Issue 43 - February 2005

Events

1 February: Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister, announced that Scottish universities are to receive funding worth £103 million over the next two years to improve the quality of research facilities. The investment, which covers 2006-07 and 2007-08, is from the UK government's Science Research Investment Fund and includes £30 million from the Scottish Higher Education.

2 February: Margaret Curran, Minister for Parliamentary Business, stated that the Freedom of Information Scotland Act is starting to deliver benefits for the people in Scotland. Since the FOI came into force on January 1 the Executive and other Scottish public authorities have received requests for a wide range of information.

2 February: Peter Peacock, Minister for Education, announced the launch of an action group for tackling the need for more Gaelic medium teachers. The group will look at ways to promote Gaelic teacher recruitment and consider the existing routes into Gaelic medium teaching.

3 February: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, announced £8,087 billion in grant support for revenue expenditure for local authorities in 2005-06.

3 February: Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Enterprise, announced seven new grants totalling almost £250,000 which were awarded under the SCORE programme which helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) link up with research organisations and scientists.

3 February: £12 million funding was awarded to Scotland's four Regional Transport Partnerships to help improve public transport in their areas.

4 February: Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, welcomed a European Commission decision to protect Scotland's salmon farming industry against unfair competition. Following lobbying by the Executive, in partnership with the UK Government and the industry, the Commission has agreed to introduce definitive safeguard measures on imports of farmed salmon in the EU.

4 February: Jack McConnell, First Minister, announced the launch of a new festival aimed at promoting Scotland's creative design at home and abroad and backed by £3 million. Mr McConnell said that the '6 Cities Festival', beginning in 2007, will involve major creative design exhibitions and events in each of Scotland's six cities.

7 February: Jim Wallace, Enterprise Minister, announced funding of more than £900,000 to help small companies research and develop innovative products under the Executive's SMART: SCOTLAND scheme.

7 February: Johann Lamont, Deputy Minister for Communities, announced a package of new planning policies to stimulate more rural development, supporting people who live and work in rural areas as well as attracting newcomers.

8 February: launch of a Scottish Outdoor Code regarding new rights of access. The legal right to responsible access provides a duty on landowners to provide access to and across their land and gives people more freedom to enjoy the countryside.

8 February: Jack McConnell, First Minister, attended a reception in Glasgow to celebrate the Chinese New Year and outlined a programme of events to encourage more Scottish businesses to take advantage of the opportunities offered by China's growing economy.

9 February: Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Justice, announced a range of new measures to support the police in the fight against crime and better protect communities across Scotland. The proposals are set out in the consultation paper Supporting police, protecting communities (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/justice/sppc.pdf).

10 February: a cross party group of six MSPs left for a 10-day visit to South Africa and Malawi. The visit brought together Scottish and African parliamentarians with Scottish charities and other overseas aid and education organisations.

10 February: Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities, launched a new phase of the Executive's One Scotland Many Cultures campaign. The campaign involves television, cinema, radio and advertising on buses.

10 February: Tom McCabe, Minister of Finance and Public Service Reform, said that local authorities had set their council tax figures for 2005-06 in line with, or less than, their indicative figures announced last year. Mr McCabe said the Executive is committed to improving the delivery of public service and will work in partnership with local government to ensure that shared priorities are delivered. 14 February: Jack McConnell, First Minister, chaired Scotland's first national summit on sectarianism. Church leaders joined representatives from the Rangers and Celtic football clubs, their fans, loyalist and republican parading groups, police, councils, unions, business and the media at the University of Glasgow.

16 February: the Kyoto Protocol, which commits developed countries to individual, legally-binding targets to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emission, became legally binding. Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment, stressed the need for Scotland to continue its leading role in identifying sustainable solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

18 February: Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities, announced the Executive's support for Scotland as the host of Homeless World Cup '05.

21 February: Jack McConnell, First Minister, launched a public information campaign to help people use the new Antisocial Behaviour laws to stand up to nuisance neighbours and vandals. The awareness campaign, Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour, includes local newspaper, bus and radio advertising and an information leaflet for every home in the country.

23 February: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, announced details of the membership and remit of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee. The Committee, which will be chaired by Ian Livingstone CBE, is being established to consider all aspects of councillors' remuneration with a view to introducing new arrangements from 2007.

24 February: publication of the Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics for 2003-04. The key points are:

• a 3% increase in Gross Revenue Expenditure in 2003-04, to £14.9 billion;

• a 7.3% increase in total Revenue Income in 2003-04, to a total of £15.5 billion; and

• an 8.3% increase in Net Revenue Expenditure on General Fund services in 2003-04, to a total of £9.2 billion.

24 February: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, announced the first-ever investment plan setting out the Executive's long term plan for improving Scotland's public services and investment opportunities for business. Infrastructure Investment Plan: Investing in the Future of Scotland sets out detailed investment plans in schools, hospitals, housing and transport projects. The Executive will increase capital spending by 5% in real terms each year from 2005 to 2008.

28 February: publication of a report exploring the characteristics of each of the religion groups in Scotland using information collected from the 2001 Census in Scotland.

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Appointments

1 February: Nick Mardall was appointed to the Fisheries (Electricity) Committee. This Committee advises Ministers and the public on the effect of proposed hydro-electric power schemes on fisheries.

11 February: Dr Richard Holloway was appointed Chair of the Scottish Arts Council.

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Bills

2 February: the general principles of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, were agreed by Parliament. The objective of the Bill is to establish a body, B~rd na G^idhlig (the B~rd), to promote the use and understanding of the Gaelic language and enable the B~rd to require certain public bodies to prepare and implement plans which will set out how they will use the Gaelic language in the exercise of their functions.

9 February: the Water Services etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. Part 1 of the Bill replaces the Water Industry Commissioner with a body corporate, the Water Industry Commission, to improve the transparency, accountability and consistency of regulation in the water industry. Part 2 of the Bill makes a series of provisions regarding water and sewerage services.

9 February: the Budget (Scotland) (No 2) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament

23 February: the Fire (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The main purpose of this Bill is to deliver modernised fire and rescue services that respond to the particular demands of the 21st Century and contributes to building a safer Scotland.

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/parl_bus/bills/bill%20summaries.pdf

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Committees

7 February: the Education Committee launched an inquiry into the provision of pre-school education and care across Scotland.

9 February: the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee published a Preliminary Stage Report which concludes that the Bill proceed but identifies areas where further work is required. Line Two intends to run from Princes Street to Newbridge via the Airport.

9 February: publication of the Procedures Committee final report on the arrangements for oral questions in the Parliament. The report includes the following recommendations:

• First Minister's Question Time (FMQT) should be retained at 12 noon on Thursdays;

• A General Question Time of 20 minutes should be held immediately before FMQT;

• a separate Themed Question Time of 40 minutes should be held immediately after lunch on Thursdays; and

• a new system should be introduced for both General and Themed Question Time. Members' names rather than questions would be selected randomly two weeks in advance, with the Members chosen then having a week to lodge questions of their choice.

11 February: the European and External Relations Committee outlined the remit of its forthcoming inquiry into Scotland's contribution to the G8 Summit and the UK Presidency of the EU in 2005. The Committee is keen to determine what steps the Executive has undertaken to prepare for the G8 Summit and the EU Presidency, and what additional contributions the Committee can identify and recommend.

16 February: the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee accepted the general principles of the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill proposals. The Bill seeks to construct and operate a tram loop serving St Andrew Square, Leith, Granton and Haymarket.

21 February: the Justice 1 Committee published a report on rehabilitation in Scotland's prisons. The report raises concerns about the impact of budget savings on rehabilitation services, and criticises the current attitude that little or nothing can be done with short-term prisoners.

22 February: the Local Government and Transport Committee published a report backing the Executive's Transport (Scotland) Bill, which aims to introduce Regional Transport Partnerships, a Roadworks Commissioner and a nationwide concessionary travel scheme.

23 February: the Equal Opportunities Committee endorsed the general principles of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Bill.

24 February: the European and External Relations Committee published its report on 'Promoting Scotland Worldwide'. The inquiry examined the external relations policy, strategy and activities of the Scottish Executive in promoting Scotland in terms of its attractiveness to investors, economic partners, visitors and in education. Among other findings the Committee believes that the Executive should be more ambitious and effective in promoting Scotland abroad and that one lead minister would improve the focus and delivery of activities.

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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 www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/contracts/contract02-01.htm

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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 the last month include:

Consultation Document: Review of Distribution of Payments for Higher Education Student Support: this consultation seeks comments on a range of proposals designed to improve the distribution of payments of student support in Higher Education. 02/02/2005

Research on Approaches to Public Funding and Development of Tertiary Education Within Selected OECD Nations: this research provides international comparisons of modes of operation of HE and FE funding bodies. 02/02/2005

Part 1 Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003: Guidance for Local Authorities and National Park Authorities: guidance on duties and powers under the Act. 07/02/2005

The Office of the Permanent Secretary: high level business plan. 15/02/2005

Scottish Life Sciences Strategy - Achieving Critical Mass: industry led strategy setting out the vision for the life sciences sector for the next 15 years. 15/02/2005

Public Participation in Environmental Matters: A Consultation: this consultation seeks comments on proposals for public participation laws to be included in air quality, NVZ and pollution control legislation. 17/02/2005

Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 2003-04: an annual publication providing information on Scottish Local Authority income and expenditure, outstanding debt, and local taxes. 24/02/2005

Building a Better Scotland - Infrastructure Investment Plan: Investing in the Future of Scotland. 25/02/2005

Building the Best Small Country in the World - Attracting Fresh Talent to Scotland. 28/02/2005

Analysis of Responses to the Consultation Document 'Proposals to Revise Existing Animal Welfare Legislation': the consultation sought views on proposals to consolidate, amend and remedy defects in existing animal welfare legislation. 28/02/2005

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Links to other issues of Parliament News

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Contact

Should you have any comments or enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Margaret MacPherson at the Institute of Governance.