IOG: Parliament News, issue 54/february 2006

Scottish Affairs web site

Events

1 February: publication of a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on free personal care for older people. The report states that the Free Personal and Nursing Care policy has been successful in improving the quality of life of older people and has removed many of their financial concerns.

2 February: Scotland's new regional transport partnerships (RTPs) were awarded £1 million of Executive funding over the next two years to encourage employers to develop sustainable transport plans through the appointment of dedicated travel plan officers.

6 February: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment, launched a consultation for views on what more can be done to reduce the waste Scotland produces. Mr Finnie also stated that statistics published on this date showed that Scotland recycled 25.1% of waste in the second quarter of 2005-06.

7 February: a report drafted by the University of Edinburgh stated that the Executive's target to have 40% of electricity generated in Scotland from renewable sources by 2020 is achievable.

7 February: a new scheme run by Transport Scotland from April 1 will allow over-60s and disabled people to travel free on local and long-distance buses anywhere in Scotland.

8 February: Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced that half the demand for organic produce in Scotland is being met by Scotland's own organic farmers. Ms Brankin also announced that payments to organic farmers will increase, and some will quadruple, to assist them in converting to and maintaining organic farm land.

8 February: publication of a wide-ranging consultation paper by Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Justice, and Colin Boyd, Lord Advocate, which sets out proposals to unify Scotland's judges and sheriffs into a single judicial organisation, led by the 'Lord President' with enhanced powers and responsibilities for training, discipline, and the judiciary's dealing with Parliament and Government.

8 February: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance, announced that Scottish local authorities are set to receive an increase of almost 4% in Executive funding in 2006-07 in revenue grant support for their core services.

9 February: Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Development, launched a consultation on rural development strategy over the next seven years. The Executive is proposing action relative to these three main themes:

underpinning performances and quality in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors;
enhancing rural landscapes and natural heritage;
and promoting a more diverse rural economy with thriving rural communities.

9 February: start of a ten day visit to Malawi by a cross party delegation of MSPs, organised by the Scotland Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to establish a practical relationship with the National Assembly of Malawi and to look at issues regarding health, education, sustainability and enterprise. 10 February: the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election for the Westminster seat was won by Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 1,800 on a 16.24% swing. The seat was made vacant following the death in January of Rachel Squire of the Labour party. At last May's General Election Ms Squire had won the seat for Labour with a majority of more than 11,500.

13 February: the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act came into force which is designed to promote the use of Gaelic, secure the status of the language and ensure it has a long-term future.

20 February: the Executive asked Scottish Water to produce a plan of action for all the improvements required of it for 2006-10 following the resignation of the Chair, Professor Alan Alexander. The Executive had considered a delivery plan submitted by Scottish Water on February 1 as unacceptable. Prof Alexander believed the plan to be fully compliant and, in view of the disagreement, resigned his post as Chair.

23 February: Andy Kerr, Minister for Health, announced that by December 31, 2005 the national maximum waiting time targets of six months had been met.

24 February: performances at 10 different locations across the country of Scotland's first National Theatre. The National Theatre has an administrative base in Glasgow but no building of its own. It will tour Scotland and beyond, making use of venues as appropriate.

27 February: key figures from the RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy met at Holyrood to examine the issue of drugs misuse and whether new approaches or legislative options are needed to tackle the UK-wide drugs problem.

Appointments

N/A

Bills

A summary of the Bills passed by the Parliament in the 1999-2003 session can be found on the Parliament website at www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsPassed/billsum-s1.htm

2 February: the Human Tissue (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The Bill covers three main issues: organ and tissue donation and transplantation; hospital post-mortem examinations; and the Anatomy Act 1984.

9 February: the Budget (Scotland) (No. 3) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament.

Committees

2 February: the Education Committee published a report stating that the majority of the committee recommended that Parliament agree to the general principles of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill. The Bill replaces existing school boards with a new two-tier structure of parent councils and parent forums.

7 February: the Environment and Rural Development Committee published a report welcoming the increased powers of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill but insisted that sufficient safeguards are in place to ensure these powers are used carefully and after proper advice is sought.

17 February: the Local Government and Transport Committee launched an inquiry on the future of freight transport in Scotland. The Committee will visit the Port of Grangemouth, Prestwick airport and the Eurocentral rail freight terminal.

19 February: the Environment and Rural Development Committee launched an inquiry into the biomass industry, seeking views on where policies need development to stimulate the potential of the sector.

23 February: the Justice 1 Committee published a report on proposed legislation that would establish a Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights. The Committee made clear its commitment to ensuring the continuing protection of human rights in Scotland, but questioned what added value a Commissioner could bring.

27 February: as part of its Care Inquiry the Health Committee took evidence from the Dundee-based Care Commission on its registration, inspection and fee regimes.

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
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/recruitment/extResearcher/index.htm

Scottish Executive Publications

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

Some of those published in February 2006 include:

23 February: Acute Activity, Waiting Times and Waiting Lists - quarter ending 31 December 2205.

24 February: Consultation on a Proposed Electronic Communication (Scotland) Order 2006: consultation document on proposals to promote and facilitate the use of electronic communications to enable more effective and efficient service delivery.

24 February: Scotland's Transport - Proposals for a New Approach to Delivering Public Transport Infrastructure Developments.

28 February: The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland: Headline Report and Recommendations and Appendices: recommendations of a research project on the future of unpaid care in Scotland.

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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