Issue 47 - June 2005

Events

1 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, announced the creation of a National Fund, the Scottish Malawi Appeal Fund, to channel support to Malawi following his visit there. Mr McConnell made it clear that the fund is not part of government and will have no direct relationship to ministers or politicians.

1 June: Lewis Macdonald. Deputy Minister for Environment, launched The Horticultural Code of Practice for Scotland which calls on gardeners to act responsibly to protect Scotland's natural heritage and safeguard the economic and amenity value of the countryside. Mr Macdonald added that invasive non-native species are one of the single most important threats to biodiversity across the world, and they are putting Scotland's own unique natural heritage at risk.

2 June: publication of an interim report identifying performance improvements that NHS 24 needs to make. Andy Kerr, Minister for Health welcomed the interim report, available on-line at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/06/InterimReportNHS24, and said that NHS 24 have already taken steps to address some of the issued raised, and further action would be taken by the Executive, NHS 24 and health boards to deliver change based on the report.

6 June: Johann Lamont, Deputy Minister for Communities, launched Scotland's first Financial Inclusion Forum to ensure everyone has access to financial services, such as bank accounts and insurance. The Forum will come together through large annual events and smaller local networks in order to improve financial education and inclusion.

6 June: the Parliament welcomed more than 80 international parliamentarians and policy-makers to the G8 International Parliamentarians' Conference on Development in Africa 2005. The main issues of the conference agenda were HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health issues and the empowerment of women. Delegates debated the findings of the Report by the Commission for Africa, which was co-authored by Bob Geldof.

6 June: Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, announced a European funding package worth more than £8.7 million for some of Scotland's most remote communities.

6 June: George Reid, Presiding Officer, welcomed a delegation from the Parliament of Catalonia led by its President, the Rt Hon Ernest Benach i Pascual. The delegation met with the Convener and members of the European and External Relations Committee to discuss 'the Promotion of Catalonia to the Wider World' and the role sub-national parliaments play in influencing European decisions.

7 June: Hugh Henry, Deputy Minister for Justice, stated that a scheme designed to tackle crime and improve community safety in city centres is being extended into towns. The Safe City Centres Initiative (SCCI) was launched in 2003 and includes the introduction of safer parking facilities, better radio link systems and closer partnerships between the police, local authorities and business community. Pilot schemes are now running in 11 town centres throughout Scotland.

10 June: publication of the Working Group report on proposals to create Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to promote economic growth. The Working Group proposed two types of BID pilot projects, Pathfinders and a Demonstration Project. Pathfinders will be funded by the private section, with a small contribution from the Executive to cover start-up costs. Expressions of interest will be invited to take forward a Pathfinder project in each of the following categories:

• Prospering City Centre Area

• City Centre Renewal Area

• Prospering Town Centre

• Business Park/Science Campus

Demonstration projects will be fully funded by the Executive and will serve as an example of how BIDs can help to regenerate a medium-sized town centre in need of renewal.

10 June: Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Health, stated that the Executive has written to local authorities and care home owners to remind them of rules that exist to protect care home residents being charged 'top-up' fees. Ms Brankin took the action after the findings of a survey commissioned by the Executive to look at the use of top-up fees in care homes showed that in some areas a significant number of care home residents are paying top-up fees.

10 June: Jim Wallace, Minister for Lifelong Learning, announced that a fundamental and wide ranging review of further education is to be carried out. Mr Wallace said there would be four main pillars to this Further Education Review:

• the contribution the sector makes to Scotland's economy and society

• its strategic future over the next 10 to 20 years

• how governance and accountability might be strengthened

• opportunities to modernise and improve teaching methods and support the professionalism and development of staff.

15 June: Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, announced plans for Scotland to have its first Coastal Marine National Park by 2008. Scottish Natural Heritage will undertake a scoping and feasibility study into its future creation. They will be asked to work closely with stakeholder interests and to report to Ministers in early 2006 with an initial assessment of potential candidate areas.

15 June: Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Enterprise, said that companies in Scotland accepted £69.8 million worth of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant offers last year related to the creation or safeguarding of over 10,000 jobs. RSA is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry. It provides discretionary grants for investment projects that will create or safeguard jobs in Assisted Areas - areas designated for regional aid under European community law.

16 June: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, reassured members in the Parliament that Westminster proposals for an identity card scheme confine themselves to reserved policy areas only and that the Executive's position on the use of ID cards in Scotland has been very clear, i.e. that they do not wish to link them to the provision of devolved services and that any change in this position would require an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

16 June: Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, announced that the Fresh Talent initiative took another step forward when the UK Government laid regulations which will allow students to apply to stay and work in Scotland for two years after the end of their course without the need for a work permit.

17 June: Jim Wallace, Minister for Enterprise, launched a new green jobs strategy which sets out the real business opportunities for Scottish firms arising from the global shift towards a sustainable future. The strategy contains an implementation plan detailing actions for the Executive and other agencies.

20 June: Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister, said that the report published by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) sets out the progress which still needs to be made if Scotland is to meet our renewables targets. The report states that based on projections of future electricity demand, renewables generation totalling 6,000 MegaWatts of capacity will be needed to reach the target of generating 40% of Scotland's electricity by 2020.

21 June: at a meeting in Luxembourg, Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Development, said that the Council of Ministers agreed new Rural Development Regulations which will enhance the competitiveness of rural businesses, give scope for greater diversification and support environmental land management.

22 June: Jim Wallace, Minister for Lifelong Learning, launched a consultation to identify how access to further education can be improved for young people with the most complex needs. Local Authorities, Further Education Colleges, and young people and their parents/carers are being asked for their views on how the arrangements can be improved.

22 June: Jim Wallace handed over his resignation letter as Deputy First Minister. First Minister Jack McConnell accepted his resignation and officially bid him farewell following their last Cabinet meeting together.

22 June: Derek Brownlee, Conservative, was sworn in as an MSP at Holyrood. Mr Brownlee replaced David Mundell who is now an MP and who had resigned as an MSP on 17 June. Mr Brownlee's appointment follows official confirmation from the Returning Officer of the South of Scotland region that his was the next name on the Scottish Conservative Regional List from the 2003 election.

23 June: Nicol Stephen, Minister for Transport, was elected as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The Labour/Lib Dem coalition means that Mr Stephen becomes Deputy First Minister.

23 June: publication of the final report by the Cultural Commission on cultural provision in Scotland. Patricia Ferguson, Minister for Culture, welcomed the completion of the report and stated that she was pleased that the Commission had recommended the concept of cultural rights and entitlements which was a priority the Executive asked to be addressed. The Commission also recommended more links with the community planning process. Ms Ferguson stated that the Executive will consider in detail the broad range of issues and recommendations outlined by the Commission, and after the summer recess, they will have a Parliamentary debate on the way forward for Scotland's culture.

24 June: Peter Peacock, Minister for Education, urged local groups to apply for a share of the £300,000 Home Reading Initiative Small Grants Scheme. The grants for schools, nurseries and community groups provide start-up costs for sustainable projects that encourage home reading.

25 June: start of a major five-day international conference on criminal law in Edinburgh. The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC welcomed judges, legislators and his colleagues from criminal justice systems from around 40 countries in Africa, North America, Asia, Australasia and Europe, who will debate and listen to speakers on topics such as modernisation of criminal justice systems, models of international co-operation and asset confiscation.

28 June: publication of the Executive's strategy for the implementation of the UK Atkinson Review published in January. Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Reform stated that the strategy builds on the work done by the UK Atkinson Review and introduces enhanced measures of public sector activity specifically for Scotland and to improve the measurement of Gross Domestic Product.

28 June: publication of the report Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries which aims to make Scotland's fishing industry more competitive and market focussed. Mr Finnie stated that the most important measure will be policies to ensure stocks are fished sustainably and the framework sets out what steps should be taken. The launch of the Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries follows the announcement on the Executive's intention to create a Marine and Coastal National Park and the publication of A Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries in Scotland.

30 June: proposed water charges for the period 2006 to 2010 were released for consultation. Responding to publication of the Water Industry's Commissioner's (WIC) Draft Determination of Charges, Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Environment, welcomed the prospect of stable charges for Scottish Water customers,.

30 June: the Parliament endorsed a report by the Standards and Public Appointments Committee to apply sanctions in response to the conduct of four members of the Scottish Socialist Party and their protest earlier in the day in the Holyrood chamber. The report recommends that they should have no access to the parliamentary campus or the proceedings of Parliament for the month of September and no salary or allowances for the same period.

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Appointments

10 June: Malcolm Reed was appointed new Chief Executive of Scotland's National Transport Agency. The National Transport Agency for Scotland will start at the end of this year and be based in Glasgow.

22 June: Dr Harry Burns was appointed Scotland's new Chief Medical Officer.

24 June: Alan Sutherland was appointed Chief Executive of the new Water Industry Commission.

27 June: Jack McConnell, First Minister, and Nicol Stephen, Deputy First Minister, announced the following Cabinet reshuffle:

• Nicol Stephen, Deputy First Minister, was appointed Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning

• Tavish Scott was appointed Minister for Transport and Telecommunication (he was previously Deputy Minister for Finance)

• George Lyon joins the Cabinet as Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business

• Robert Brown joins the Cabinet as Deputy Minister for Education. He replaces Euan Robson who has now left the Cabinet.

The portfolios of Health and Environment were revised as follows:

• Rhona Brankin, previously Deputy Minister for Health, was moved to the post of Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs.

• Lewis Macdonald, previously Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, was moved to the post of Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care.

30 June: Nora Radcliffe, Lib Dem, was elected as the new member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB). Ms Radcliffe, MSP for Gordon, replaces Robert Brown

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Bills

2 June: the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The primary objective of this Bill is to better protect children from sex offenders.

9 June: the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The objective of the Bill is to ensure there is a robust, proportionate and transparent regulatory framework that satisfies public interest in the effective regulation of charities in Scotland and meets the needs of the Scottish charity sector.

16 June: the general principles of the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. The main objective of the Bill is to improve the management of offenders through greater integration of the activities of criminal justice agencies with the ultimate aim of reducing levels of reoffending in Scotland.

16 June: the general principles of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. The purpose of the Bill is to improve protection of the environment through better public decision making.

22 June: the general principles of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. There are four key issues that underline the approach the Executive has taken in proposing the new licensing system for Scotland. These are: reducing underage drinking, reducing binge drinking, providing a voice for communities, and modernisation.

29 June: the general principles of the Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 were agreed by Parliament. The main objective of the Bill is to improve the condition and quality of private sector housing. The Bill also has the further objective of extending the protection for occupiers of mobile homes who let stances.

29 June: the Transport (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The main objective of the Bill is in line with that set out by the White Paper for transport as a whole: "to promote economic growth, social inclusion, health and protection of our environment through a safe, integrated and efficient transport system".

30 June: the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 was passed by Parliament. The key objective of the Bill is to introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in certain wholly enclosed premises. The Bill also makes provision for the introduction of free eye and dental checks for all, and modernises the frameworks for the delivery of dental and pharmaceutical services.

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

1 June: publication of a report by the Audit Committee stating that Scotland lacks a clear strategy for improving performance and driving large scale reform in the NHS in Scotland. The Committee concluded by stating that some key service areas may be costing more but delivering less. The Committee also stated that it is not convinced that the new contractual arrangements for consultants represents good value for money for the service in Scotland.

6 June: publication of Justice 2 Committee's report regarding an inquiry into youth justice which highlights gaps apparent in some crucial services, particularly diversionary services, mental health services and addiction services.

7 June: the Environment and Rural Development Committee endorsed the general principles of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill. The Bill replaces the existing regulations on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and extends the scope of SEA to cover a wider range of strategies, plans and programmes. The aim of the Bill is to improve environmental protection by integrating environmental factors into strategic decision-making.

8 June: the Justice 2 Committee published a report broadly welcoming the general principles of the Executive's Management of Offenders Bill. The Bill aims to reduce levels of reoffending and improve the management of offenders by greater integration of the work of the criminal justice agencies.

13 June: the Local Government and Transport Committee published a report welcoming the proposed end of pub 'happy hours' and recommending approval of the general principles of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill.

22 June: the Communities Committee published its Stage 1 Report on the Housing (Scotland) Bill, calling on the Executive to amend the bill to ensure that disabled people in Scotland are not disadvantaged in comparison to those living in other parts of the UK. The Committee also calls for more information on the proposal to introduce a mandatory 'single survey' when houses are being sold.

22 June: the Procedures Committee launched a major new inquiry entitled A Review of Parliamentary Time to consider how effectively the time available for Chamber and Committee business from Tuesday to Thursday is distributed and used.

30 June: the Subordinate Legislation Committee published a report stating that the Executive should be doing more to produce and promote better regulation in Scotland. With this objective the Committee has called for the relocation of the Executive's Improving Regulation Unit to the Office of the First Minister. The report also recommends that the Unit's powers be extended to allow it to assess standards of regulation (also known as subordinate legislation) across the full range of Executive responsibilities. The report follows a year long review by the Committee of the regulatory framework in Scotland, which aimed to find out what scope existed to improve devolved regulation and to consider the wider implications for parliamentary scrutiny.

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

Scottish Household Survey: Your Questions Answered: Scottish Household Survey Leaflet. 01/06/2005

Education Department: Departmental Business Delivery and Improvement Plan 2005-06. 01/06/2005

Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2002. 01/06/2005

Interim Report: Review of NHS 24. 02/06/2005

Supporting Police, Protecting Communities: Proposals for Legislation - responses to the consultation. 03/06/2005

Review of Distribution of Payments for Higher Education Student Support: An Analysis of the Consultation Responses. 03/06/2005

Helping Meet the Costs of Learning: Students With Dependent Children 2005 - 2006: a guide to the funding available to learners with dependent children. 10/06/2005

Scotland's Renewable Energy Potential: Realising the 2020 Target - Future Generation Group Report. 17/06/2005

National Dossier on Education and Training in Scotland 2005: the National Dossier is a comprehensive and up-to-date description of all sectors of the education and training system in Scotland, including policy developments and current reforms. It is published annually by SEED New Educational Developments Division and is part funded through the EU's EURYDICE network for information on the education systems of Europe - www.eurydice.org. 17/06/2005

Helping You Meet the Costs of Learning: Support Available for Part-Time Students: a guide to the funding available for part-time learning. 17/06/2005

Going For Green Growth: A Green Jobs Strategy for Scotland. 17/06/2005

Implementing the Atkinson Review in Scotland: document setting out the Executive's strategy for taking forward the principles and recommendations of the Atkinson Review in Scotland. 27/06/2005

Cultural Commission Final Report. 23/06/2005

Scottish Agriculture: A Guide to Grants and Services June 2005: information & advice on grants and services available from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Dept. 23/06/2005

A Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries 2005: Sea Fisheries Strategy Document. 28/06/2005

The Smoking, Health And Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Draft) Responses to the Consultation. 30/06/2005

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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.