Issue 75 - May 2008

Events

1 May: Jim Mather, Energy Minister, announced that the Scottish Government has introduced a Legislative Consent Motion to allow for the introduction of a common framework across the UK for carbon capture and storage.  The UK Energy Bill will create a regulatory regime so that carbon captured in power stations or industry can be stored safely under the seabed - cutting emission by up to 90%.  The Scottish Government and UK Government will work on a Memorandum of Understanding on implementing the common framework and to jointly consult on regulations for the licensing regime this summer.

1 May: Jacques Barrot, the European Commision Vice President for Transport, visited Edinburgh on the invitation of Stuan Stevenson MEP.  During his visit Vice President Barrot visited the Scottish Parliament, the Forth Road Bridge, Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Inverkeithing, and Edinburgh airport.

3 May: Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business, spoke ahead of a Church of Scotland organised event to discuss the National Conversation on Scotland's constitutional future, and applauded the Church for upholding its tradition of helping shape the conscience of the nation. Mr Crawford said that during the second phase of the National Conversation they are talking to the main civic institutions of Scotland, and the Church of Scotland is one of the main voices of Scottish society.

7 May: Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health, announced that the additional £40 million per year identified by Lord Sutherland as vital for the delivery of free personal and nursing care across Scotland will be met by the Scottish Government. Ms Sturgeon also said that all twelve recommendations made by Lord Sutherland have been accepted by the Scottish Government.

7 May: Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe and External Affairs, announced details of the new International Development Policy. The International Development Policy comprises six distinct elements:

  • Malawi Development

  • Sub-Saharan Africa Development Programme - comprising block grants for Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sudan

  • Fair Trade Scotland

  • Core Funding for Scottish-Based Networking Organisations

  • Responses to International Humanitarian Disasters

  • Indian Subcontinent Development

12 May: Michael Russell, Minister for Environment, congratulated the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting for the radical approach it took in outlining its vision for the future of crofting in 21st century Scotland.  Mr Russell said the Government will now consider the recommendations of the report which include:

  • abolition of the Crofters' Commission and the creation of a new Federation of Local Crofting Boards;

  • all croft houses are tied to residency;

  • all sub-lets and tenancies should be approved by the Local Crofting Boards;

  • Registers of Scotland should be responsible for maintaining the register of crofts;

  • reviewing agricultural subsidies including Single Farm Payment, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and the Crofting Countries Agricultural Grant Scheme.

14 May: Alex Salmond, First Minister, made a statement to Parliament to mark the Scottish Government's first year in office.  Mr Salmond said the Government would bring forward a legislative programme in early September and noted their achievements in the first year which included: cutting business rates, freezing council tax, removing bridge tolls, abolishing the Graduate Endowment Fee.

14 May: Alex Salmond, First Minister, announced the beginning of a pilot scheme within one area of the Scottish Government, the effect of which will be to improve public access to Scottish Government information. The pilot will take place across the Environment portfolio and will substantially increase the amount of non-exempt information of 'corporate value' (ie forming part of the record of government work) made available proactively.

19 May: Richard Lochhead, Fisheries Secretary, went to Brussels to demand urgent talks with the UK Government over what can be done to help the Scottish fishing industry over increasing fuel prices.

20 May: the Scottish Government published the strategic business case for the Scottish Futures Trust to be supported by a new company established in the public sector to provide the schools, hospitals and transport infrastructure that Scotland needs, in a far more cost effective way compared to PFI.  Its objectives are:

  • to create a consistent Infrastructure Investment Plan based on ten-year investment strategies;

  • to optimise investment under the Prudential Code using new techniques such as future modelling, tax increment funding and developer contributions;

  • to form at least two 'community hubs', including primary/community care facilities;

  • to support the Scottish Funding Council in developing delivery and funding strategies for the Higher / Further Education sector;

  • to develop an approach under the 'Firm Foundations' policy to lever in more private sector investment into housing;

  • to develop an asset-based investment fund to support community regeneration;

  • to examine scope to reduce the cost of existing PFI contracts. SFT will have an important role to play in applying across the infrastructure landscape lessons in 'best practice';

  • to assist public sector to produce national strategies for the delivery and funding of schools, housing, waste and flood prevention investment;

  • to provide expert support for Gateway Reviews;

  • to advise Scottish Government and liaise with the market on strategic aspects of infrastructure investment, particularly market issues and capacity.

20 May: Stewart Maxwell, Communities Minister, joined Ministers from across the UK and Ireland at a meeting of the British Irish Council in Cardiff to discuss the main challenges and barriers to progress in tackling child poverty.   Mr Maxwell stated that the Scottish Government are currently preparing an anti-poverty framework with a target of increasing the proportion of income earned by the bottom 30% of Scotland's population by 2017.

21 May: at the All Energy 08 conference in Aberdeen Jim Mather, Energy Minister, said that Scotland is pushing ahead in its drive to become the green energy capital of Europe and said that the Scottish Government supports the EU target of 20% of Europe's energy coming from renewables by 2020, and that next year they will produce an action plan on rewnewable energy that will map how this can be achieved.

22 May: publication of research by the Scottish Centre for Social Research which showed:

  • 43% of people said the Scottish Government was good at listening to people, an increase of seven percentage points;

  • the proportion saying the Scottish Parliament gives Scotland a stronger voice in the UK has increased from 43% to 61%;

  • the proportion of people who thought the Scottish Parliament gives ordinary people more say in how Scotland is governed outweighed the proportion who thought it made no difference for the first time since 1999 - 47% compared to 45%

  • twice the level of trust in Scotland's Government compared to the Westminster Government.

23 May: Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary, announced that Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Paddy Tomkins, would carry out a review on how to ensure high profile police operations do not divert resources away from frontline policing in communities.  This follows the recommendation made in the Justice Committee's report on the Effective Use of Police Resources.

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Appointments

1 May: three new part-time members of the Scottish Commission for Human Rights were appointed: Prof Kay Hampton, Ms Shelagh McCall and Mr John McNeil.

22 May: Louise Martin was appointed as Chair of sportscotland.

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Bills

No Bills were passed by Parliament in May.

A summary of the Bills passed by the Parliament in the 1999-2003 and 2003-2007 sessions can be found on the Parliament website at

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsPassed/billsum-s1.htm

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsnotInProgress-s2/index.htm

 

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Committees

2 May: the Parliament's Justice Committee published a report that recommends Parliament agree to the general principles of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill but expresses reservations about the administrative and organisational responsibilities being placed on the Lord President.  The report also queries the proposal regarding direct authority for the Scottish Court Service being taken away from Scottish Ministers.

2 May: the Parliament's European and External Relations Committee published a report with the findings arising from a sixth month parliamentary inquiry into the 'transposition of EU directives' following concerns from business representatives and public bodies as to whether legislation from Europe adequately reflects Scottish interests and the needs of Scottish stakeholders.  The report emphasised that any attempt to influence the European legislative process requires engagement at a very early stage.

6 May: the Parliament's Audit Committee published a report stating that serious failures in running NHS Western Isles and a failure year after year to have in place adequate financial controls contributed to the financial failings at the board which had a cumulative deficit of £3.36 million at the end of the financial year 2006/07.

16 May: the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee published a report stating that a twenty-five year national, strategic 'road-map' for investment in flood management should be established by the Scottish Government.

22 May: launch of an inquiry by the Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee into 'Determining and Delivering Scotland's Energy Future' which will be asking industry, government and independent experts to come together so that they can establish what type of energy future Scotland needs and how exactly it can be achieved.

29 May: publication of a report by the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme Committee making recommendations to update pension and grants rules for MSP and office-holders.  The Committee set out detailed proposals and a draft bill to implement these changes.

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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 May 2008 include:

7 May: The Scottish Government's Plan for Engagement with China: document setting out the Government's aims and aspirations for engagement with China.

7 May: Scottish Government International Development Policy: the policy sets out the framework for Scotland's engagement with some of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and also recognises the Indian Subcontinent's strong links with Scotland.

9 May: Public Attitudes to Broadcasting in Scotland: to assist the Scottish Broadcasting Commission in their investigations of the role for broadcasting in Scotland's cultural life and broadcast journalism in Scotland, TNS System Three was commissioned to conduct research amongst a representative sample of the adult Scottish population.

20 May: Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust.

22 May: Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007: Core Module Report 1 - Attitudes to government in Scotland - Research Findings: summary of key findings from a report exploring trends in attitudes to government from 1999 to 2007.

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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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This page was published on 29 October 2008


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