Issue 7 - April 2001
Events
At the end of March Brian Fitzpatrick, a former adviser to the late Donald Dewar, was chosen by Labour to succeed Sam Galbraith as their candidate in the Stathkelvin and Bearsden by-election for Holyrood.
At the beginning of April, Prof David McCrone of the Governance of Scotland Forum was appointed as adviser to the Parliament's Procedures Committee for an audit on whether the Consultative Steering Group principles on sharing power, accountability and, with reference to equal opportunities, have been implemented by the Parliament during the past two years. The Committee is asking for written views by 26 June 2001.
On 2 April, Wendy Alexander announced measures for providing advice and support to businesses and individuals most affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. These included £500,000 to be allocated to Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway and the creation of a nation-wide helpline.
On 3 April Henry McLeish, the First Minister, visited the USA to take part in various events around Tartan Day. Mr McLeish urged Americans to ignore "myths and misconceptions" about the foot-and-mouth outbreak and informed them that Scotland is "open for business".
On 9 April, Henry McLeish announced his intention of appointing a senior Scottish Executive official to a post at the British Embassy in Washington who will represent Scotland on trade and tourism matters.
On April 19 Wendy Alexander, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning announced that Rod Lynch would be taking up the post of new Chief Executive of visitscotland (previously the Scottish Tourist Board).
On 22 April Henry McLeish warned that he would take whatever action was necessary to stop in-fighting in his cabinet following the previous week's briefings against Wendy Alexander in connection with her refusal to delay a press conference with the new chief executive of visitscotland. The press conference proved to be an embarrassment when it emerged that Mr Lynch was about to holiday in America. This followed a similar embarrassment earlier in the month when Alastair Morrison, the Minister for Tourism, had gone on holiday to Italy after urging Scots to holiday at home.
On 23 April, Wendy Alexander was criticised when it emerged that Mr Lynch had been discharged as chief executive of visitscotland four days after being chosen for the post when it was discovered that his contract with visitscotland would allow him to remain in part-time employment with an air freight company in England.
On 24 April, following Motorola's announcement that it would be closing its Bathgate factory with a loss of 3,100 jobs, Wendy Alexander made a ministerial statement that the Scottish Executive would be taking steps to recover the £16.75 million in regional selective assistance payments made to the company over the last 6 years and that they would do everything possible to help those affected by the company's closure.
6 May will mark the second anniversary of the election to the Scottish Parliament. An occasion which has been used by all the political parties to chart the progress that the Parliament has made in the last two years.
There was a two-week recess from 9 to 20 April when Parliament and committees did not meet.
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On 3 April the Equal Opportunities Committee issued a questionnaire asking for views from individuals or organisations on the Scottish Executive's draft expenditure report.
On 9 April the Enterprise Committee published a report on vehicle fuel prices in rural areas, which recommended reducing road tax for all vehicles registered in the Scottish Islands to offset higher fuel prices in these areas.
On 24 April following events at the Bathgate Motorola factory, the European Committee agreed to an urgent consultation on the rights of workers to be informed and consulted on plans for redundancies, closures and mergers. The Committee will consult with union and other industrial/commerce bodies to seek their views on the terms of the draft European Directive which foresees time for re-skilling and re-training before closures or redundancies are agreed.
On 26 April the Finance Committee announced an inquiry into the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP). The Committee's principal role is to direct the Parliament's scrutiny of the Scottish Executive's expenditure proposals.
Research opportunities
The Scottish Parliament has a budget for commissioning research for Parliamentary committees and holds a database for 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/whats_happening/news-00/pa00-039.htm
The Scottish Executive Development Department is holding a seminar on 15 May 2001 (venue Victoria Quay, Edinburgh) to publicise their research requirements for the coming year in the area of social justice and to provide an opportunity for researchers to have an input to the medium to longer-term research planning in support of the Department's work.
(To book a place contact:Lorraine Curran, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit Fax: 0131 244 7573)
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:
Consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) Bill: letter inviting views on draft bill proposing a four-year term for councils and to combine local government elections with those for the Scottish Parliament, including putting back the next local government elections to 2003. 30.4.01.
Scottish Executive Development Department Research 2001-2002: information on the research which the Department commissions (transport, housing, social justice, equalities and regeneration, local government, planning and building). 10.4.01
Environment Group Research Programme 2001-2002: information on the research which the Group commissions (environment protection, countryside and natural heritage, water services, air, climate and engineering and ecological advice). 10.4.01
Rural Development Committee Report on the Impact of Changing Employment Pattenrs in Rural Scotland, January 2001 - Scottish Executive Response. (19.4.01)
Working Group on a Replacement for Poinding and Warrant Sale - Comparative Study of Foreign Legal Systems, Second Report: study of how enforcement against corporeal moveable property is carried out in Australia, France, Sweden and England and Wales. 20.4.01
Draft National Care Standards: Second Tranche: consultation papers covering residential accommodation, people with learning disabilities, people with physical and sensory impairment, people with drug and alcohol problems, care at home. 30.4.01
Contact
Should you have any comments or enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Margaret MacPherson at the Institute of Governance.
This page was published on 29 October 2008