Scottish Parliament, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba’

Summary

Week beginning – 23 March 2009

This weekly news bulletin provides an ‘at a glance guide’ to the week ahead in the Scottish Parliament.

It includes both Main Chamber and Committee business, and is issued every week, except when the Parliament is in recess.

All proceedings in the Main Chamber, Committee Rooms and committee meetings outwith Edinburgh can be viewed, or listened to, live via webcast at: www.holyrood.tv.

Points to note

A new quotation is to be added to the Canongate Wall at Holyrood to mark a decade of devolution. Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP today launched the hunt to find a new addition to the 24 quotes already in place on the Wall.

Members of the public are asked to suggest a piece of writing by a living, deceased or even anonymous writer that highlights ideas or values relevant to Scotland. The winning quotation will be carved in the Wall alongside the existing 24 quotations, many of which commemorate the work of Scotland’s leading writers.

To find out more about the project, please visit:   www.scottish.parliament.uk/canongatewall.

Here you will be able to read about the existing quotations, watch a short video feature about the Canongate Wall and suggest a quotation using the online form or downloadable postcard.  Alternatively, contact the Public Information Service and we will send you a postcard.

 

Meetings of the Parliament

 

Wednesday 25 March 2009

2.30 pm Time for Reflection – Rev Dr W Graham Monteith, Secretary, Scottish Churches’ Disability Agenda Group

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Review of Section 6 of the Code of Conduct (Cross-Party Groups) (for text of motion see S3M-3755 in Section F of the Business Bulletin)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Changes to the Code of Conduct Arising from the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme (for text of motion see S3M-3756 in Section F of the Business Bulletin)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Review of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct (for text of motion see S3M-3757 in Section F of the Business Bulletin)

followed by Announcement of Appointment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Local Government Finance Act 1992 (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009 (for text of motion see S3M-3707 in Section F of the Business Bulletin)

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business – S3M-3622 Bill Butler: Drumchapel is Top of the Table (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin)

 

Thursday 26 March 2009

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: The NHS and the Independent Sector

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Alcohol Strategy

11.40 am General Question Time (for text of questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 19 March 2009)

12 noon First Minister’s Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time

Rural Affairs and the Environment;
Justice and Law Officers (for text of questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 19 March 2009)

2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Supporting Economic Recovery

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business – S3M-3349 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Earth Hour 2009 (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin)

 

Committee meetings

 

Justice Committee

24 March 2009

10th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.15 am in Committee Room 2

1.      Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the High Court of Justiciary Fees Amendment Order 2009 (SSI 2009/87); the Court of Session etc. Fees Amendment Order 2009 (SSI 2009/88); the Sheriff Court Fees Amendment Order 2009 (SSI 2009/89) and take evidence from—

Gordon Wales, Director of Operational Support, Scottish Court Service.

2.      Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—

the Police Grant (Scotland) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/80);

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2009 (SSI 2009/81).

3.      Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2 (Day 2).

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 31 March, it is expected that the Committee will consider the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 (Day 3).

 

Equal Opportunities Committee

24 March 2009

5th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.30 am in Committee Room 1

1.      Choice of Deputy Convener: The Committee will choose a Deputy Convener.

2.      Scottish Government’s Race Equality Statement: The Committee will take evidence from—

Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities, Kelly Abel, Policy Officer, Equality Unit, Lesley Irving, Team Leader, Equality Unit, and Paul Wood, Policy Officer, Equality Unit, Scottish Government.

3.      Female offenders in the criminal justice system inquiry (in private): The Committee will consider a timetable for taking oral evidence on its inquiry into female offenders in the criminal justice.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 21 April, it is expected that the Committee will take oral evidence on its female offenders in the criminal justice system inquiry.

 

Review of SPCB Supported Bodies Committee

24 March 2009

5th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.30 am in Committee Room 4

1.      Review of SPCB Supported Bodies (in private): The Committee will consider the main themes from the evidence.

Not before 12:00 PM

2.      Review of SPCB Supported Bodies: The Committee will take evidence from—

John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, Tom Harvie-Clark, Head of Water Industry Branch, and Gordon Kilpatrick, Head of Sponsorship and Review - Offender Management, Scottish Government.

3.      Review of SPCB Supported Bodies (in private): The Committee will consider the main themes arising from the evidence.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 21 April, it is expected that the Committee will consider a draft report on its inquiry.

 

Finance Committee

24 March 2009

8th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 1

1.      Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 6 in private.

2.      Public sector pay: The Committee will take evidence from—

Richard Ackroyd, Chief Executive, and Ronnie Mercer, Chair, Scottish Water;

Alistair Brown, Head of Expenditure Policy Division, and Lesley Doherty, Assistant Head of Pay Policy, Scottish Government;

Richard Leonard, Scottish Organiser, GMB;

Dave Watson, Scottish Organiser, Policy, UNISON;

Gordon Weir, Director of Corporate Services, Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.

3.      Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the Financial Memorandum of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill.

4.      Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the Financial Memorandum of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill.

5.      Hybrid bills: The Committee will consider correspondence received from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

6.      Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.

7.      Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on the Financial Memorandum of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill.

8.      Review of the budget process (in private): The Committee will consider how to proceed with the review.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee

24 March 2009

11th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 2.15 pm in Committee Room 5

1.      Arbitration (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1.

2.      Instruments subject to annulment: The Committee will consider the following—

the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/85);

the Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Limited Registration Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/90);

the Regulation of Care (Fitness of Employees in Relation to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/91);

the Bankruptcy Fees (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/97);

the Repayment of Student Loans (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/102);

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Shorthand Writers in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2009 (SSI 2009/103);

the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Participating Countries) (Scotland) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/106);

the Enforcement of Fines etc. (Diligence) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/110).

3.      Instruments not laid before the Parliament: The Committee will consider the following—

Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session Amendment No. 3) (Diligence) 2009 (SSI 2009/104);

Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session Amendment No.4) (Fees of Shorthand Writers) 2009 (SSI 2009/105);

Act of Sederunt (Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (Diligence) 2009 (SSI 2009/107);

Act of Adjournal (Amendment of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995) (Appeals by Stated Case) 2009 (SSI 2009/108);

Act of Sederunt (Summary Applications, Statutory Applications and Appeals etc. Rules) Amendment (Employment Tribunals Act 1996) 2009 (SSI 2009/109).

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 31 March, it is expected that the Committee will consider Scottish statutory instruments and other documents subject to parliamentary procedure.

 

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

24 March 2009

5th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 2.45 pm in Committee Room 6

1.      Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2.      Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether its consideration of its review of Section 2 of the Code of Conduct at its next meeting should be taken in private.

3.      Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner: The Committee will consider a report from the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

4.      Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme and correspondence received.

5.      Accuracy of contributions in parliamentary proceedings (in private): The Committee will consider a note by the Clerk.

6.      Review of equalities in the work of committees (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 28 April, it is expected that the Committee will consider evidence on its Hybrid Bills inquiry.

 

Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee

25 March 2009

11th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 6

1.      Determining and delivering Scotland’s energy future (in private): The Committee will agree lines of questioning.

Not before 10:00 AM

2.      Determining and delivering Scotland’s energy future: The Committee will take evidence on financing and investing in energy projects from—

Andrew King, Chair, Energy4All Limited;

Chris Cook, Consultant, Nordic Enterprise Trust;

Charles Yates, Associate Director, Grant Thornton.

3.      Determining and delivering Scotland’s energy future: The Committee will consider the progress to date with the Committee’s inquiry and what, if any, further evidence is required.

4.      Budget process 2009-10 (Stage 2): The Committee will discuss the response of the Scottish Government to the Committee’s report on the Draft Budget 2009-10.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 1 April, it is expected that the Committee will take evidence on tourism.

 

Public Audit Committee

25 March 2009

6th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 4

1.      Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.

2.      Overview of local authority audits: The Committee will receive a briefing on the overview of local authority audits 2008 from —

John Baillie, Chair, Accounts Commission;

Caroline Gardner, Deputy Auditor General and Controller of Audit, and Gordon Smail, Portfolio Manager (Local Government), Audit Scotland.

3.      Section 23 report: The Committee will take evidence on the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "The First ScotRail rail passenger franchise" from—

Guy Houston, former Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Transport Scotland;

and then from—

Sir John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary, and Paul Gray, Director of Change and Corporate Services, Scottish Government.

4.      Scottish Government response: The Committee will consider a response from the Accountable Officer on the Committee’s report entitled "Review of palliative care services in Scotland".

5.      Consideration of approach: The Committee will consider the evidence taken at item 3 and consider the next steps in its inquiry.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 22 April, it is expected that the Committee will consider further briefings from the Auditor General for Scotland in relation to reports he has recently published.

 

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee

25 March 2009

10th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1

1.      Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 1 April, it is expected that the Committee will consider subordinate legislation.

 

Health and Sport Committee

25 March 2009

10th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2

1.      Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services: The Committee will take evidence, in a round-table discussion, from—

Ruth Stark, Social Worker, Professional Officer, British Association of Social Workers;

Benjamin Napier, Childline Services Manager, Edinburgh, and Julie Burns, Childline Counselling Supervisor, Children 1st;

Heather Muir, Head of House, Falkirk High School;

Julie Thomson, Senior Co-ordinator, Home-Start Angus;

Graeme Rizza, Area Manager, Central Moray Children and Families Team, The Moray Council;

Kate Dumigan, Public Health Nurse, NHS Highland;

Susan Kayes, Public Health Nurse Team Leader, and Jacqueline Kerr, Public Health Nurse Team Leader, NHS Lanarkshire;

Joan Hoggan, Principal Teacher of Pastoral Care, Smithycroft Secondary School;

Brian Cooklin, Headteacher, Stonelaw High School;

Rosemary Howe, Group Manager, Specialist Services and Social Policy, West Lothian Council;

and will then take evidence from the following former members of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme core working group on child and adolescent mental health—

Dr Graham Bryce, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde;

Mary Gallagher, Operations Manager Children and Families, East Renfrewshire Community Health and Care Partnership;

Dr Margaret Hannah, Acting Director of Public Health, NHS Fife;

Dr Elaine Lockhart, Consultant Psychiatrist for Children and Young People, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow;

Dr Philip Wilson, General Practitioner and Senior Research Fellow, General Practice and Primary Care, University of Glasgow.

2.      Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments––the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/86);

the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/96).

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 1 April, it is expected that the Committee will take oral evidence on its mental health services inquiry.

 

The Committee will continue to take evidence on its inquiry at subsequent meetings.

 

Local Government and Communities Committee

25 March 2009

9th Meeting, 2009

 

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5

1.      Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Tom Aitchison, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives;

Andy O’Neill, Head of Office, The Electoral Commission;

Billy Pollock, Chairman, Association of Electoral Administrators;

and then from—

Dave Watson, Scottish Organiser (Policy), UNISON.

2.      Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—

the Registration Services (Fees, etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/64);

the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Fees) (Scotland) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/65);

the Non-Domestic Rating (Payment of Interest) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/76).

3.      Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme.

4.      Child poverty in Scotland (in private): The Committee will consider the main themes arising from the inquiry.

 

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 1 April, it is expected that the Committee will take oral evidence on the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill at Stage 1 from Bruce Crawford MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business.