Document 1180

Scottish Parliament: Business Bulletin 11/1999

Author(s): Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Copyright holder(s): Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: © Scottish Parliamentary copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Queen's Printer for Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

BUSINESS BULLETIN 11/1999

Monday 7 June 1999



Section B – Business Programme

Section E - New written questions lodged on Friday 4 June 1999

Section F - Motions and Amendments



BUSINESS BULLETIN 11/1999

Monday 7 June 1999

Section B – Business Programme


Tuesday 8 June 1999

Meeting of the Parliament

2.30 pm
Motion(s) on the establishment of Committees

followed by

Motion on Members’ Allowances

5.00 pm
Decision Time

Wednesday 9 June 1999

Meeting of the Parliament

10.30 am
Debate(s) on the Consultative Steering Group report and draft Information Strategy.

followed by

Business motion (followed immediately by decision on the business motion)

followed by:

Motion by Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau:

S1M-34 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf on the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Parliament agrees that – (1) the Office of the Clerk should be open on each of the following days: Monday 21 to Friday 25 June and Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July and (2) the summer recess should begin on Friday 2 July 1999 after the business of that day has been concluded and should end on Monday 30 August 1999, with the next meeting of the Parliament being held on or after Tuesday 31 August 1999.

12.30 pm
Decision Time



BUSINESS BULLETIN 11/1999

Monday 7 June 1999

Section E – New written questions lodged on Friday 4 June 1999


S1W-42 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek information from Her Majesty’s Government on any derogations from the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) which were sought for areas of high natural dispersion and, if so, whether it will make this information available.

S1W-43 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish a map of the European Union showing those areas in respect of which valid derogations have been granted from the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) as areas of high natural dispersion.


BUSINESS BULLETIN 11/1999

Monday 7 June 1999

Section F – Motions and amendments


*S1M-36 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Parliament agrees the following business programme:


Wednesday 16 June 1999

2.30 pm Statement by the First Minister and debate on the Executive’s legislative proposals

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by
Members’ Business


Thursday 17 June 1999

9.30 am Continuation of debate on the proposed legislative programme

followed by
Executive Business

followed by
no later than 12.20 pm

business motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.00 pm Open Question Time

followed by
No later than 3.15 pm

Debate on S1M-2 (Mr Jim Wallace)

followed by
motion proposing establishment of committees (to be taken
without debate)

5.00 pm Decision Time



*S1M-35 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Parliament agrees the following amendment to the business set out in the business motion agreed by the Parliament on Wednesday 2 June;

Tuesday 8 June 1999

Immediately after Decision Time, a debate on the subject of S1M-24 (Dr Sylvia Jackson) to be taken as Members’ Business and to be concluded without any question being put no later than 30 minutes after its commencement;

Wednesday 9 June 1999

At 10.30 am, a statement by the First Minister on legislation in the UK Parliament about devolved matters followed no later than 11.00 am by a debate on the Consultative Steering Group report and draft Information Strategy;

the remaining business to remain as set out in the business motion of 2 June.



S1M-33 Richard Lochhead: That the Parliament agrees to establish the principle that the operations of the Scottish Administration together with non-departmental bodies should be decentralised where practicable; recognises the economic, democratic and other benefits associated with decentralising the Scottish Administration throughout Scotland’s towns and cities; and calls upon the Parliamentary Bureau to lodge a motion to establish a cross-party committee to investigate the feasibility of a programme of decentralisation. (lodged on 3 June 1999)

Supported by: Shona Robison, John Young, Bruce Crawford, Irene McGugan, Brian Adam, Mr Kenneth Gibson*



S1M-32 Mr Alex Salmond: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to publish the draft concordats with Westminster Departments, to undertake a meaningful consultation exercise with the various political groups in the Parliament and other interested parties and to report on the outcome of the consultation exercise before the end of busines on 2 July.

Supported by: Bruce Crawford, Roseanna Cunningham, Michael Russell, John Swinney



S1M-31 Mr Keith Raffan: That the Parliament notes the positive impact which the provision of effective drug treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare programmes have in improving health and reducing crime by helping drug addicts into recovery and enabling them to become full, active and contributing members of the community; calls upon the Scottish Ministers to progressively redirect resources towards effective treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare programmes; and further calls upon the Scottish Ministers to establish in each Scottish prison, during the next year, professionally run, comprehensive drug treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare programmes to support drug-misusing prisoners into recovery.

Supported by: Donald Gorrie, Mike Rumbles, Tavish Scott, Euan Robson, Ian Jenkins, George Lyon, Margaret Smith



S1M-24 Dr Sylvia Jackson: That the Parliament:

(a) recognises the importance of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the first National Park in Scotland, as an area to be maintained as one of outstanding natural beauty and for potential in terms of social and economic development.

(b) calls upon the Scottish Executive to bring forward the necessary legislation in relation to the setting up of the first National Park for Scotland at the earliest opportunity. (lodged on 1 June 1999)

Supported by: Ms Margaret Curran, Johann Lamont, Mike Watson



S1M-23 Tommy Sheridan: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to introduce a pensioners’ charter in Scotland which will provide for free fuel, public transport, TV licences and local authority rent exemption for all pensioners. (lodged on 1 June 1999)



S1M-22 Tommy Sheridan: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to publish, as soon as possible, a comprehensive ‘State of the Nation Audit’ for Scotland which assesses the level of poverty among children, pensioners and families and includes statistics in relation to the number of unemployed, low-paid, homeless and socially disadvantaged and that when completed the results of the audit be presented to the Parliament and reviewed annually thereafter in the light of updated information. (lodged on 1 June 1999)

Supported by: Andrew Wilson



S1M-21 Tommy Sheridan: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to investigate, as soon as possible, the option of abolishing the Council Tax and replacing it with a more progressive form of local tax from which pensioners, students, the disabled and the unemployed would be exempt. (lodged on 1 June 1999)



S1M-20 Tommy Sheridan: That the Parliament in the light of the de facto amnesty in England and Wales, calls upon the Scottish Ministers to grant a poll tax (Community Charge) amnesty in relation to outstanding arrears in recognition of the severe poverty which affects the majority of debtors in Scotland. (lodged on 1 June 1999)



S1M-18 Robin Harper: That the Parliament recognises the widespread opposition to growing genetically modified crops, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to urgently initiate legislation to be laid before the Parliament for an immediate open-ended moratorium on the planting of genetically modified crops in Scotland. (lodged on 1 June 1999)

Supported by: Kenny MacAskill, Duncan Hamilton



S1M-16 Alex Johnstone: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to:

(a) ensure that the Beef Bone Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2959) are amended to allow the sale of beef on the bone in Scotland by adopting the recommendations of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) that research findings be made public, along with a risk assessment, allowing consumers to choose what precautions to take; and

(b) enter into discussion with their counterparts in Westminster and Cardiff with a view to the foregoing being adopted throughout the United Kingdom, thus restoring a single market in the sale of beef. (lodged on 27 May 1999)



S1M-15 Mr David Davidson: That the Parliament agrees that the current expensive implementation proposals for the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), in so far as they apply to the Scottish fish processing industry, will effectively close many of the three hundred Scottish companies engaged in the industry, which provide around ten thousand skilled jobs; and calls upon the Scottish Ministers to delay the implementation for at least one year, to allow for proper consideration of the technical review currently being undertaken to produce cost effective solutions for the industry, and to allow for the development of effective affordable solutions enabling the industry to continue as a major employer in Scotland. (lodged on 26 May 1999)

Supported by: Mr Jamie McGrigor, Phil Gallie, Mr Nick Johnston, Miss Annabel Goldie, Alex Fergusson, Bill Aitken



S1M-15.1 Richard Lochhead: As an amendment to the motion (S1M-00015) in the name of David Davidson, add at end: "The Parliament also notes the different approaches, levels of financial assistance and timescales being adopted in relation to the implementation of the Directive throughout Europe and recognises that this uneven playing field leaves the Scottish industry at a severe disadvantage. In reaching a solution, the Parliament calls upon the North of Scotland Water Authority to: (a) enter into regular and constructive dialogue with the fish processing industry and (b) avoid building plants which would create an over-capacity in waste water treatment facilities if processors build their own.

Supported by: Andrew Welsh, Irene McGugan, Duncan Hamilton, Shona Robison, Alex Salmond



S1M-14 Mr Kenneth Gibson: That the Parliament notes with concern the progress through the House of Commons of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill, particularly clauses 53, 54 and 56 as they affect the rights of people in Scotland to essential benefits such as Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance; notes with regret that it has no direct competence over such a vital area of public concern; commends those members of the Parliament who were able to vote in the House of Commons against this regressive legislation and in favour of disabled people’s rights; and instructs the Presiding Officer to convey to the Disability Benefits Consortium and others campaigning on this issue the Parliament’s view that clauses 53, 54 and 56 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill are both regressive and detrimental to a vulnerable section of Scottish society. (lodged on 26 May 1999)

Supported by: Christine Graham, John Swinney, Roseanna Cunningham, Gil Paterson, Kay Ullrich, Fiona McLeod, Fiona Hyslop, Alex Neil, Fergus Ewing



S1M-13 Mr Alex Salmond: That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Ministers to ensure that the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2959) cease to have effect in Scotland and the necessary process be set in place as soon as the Scottish Ministers take up their full powers on 1 July 1999. (lodged on 26 May 1999)

Supported by: John Swinney, Alasdair Morgan, Fergus Ewing, Andrew Welsh, Bruce Crawford, Andrew Wilson



S1M-13.1 George Lyon: As an amendment to the motion (S1M-13) in the name of Alex Salmond, leave out all after "as soon as" and insert "latest medical advice indicates that it would be safe to do so and in that context

(a) asks the Chief Medical Officer to come to Parliament to be questioned and

(b) asks Scottish Ministers to keep the Parliament fully informed of the wider implications for the Scottish beef industry of any premature decision." (lodged on 27 May 1999)

Supported by Mike Rumbles, Tavish Scott, Robert Brown, Euan Robson



S1M-12 David Mundell: That the Parliament notes with regret the loss of 99 jobs in Dumfries with the closure of the Nestlé factory, in addition to over 2000 jobs lost in Dumfries and Galloway in the past two years and the predicted loss of 1700 jobs in the agricultural sector there in the next two years, and requests the Scottish Executive to take all the necessary steps to support and promote economic development in the South of Scotland, including, as a matter of urgency, the establishment of an Executive led Task Force to tackle the current employment crisis. (lodged on 24 May 1999)

Supported by: Alex Fergusson, Murray Tosh, Phil Gallie



S1M-12.1 Dr Elaine Murray: As an amendment to the motion (S1M-12) in the name of David Mundell, leave out "predicted" and insert "potential". (lodged on 3 June 1999)



S1M-12.2 Dr Elaine Murray: As an amendment to the motion (S1M-00012) in the name of David Mundell, leave out from "including" to end and insert "and agrees as a matter of urgency to establish a committee with a remit to investigate the current crisis in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors in the South of Scotland and to develop long term strategies to overcome the economic problems of the region." (lodged on 3 June 1999)



S1M-11 Donald Gorrie: That the Parliament should establish a committee to review and report back urgently on the current position regarding the new Parliament building and the options now open to the Parliament for its present location and the plans for the Holyrood site, so that the Parliament can give directions to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in its work on Parliamentary accommodation. (lodged on 21 May 1999)

Supported by: Margo McDonald, Keith Raffan, Fergus Ewing, Nick Johnston, Phil Gallie, Lynsay McIntosh, David Davidson, Murray Tosh, Alex Fergusson, Ben Wallace, James Douglas-Hamilton, Annabel Goldie, David McLetchie, Alex Johnstone, Mary Scanlon, David Mundell, Brian Monteith, Keith Harding, Bill Aitken, Jamie McGrigor, Mike Rumbles, John Young, Robin Harper



S1M-7 Andrew Wilson: That the Parliament:

resolves that Scotland’s Parliament must extend the reach of its democratic work around Scotland. The Parliament can provide living and breathing evidence of our new democracy across all the communities of Scotland;

calls on the Parliamentary Bureau to establish the principle of devolving the work of the Parliament to locations around Scotland by recommending a programme of meetings for the Parliament’s committees at locations encompassing a wide geographical coverage of Scotland;

calls on the Parliamentary Bureau to identify which committees of the Parliament can be based at locations outwith the Parliament campus on a permanent basis. (lodged on 18 May 1999)

Supported by: Michael Russell, Duncan Hamilton, Nicola Sturgeon, Donald Gorrie, John McAllion, Ben Wallace, James McGrigor, John Swinney, Jamie Stone, Allan Wilson, Dennis Canavan, Alex Fergusson, Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lochhead, Brian Adam, Andrew Welsh, Bill Aitken, Robin Harper, Irene McGugan, Linda Fabiani, Shona Robison



S1M-2 Mr Jim Wallace: That the Parliament recognises the widespread opposition to tuition fees, the growing importance of lifelong learning to Scotland’s society and economy and the wide range of circumstances of those engaged in lifelong learning; and calls upon the Scottish Executive once established to appoint urgently a committee of inquiry on the issue of tuition fees and financial support for those participating, part-time or full-time, in further and higher education; the terms of reference, timescale and membership of that committee to be approved by and its report laid before this Parliament. (lodged on 14 May 1999)

Supported by: Iain Smith, Tavish Scott, Ross Finnie, Nicol Stephen, Rt Hon Donald Dewar



S1M-2.1 Dennis Canavan: As an amendment to the motion in the name of Mr Jim Wallace, leave out from "and" in line 4 to end and insert "and noting that the majority of members of this Parliament were elected on commitments to abolish tuition fees, demands that tuition fees be abolished and student grants introduced". (lodged on 19 May 1999)

Supported by: Tommy Sheridan



S1M-2.2 Mr Alex Salmond: As an amendment to the motion (S1M-2) in the name of Mr Jim Wallace, leave out all after ‘established’ to end and insert: "to bring forward to this Parliament proposals for the abolition of tuition fees and the re-introduction of student maintenance grants". (lodged on 19 May 1999)

Supported by: John Swinney, Michael Russell, Bruce Crawford, Nicola Sturgeon, Fiona Hyslop.



S1M-2.3 Brian Monteith: As an amendment to the motion in the name of Mr Jim Wallace (S1M-2), leave out from "the" in line 2 to end and insert: "and calls upon the Scottish Executive to introduce a scholarship scheme which funds in full the tuition fees of Scottish domiciled students studying at higher education institutions anywhere in the United Kingdom". (lodged on 19 May 1999)

Supported by: David Mundell, Alex Fergusson, David Davidson, Ben Wallace, Phil Gallie

Information about Document 1180

Scottish Parliament: Business Bulletin 11/1999