Parliament News
issue 67 / september 2007
Institute of Governance > Parliament News, issue 67 /september 2007 |
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Parliament Newsissue 67 / september 2007 |
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Events3 September: Scottish Ministers formally adopted the title Scottish Government to replace the term Scottish Executive as an expression of corporate identity. Signs at the six main Government buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow were changed at a cost of £100,000, but other material such as stationery will be changed gradually to make the transition as cost effective as possible. The Government said that the decision to change the name was taken because research showed that the name Scottish Executive was confusing or meaningless to a lot of people. The term Scottish Executive, as defined by the Scotland Act 1998, will continue to be used in formal legal documents such as legislation and contracts. 3 September: Alex Salmond, First Minister and John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, took their places on the Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB). Jim Mather, Enterprise Minister, will also be joining FiSAB. FiSAB brings together partners from the financial services industry, the public sector and the trade unions. 4 September: Alex Salmond, First Minister, and Sir Tom Hunter launched a programme to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurialism in Scottish higher education. The Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Strathclyde will participate in the Scottish Programme for Entrepreneurship that will be jointly funded by the Scottish Government and the Hunter Foundation. It will cost £2.65 million over the next three years. 5 September: Shirley-Anne Somerville was sworn in as the new SNP list MSP for the Lothians. Ms Somerville replaces Stefan Tymkewycz who stepped down to concentrate on his work as a councillor with Edinburgh City Council. 5 September: in a statement to the Parliament Alex Salmond, First Minister, laid out the Scottish Government's legislative and non-legislative programme for the year ahead in a document Principles and Priorities: The Government's Programme for Scotland (available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/05093403/0 The full list of proposed bills is:
6 September: Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, announced that a new scheme to protect North Sea cod stocks is to be tested using on-board independent observers. Under the initiative, skippers will be given extra days at sea if the observers conclude that cod is less than 5% of the total catch on the trip. The Marine Resources Assessment Group will provide the independent monitors. 7 September: Michael Russell, Environment Minister, outlined his vision of crofting in the 21st century in a speech at the annual conference of the Scottish Crofting Foundation. Mr Russell stated that £100,000 yearly will be given to the Crofters Commission to help crofting communities take advantage of opportunities to bid for rural community investment projects under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. 7 September: Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, announced that, according to figures published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland has exceeded its target of recycling 25% of household waste by the end of 2006. The next recycling targets are 30% by 2008 and 55% by 2020. 7 September: Alex Salmond, First Minister, announced that for the first time Scotland has the ability to produce more green energy than nuclear power. The generating capacity of installed renewables is now above that of Scotland's working nuclear power stations at Torness and Hunteston. Mr Salmond stated that Scotland has an abundance of clean renewable energy resources - wind, wave, offshore wind, tidal, biomass and biofuel. Mr Salmond added that in stark contrast the UK government has already decided to go for a new generation of nuclear power stations - after carrying out a consultation it was forced into by the High Court. 10 September: Fiona Hyslop, Education and Lifelong Learning Cabinet Secretary, announced the plan to merge Careers Scotland and learndirect Scotland into a single skills body as part of plans to bring a national focus on skills. 12 September: Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, met the Presiding Officers of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly of Wales, William Hay and Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas respectively. The Presiding Officers met in Belfast for their first formal meeting since taking up their offices to discuss corporate governance, communicating with the wider world and representing legislatures at home and abroad. 13 September: the Portuguese Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Antonio Nunes de Carvalho Santana Carlos, discussed the priorities of the current Portuguese Presidency of the European Union and answered questions from the public during an event at Holyrood. 18 September: speaking at the European and External Relations Committee at the Parliament Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe and External Affairs, presented the Scottish Government's EU priorities and framework for a longer term European Strategy: Wealthier and Fairer Scotland
Greener Scotland
Safer and Strong Scotland
Healthier Scotland
Smarter Scotland
Ms Fabiani also shared the Key EU Political Objectives with the Committee and confirmed that a EU Strategy Document will be published in early 2008. The consultation for the European Strategy will coincide with the Government's National Conversation, given the importance of Europe in this debate about Scotland's future. The Key EU Political Objectives are:
18 September: Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Climate Change, joined an international panel in Edinburgh made up of energy efficiency experts from Norway, Denmark and Austria and Scottish designers, developers and contractors. Mr Stevenson said that the expert panel would help them ensure that they are doing everything possible to raise standards for saving energy and tackling climate change. 21 September: first meeting of Scotland's new Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), set up to advise on ways of improving the rate of sustainable economic growth. Alex Salmond, First Minister, said that a minute of all meetings of CEA will be published a fortnight after the meeting to keep everyone informed of the areas under discussion. 25 September: publication of a report by the Independent Review of Regulations, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland. The review makes 42 recommendations to improve the role of scrutiny within the public sector, amongst these is the recommendation that Ministers should appoint one body to co-ordinate scrutiny of local government, and that scrutiny of the NHS should become independent. 26 September: John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, announced proposals to replace the twenty one separate Local Enterprise Companies with six regional operations. 26 September: Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary, announced funding of £1 million to be made available for community safety initiatives including late night taxi marshal schemes, Safe Zones and extra enforcement at known problem spots and high visible policing. 27 September: a lecture entitled Policy, Practice and Treatment: a New Paradigm for Scotland was given at the Parliament by the Trimbos Institute from the Netherlands. The lecture drew on the Institute's impressions of alcohol and drug treatment in Scotland and looked at evidence and best practice from across other EU countries. 28 September: following the publication of a new report showing that Scotland has a lower proportion of total domestic sales compared with much of the rest of Europe, Richard Lochead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, issued a call to processors and retailers to buy more Scottish food.
Appointments20 September: David Sigsworth was appointed as the new Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Mr Sigsworth is a Chartered Electrical engineer, a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee. 20 September: Henry McLeish, former First Minister, was appointed chair of Scotland's new independent Prisons Commission. The Commission is to look at the purpose and impact of imprisonment in contemporary Scotland and will make a report and recommendations by 30 June 2008.
BillsA summary of the Bills passed by the Parliament in the 1999-2003 and 2003-2007 sessions can be found on the Parliament website at www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsPassed/billsum-s1.htm www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsnotInProgress-s2/index.htm
Committees17 September: the Parliament's Justice Committee launched an inquiry focussing on how police officers in Scotland are managed and deployed. Committee members will examine a range of issues surrounding the effective use of police resources which will include the increase of 1,000 officers proposed by the Scottish Government. 19 September: the Parliament's Rural Affairs and Environment Committee launched an inquiry into the future of flooding and flood management in Scotland. The deadline for written submissions is 12 December 2007. 26 September: the Local Government and Communities Committee invited members of the public to text comments or questions they want MSPs to put to witnesses as part of a session on energy and fuel on 3 October. 27 September: the Finance Committee launched an inquiry on the methods used to fund public sector capital investment projects. The Committee has begun gathering views on the advantages and disadvantages of different funding models, and on how policy can ensure that projects are cost-effective and deliver good public services.
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 on-line form on the Parliament website
at
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 September 2007 include: 5 September: Principles and Priorities: The Government's Programme for Scotland: document setting out the government's principles and priorities, including the legislative and non-legislative actions to be taken this parliamentary year. 10 September: The Standards Council for Community Learning and Development in Scotland: an information leaflet showing the main functions of the Standards Council for Community Learning and Development and how these are being explored by the interim council. 18 September: Scotland's International Image: Message Platforms - Research Findings: summary of research commissioned by the Scottish Executive in China, USA and Germany in late 2006/early 2007. The research explored responses to marketing materials designed by Scotland's International Image team to promote and position Scotland abroad. 20 September: Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland: report of a study that was commissioned in September 2004 to examine the key issues around the use of civil Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland (ASBOs).
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ContactShould you have any comments or enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Margaret MacPherson at the Institute of Governance. |
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This page last updated 26 October 2007. |
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