

Westminster

Labour	10,539
SNP	4,202
Con	2,188
SLD	1,630
SSP	1,441
Family Action	212

The Falkirk West by-election for Dennis Canavan's Westminster seat was held on 21 December. On a turnout of 36.2%, the result was as follows:

Eric Joyce (Labour)	8492
David Kerr (Scottish National Party)	7787
Craig Stevenson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)	1621
Iain George Hunter (Scottish Socialist Party)	989
Hugh O'Donnell (Scottish Liberal Democrat)	615

CROSS-PARTY GROUPS

The following Cross-Party Groups have been set up and are awaiting approval of the Parliament's Standards Committee:

Cross-Party Group on East Coast Electrification
Cross-Party Group on Pluralism and Steiner Waldorf Education
Cross-Party Group on the Scottish Music Industry
Cross-Party Group on Traditional Arts

Bills

At the end of November the Justice Committee proposed a Bill to combat domestic abuse. This is the first time a committee bill has been proposed by a subject committee. This Bill would allow a power of arrest to be attached to a common law interdict on application by any victim of abuse, whatever their relationship with their abuser. Such a Bill would complement the 1981 Act and would offer protection to those excluded from that Act, but would not include a power to deprive a person of his or her occupancy rights to their home.

On 6 December the Member's Bill for the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales, which was introduced on 24 September 1999 by Tommy Sheridan was passed by Parliament.

Committee Reports

The Health Committee published an inquiry report on 28 November on Community Care stating that personal care services for the elderly, incapacitated and infirm should be free at the point of delivery.

The Audit Committee published a report on 5 December criticising the Holyrood Parliament Project, expressing concern over the project's stewardship and the amount of public expenditure it will incur. The report put forward a list of recommendations.

The Social Inclusion Committee published a report on 7 December on drug misuse and deprived communities stating that evidence shows that the link between drugs and deprivation has become so strong that drug related hospital admission in Scotland's poorest areas are now seventeen times higher than in affluent areas. The report makes 36 recommendations.

The Education Committee published a report on 8 December following an intensive three-month inquiry into the SQA controversy and concluded that:

the exams "shambles" was found to be worse than any report had so far identified
there were serious failures at both Board and Management level of the SQA
the design and implementation of 'Higher Still' remains open to criticism
there was an inherent conflict of interest in Her Majesty's Inspectorate's role as controllers of the 'Higher Still' development and as evaluators of its success.

The Committee made 56 recommendations for overcoming problems.

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:

Standards and Quality in Colleges of Further Education 1995-1999: Electrical and Electronic Engineering: the report draws on inspection of 20 colleges of further education and identifies features which contribute to good practice in vocational areas. (28.11.00)

Standards and Quality in Colleges of Further Education 1995-1999: Construction: the report draws on inspection of 20 colleges of further education and identifies features which contribute to good practice in vocational areas. (28.11.00)

Strategic Priorities for Scotland's Passenger Railway: Consultation Paper: outlines the Executive's vision for passenger railways and key objectives. (29.11.00)

Student Awards in Scotland: 1999-00: statistics (30.11.00)

Social Justice … a Scotland where everyone matters" Annual Report 2000: Summary. (11.12.00)

A Guide to Farm Diversification and Planning Permission in Scotland: explains the process and procedures for those applying for diversification of farm business and highlights examples of successful projects. (11.12.00)

Equality in Scotland - Disabled People - Older People - Women and Men: national statistics. (5.12.00)

Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues: report stating agenda for action. (12.12.00)

Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change: statement of national priorities for improvement and change for health and for the NHS. (14.12.00)

Equality in Scotland - Ethnic Minorities: a national statistics publication. (14.12.00)

Destinations of Leaver from Scottish Schools: 1997-1998 to 1999-2000: statistics. (19.12.00)

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.

In the meantime, may we take this opportunity to wish you a happy Xmas and all good wishes for 2001.

Lindsay Adams, Paddy Bort, Alice Brown, Dave McCrone and Margaret MacPherson (Governance of Scotland Forum).

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