Document 1193

Scottish Parliament: Business Bulletin 89/2000

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 89 / 2000



Thursday 25 May 2000 - (revised 12.45 pm)




Section A - Daily Business List - (revised 12.45 pm)

Section B - Business Programme

Section D - Oral questions selected for answer on 1 June 2000

Section E - Written questions lodged on 24 May 2000

Section F - Motions and Amendments

Section G - Bills, amendments to Bills and proposals for members’ Bills

Section H - New Documents

Section I - Petitions lodged on 17 May 2000

Section J - Progress of Parliamentary business



BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section A – Daily Business List - (revised 12.45 pm)




Meeting of the Parliament in Glasgow

9.30 am Debate on Race Relations – UK Legislation

S1M-887 Jackie Baillie: Race Relations (Amendment) Bill—That the Parliament agrees the principles contained in the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment) Bill including the power to impose duties on public authorities so far as those provisions relate to matters within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or confer functions on the Scottish Ministers.

The Presiding Officer has selected the following amendment

S1M-887.1 Michael Matheson: Race Relations (Amendment) Bill—As an amendment to motion (S1M-887) in the name of Jackie Baillie, insert at end "but regrets that discrimination on the grounds of nationality or ethnicity will not be unlawful where it is done by Ministerial authorisation or by officials acting within immigration laws or rules."

The Clerk has been informed that the following document(s) are relevant to this debate.

Executive Memorandum on the Race Relations (Amendment) Bill

10.30 am Debate on Rural Scotland – A New Approach—

S1M-896 Ross Finnie: Rural Scotland: A New Approach—That the Parliament welcomes the publication by the Scottish Executive of the document Rural Scotland: A New Approach; notes the progress which the Executive has already made in placing rural Scots in the mainstream of its policies and activities, and endorses the vision for rural Scotland presented in the document and the approach which will be taken, working together with others, to put and keep rural Scotland at the heart of Scotland’s future.

The Presiding Officer has selected the following amendments

S1M-896.2 Alasdair Morgan: Rural Scotland: A New Approach—As an amendment to motion (S1M-896) in the name of Ross Finnie, leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "notes the publication by the Scottish Executive of Rural Scotland: A New Approach; recognises the need to place rural Scots in the mainstream of its policies and activities, but regrets that the retention of many powers at Westminster undermines the ability of the Scottish Executive to be fully effective in dealing with the affairs of rural Scotland."

S1M-896.1 Alex Johnstone: Rural Scotland: A New Approach—As an amendment to motion (S1M-896) in the name of Ross Finnie, leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "notes the publication by the Scottish Executive of the document Rural Scotland: A New Approach; further notes the lack of progress which the Executive has made in placing rural Scots in the mainstream of its policies and activities, and calls upon the Executive to acknowledge that Scotland’s rural economy was in the past, and must continue to be in the future, based on its primary industries."

The Clerk has been informed that the following document(s) are relevant to this debate.

Rural Scotland: A New Approach, Scottish Executive Document published 22 May 2000

followed by Business Motion

S1M-904 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Business Motion—That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business--


Thursday 1 June 2000

9.30 am Time for Reflection

followed by Ministerial Statement

followed by Committee Business - Rural Affairs Committee Debate on Borders Rail Link

12.00 pm Business Motion

followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-822 Mr Keith Harding: Bell Baxter High School in Cupar

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Executive Business

followed by Executive Motion on Insolvency Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time




Wednesday 7 June 2000

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the Standards in Scotland's Schools Bill

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 8 June 2000

9.30 am Ministerial Statement

10.00 am Executive Business

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Executive Debate on Learning Disability Review

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business


and (b),

that Stage 2 of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales (Scotland) Bill be

completed by 29 September 2000.

2.30 pm Question Time

1. Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce which of the initial bids for support from the modernising government fund have been successful at the initial stage of the process. (S1O-1806)

2. Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans now are for the future funding of Councils of Voluntary Service. (S1O-1795)

3. Marilyn Livingstone: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that all Scots achieve an acceptable minimum level of literacy and numeracy. (S1O-1783)

4. Alex Fergusson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A76 road from Kilmarnock to Dumfries. (S1O-1793)

5. Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5907 by Henry McLeish on 2 May 2000, how much of the £4 million in Regional Selective Assistance given to Kvaerner since 1 April 1989 was awarded in connection with its operation in Clydebank. (S1O-1791)

6. Mr Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the guidelines for genetically modified crop trial sites and in particular the exclusion distance between genetically modified and conventional crops. (S1O-1774)

7. Johann Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor the role of Social Inclusion Partnerships in meeting the needs and priorities of women. (S1O-1796)

8. Allan Wilson: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with the modernisation of government in Scotland. (S1O-1804)

9. Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to reducing traffic growth and whether this will be a key objective of its draft Transport Bill. (S1O-1768)

10. Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the extent to which any public funding should be provided for the National Trust for Scotland’s plans for the Glencoe visitor centre and Glencoe itself, and in particular for the Trust’s planned 66 seat restaurant and shops, and what assessment has been made of any effect this initiative may have on existing businesses in Glencoe and Ballachulish. (S1O-1778)

11. Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any new proposals by the European Commission to reduce the size of the fishing fleet. (S1O-1758)

12. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up to date plans are for the upgrading of the A1 and the Edinburgh City bypass. (S1O-1755)

13. Shona Robison: To ask the Scottish Executive what the explanation is for the time period taken by the Health Service Funding Authority and its Health Gains Division to give notification of 2000-01 budgets for health councils. (S1O-1762)

14. Nora Radcliffe: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in increasing employment opportunities for disabled people. (S1O-1770)

15. Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency will play in the policing of Regulated Fishing Orders. (S1O-1753)

16. Mr Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Kvaerner Energy Working Group has met and what the dates of those meetings were. (S1O-1763)

17. Nicola Sturgeon: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the report of the McCrone Committee of Inquiry into the professional conditions of teachers. (S1O-1790)

18. Mr Andrew Welsh: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the loss of assisted area status to Arbroath will have on the local economy. (S1O-1785)

19. Mrs Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government, Glasgow City Council or the Scottish Football Association about the possibility of Mike Tyson fighting in Glasgow this year. (S1O-1765)

20. Donald Gorrie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any current diversion from prosecution schemes. (S1O-1769)

21. David Mundell: To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, have been created in or transferred to the South of Scotland since 1 July 1999 and what plans it has for the future transfer or creation of such posts. (S1O-1794)

22. Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide incentives for home owners and developers to install solar heating mechanisms in homes and whether there is any evidence that the present upfront costs are a disincentive. (S1O-1773)

23. Tommy Sheridan: To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it gives to local authorities to follow best practice in relation to general management and personnel issues. (S1O-1752)

24. Mr John Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline its strategy for dealing with economic difficulties faced by rural communities. (S1O-1766)

25. Hugh Henry: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to tackle patterns of persistent offending among young people in Scotland. (S1O-1798)

26. Bruce Crawford: To ask the Scottish Executive how many health boards are currently, or are considering, consulting with their communities on the future shape of NHS services in their area. (S1O-1801)

27. Mr John McAllion: To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with poverty groups regarding the increases in water charges and initiatives to counter any effect on people in poverty. (S1O-1767)

28. Mr Mike Rumbles: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring the Scottish Police Service under the remit of the proposed Freedom of Information Bill. (S1O-1757)

29. Karen Gillon: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address the issue of volatile substance abuse in Scotland. (S1O-1800)

30. Irene Oldfather: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce unemployment in North Ayrshire. (S1O-1805)

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

1. Mr Alex Salmond: To ask the First Minister when he next plans to visit the UK Parliament. (S1F-335)

2. David McLetchie: To ask the First Minister when he next intends to meet the Prime Minister and what issues he plans to raise with him. (S1F-345)

3. Dr Sylvia Jackson: To ask the First Minister what measures can be put in place to ensure that seed growers and distributors do not sell GM contaminated seed as non-GM seed. (S1F-346)

4. Withdrawn

5. Christine Grahame: To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has issued any guidance about age discrimination to those public bodies for which it has responsibility. (S1F-339)

6. Pauline McNeill: To ask the First Minister how it intends to consult on the implementation of the Digital Scotland Task Force report. (S1F-355)

3.30 pm Emergency Question -

Mr Jamie McGrigor: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to avert a strike by officers of Caledonian MacBrayne and what contingency plans it has to continue life line services to the Scottish West Coast Islands affected and to ensure that tourist traffic can reach these islands especially over the Whitsun weekend.

followed by Stage 1 Debate on the Education and Training (Scotland) Bill

S1M-876 Henry McLeish: Education and Training (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Education and Training (Scotland) Bill.

followed by Financial Resolution on the Education and Training

S1M-861 Mr Jack McConnell: Education and Training (Scotland) Bill - Finance—That the Parliament , for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Education and Training (Scotland) Bill, agrees to the expenditure payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund of the expenses of the Scottish Ministers in consequence of the Act.

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

debate on the subject of –

S1M-653 Mr Duncan Hamilton: Dyspraxia—That the Parliament notes the establishment of the first paid development worker within the field of dyspraxia in the UK, to be based in the Highlands and Islands; notes that the condition is estimated to affect up to ten per cent of the population; recognises that dyspraxia is often overlooked by GPs and is unknown to many in the teaching profession, and believes that greater recognition should be given to the condition by education and health professionals and that dyspraxia should be included in the current regime of pre-school screening.




BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section B - Business Programme




As agreed by the Parliament on 18 May 2000

Thursday 1 June 2000

9.30 am Ministerial Statement

10.00 am Committee Business

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Executive Business

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-822 Mr Keith Harding: Bell Baxter High School in Cupar (for text of motion see Section F of Business Bulletin for Monday 15 May 2000)





BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section D - Oral questions selected for answer on 1 June 2000




Question Time

1. Cathie Craigie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reorganise local authority boundaries. (S1O-1821)

2. Trish Godman: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to recognise and address the increase in recent years in the percentage of teenage girls leaving school with no qualifications. (S1O-1858)

3. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first informed that seed contaminated with GM seed had been sold to Scottish farmers. (S1O-1823)

4. Shona Robison: To ask the Scottish Executive how interpretation and translation services required by refugees using NHS services are funded. (S1O-1808)

5. Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support proposals for a Highlands and Islands transport authority to have the ability to purchase petrol and diesel for resale to motor vehicle users in the area. (S1O-1863)

6. Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have accrued to Glasgow as a result of the city being the temporary home of the Scottish Parliament. (S1O-1820)

7. Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive why capital investment in Glasgow’s council housing fell in real terms from £100 million in 1995-96 to £52 million in 1999-2000. (S1O-1838)

8. Johann Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to help parents balance work and family life. (S1O-1847)

9. Irene Oldfather: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address depression specifically among women aged 15 to 24. (S1O-1835)

10. Bruce Crawford: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government or public bodies about the proposals by Babcock Ltd to store radioactive waste from HMS Renown at Rosyth. (S1O-1853)

11. Ms Sandra White: To ask the Scottish Executive which prisons are currently involved in the manufacture of goods for commercial enterprises. (S1O-1839)

12. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place in Glasgow to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers who live in the city receive timely, appropriate and accessible health care services. (S1O-1837)

13. Mr Lloyd Quinan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) concerning the disposal of surplus MoD housing in Helensburgh. (S1O-1811)

14. Tricia Marwick: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make resources available to local authorities in order to allow security upgrades of schools to be made. (S1O-1830)

15. Ms Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote equality of opportunity in the fields of education, lifelong learning and economic development in order to address gender divisions in the labour market. (S1O-1846)

16. Janis Hughes: To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to local drugs forums to tackle the problem of drugs in Scotland. (S1O-1836)

17. Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive what is the possible remit of Scottish Drugs Courts. (S1O-1816)

18. Mr Kenneth Macintosh: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Working for Communities programme is making in the 13 pathfinder areas. (S1O-1852)

19. Mr Keith Raffan: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish a consultation paper on alcohol misuse. (S1O-1829)

20. Karen Gillon: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve road safety for children. (S1O-1854)

21. Scott Barrie: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prioritise youth work in Scotland. (S1O-1809)

22. Mr Andrew Welsh: To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has had with The Scotland Office regarding the reinstatement of the four Angus wards excluded from the revised Assisted Area proposals. (S1O-1845)

23. Mr Gil Paterson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on any further progress on the multi-modal study into the completion of the M8. (S1O-1826)

24. Dr Sylvia Jackson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine any difficulties experienced by voluntary organisations in relation to "matched funding" and, in particular, those faced by Central Rape Crisis. (S1O-1843)

25. John Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any implications for the financial sector if the demutualisation of Standard Life goes ahead. (S1O-1813)

26. Dr Richard Simpson: To ask the Scottish Executive what stage the development of electronic prescribing of medicines has reached. (S1O-1819)

27. Allan Wilson: To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits Joint Ministerial Committees bring to Scotland. (S1O-1855)

28. Bristow Muldoon: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it anticipates the recently announced additional resources for the National Health Service will have on delayed discharges from hospitals. (S1O-1862)

29. Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure the survival of the papermaking industry in Scotland. (S1O-1824)

30. Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Scottish Executive what role it sees for Historic Scotland in the development of a strategic approach to culture and the built heritage at a national and local level. (S1O-1859)



BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section E - Written questions lodged on 24 May 2000




S1W-7098 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a moratorium on recruitment for the Scottish Prison Service and, if so, for how long it will operate and until what date.

S1W-7099 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Prison Service staff ending their service before they have used their quota of Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) are compensated financially for these hours and, if not, what savings are made from unclaimed TOIL.

S1W-7100 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive what are (a) the establishment of prison officers at each of the Scottish prisons, (b) the numbers of prison officers at each of the Scottish prisons for the last five years and (c) the staff shortage nationally, expressed as a percentage of the establishment for the last five years.

S1W-7101 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers in the Scottish Prison Service are on salary levels such that they are eligible for Family Credit.

S1W-7102 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers leave the Scottish Prison Service annually due to (a) retirements through age, (b) ill health and (c) other reasons.

S1W-7103 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive what means prison officers have of protecting themselves against assault and what means of restraint are available to them.

S1W-7104 Colin Campbell: To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile of teachers in Scotland is by (a) gender and (b) employment in primary or secondary education.

S1W-7105 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Trusts are not permitted to sell services such as laundering at less than cost or on a loss leading basis and what specific instructions exist to that effect.

S1W-7106 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent the intimidation of witnesses and victims given the proposed repeal of sections 24 and 26 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

S1W-7107 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct the Scottish Prison Service to make available secure facilities in every prison for the materials and equipment used by the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments.

S1W-7108 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ring-fence funding for the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments in order to facilitate it carrying out its statutory duties.

S1W-7109 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments is independent from the Scottish Prison Service.

S1W-7110 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive what are the statutory duties of the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments.

S1W-7111 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments has been consulted on issues relating to prisons since 1 June 1999 and on which issues.

S1W-7112 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce subordinate legislation to exempt low income groups such as those on income support from court fees when lodging a small claim and, if so, when it plans to do so.

S1W-7113 Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the level of the Mental Illness Specific Grant.

S1W-7114 Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to link the amount of Resource Transfer Funds for patients resettled from psychiatric hospitals to the community to other increases in funding in the NHSiS.

S1W-7115 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have begun to use externally marked, standardised testing procedures as an adjunct or alternative to national tests at S1 and S2 level and what evidence there is of any positive or negative effect this has on performance in national examinations at S4 and S5 level.

S1W-7116 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the quality and rigour of feedback to parents of pupils at S1 and S2 level.

S1W-7117 Marilyn Livingstone: To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other relevant organisations regarding any effect on air quality around the industrial plants at Mossmorran as a result of the increase in the practice of "flaring" and whether there are any resulting health implications.

S1W-7118 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Student Awards Agency on its policy for the payment of travel costs faced by students from the Scottish Islands.

S1W-7119 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all North of Scotland Water Authority waste water schemes which will discharge effluent into the sea and which are currently in the planning, design or construction stages, together with their estimated costs and completion dates.

S1W-7120 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive whether Angus Council Education Authority has supplied it with a copy of its asset management plan and whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

S1W-7121 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to prevent the closures of village police stations such as that in the Angus village of Letham and whether it plans to exercise any such powers in this instance.

S1W-7122 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to safeguard and secure local jobs and business interests that have previously received European funding after the withdrawal of Assisted Area Status from Arbroath.

S1W-7123 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is towards the provision of police cover in the small towns and villages of rural Scotland.

S1W-7124 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6426 by Peter Peacock on 10 May 2000, when the roll of St Vigeons Primary School will be assessed against the 80% requirement and whether any current actions by Angus Education Authority to discourage parents from sending their children to the school would be taken into account in any such assessment.

S1W-7125 Dr Winnie Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding what assistance the Department of Trade and Industry can provide in offsetting job losses in East Sutherland following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

S1W-7126 Dr Winnie Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what specific assistance it is making available to ensure that a new operator is found for the Hunters of Brora woollen mill following the recent announcement that the mill is to go into receivership.

S1W-7127 Dr Winnie Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it has taken and is taking to enhance job prospects in east Sutherland following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

S1W-7128 Dr Winnie Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with, or representations it has received from, community and trade union representatives from Brora following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

S1W-7129 Dr Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to the pilot project in Dumfries and Galloway to develop local markets for local agricultural produce and how this funding will be distributed.

S1W-7130 David Mundell: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin the consultation process on the "Leader Plus" European funding programme.

S1W-7131 Dr Sylvia Jackson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the present position is at the Scottish Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary regarding the lack of consultant cover for those on the active list.

S1W-7132 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to bring in legislation to cover the training and supervision of voluntary first aiders with respect to the provision of first aid at public events.

S1W-7133 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ensure that suitably qualified first aiders and first aid equipment are available at all times in schools.

S1W-7134 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the Financial Services Authority having an office in Scotland.

S1W-7136 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase the allocation of Additional Costs of Teaching monies to general practice in recognition of the increase in community-based teaching.

S1W-7137 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive what effect existing bus/taxi/cycle lanes and gates have had on small businesses and private hire cars in Glasgow since their introduction.

S1W-7138 David Mundell: To ask the Scottish Executive what the process is for seeking permission for and approval of tourist signs on (a) motorways, (b) trunk roads and (c) all other roads.

S1W-7139 Mr Adam Ingram: To ask the Scottish Executive to detail on a project by project basis grants made by the Arts Council for capital projects in each of the last three years.

S1W-7140 Mr Adam Ingram: To ask the Scottish Executive what differences there are in the eligibility criteria for European Regional Development Funding for capital projects between areas designated for transitional funding and areas with full Objective 2 status.

S1W-7141 Mr Adam Ingram: To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what is the upper limit for grant applications to the Arts Council for capital projects and (b) what are the eligibility criteria for grant funding by the Arts Council for capital projects.

S1W-7142 Mr Adam Ingram: To ask the Scottish Executive to detail (a) the total lottery funding allocated to Scotland over each of the last three years, (b) what amount and percentage of the total was allocated for all arts and cultural projects and (c) what amount and percentage of the total was allocated for capital expenditure on arts and cultural projects.

S1W-7143 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates its policy of prioritising the provision of additional houses for rent in rural areas will have on expenditure on new build and modernisation programmes in urban areas, in particular within the Glasgow and North Clyde area, over the next three years.

S1W-7144 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its plans for ensuring Best Value in Scottish local government.

S1W-7145 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority is expected to raise in non-domestic rates in 2000-01.

S1W-7146 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5914 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 May 2000, why Glasgow City Council’s share of capital investment in council housing fell from 21.7% of Scotland’s total in 1996-97 to 15.1% in 1999-2000.

S1W-7147 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the average selling price per council house sold to sitting tenants was for each local authority in the last years for which figures are available.

S1W-7148 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive how many neonatal intensive care units there are in each health board.

S1W-7149 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing levels are for each neonatal intensive care unit.

S1W-7150 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what mortality and morbidity rates are for infants born prematurely, by health board, for the last years for which figures are available.

S1W-7151 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve outcomes for babies born prematurely.

S1W-7152 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase recruitment of special constables.

S1W-7153 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being made for the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law in October.

S1W-7154 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of global warming and in particular any consequent flooding of low lying coastal areas.

S1W-7155 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take specific measures to reduce unemployment in Glasgow Pollok, given that the resident claimant count in that constituency is currently the highest in Scotland.

S1W-7156 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the sentenced prison population are known to suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness or a combination thereof.

S1W-7157 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take any action as a result of the Centre for Research and Social Trends’ report, Attitudes to Voting Reform following the 1999 Scottish and Welsh Elections, published in April 2000.

S1W-7158 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to disallow dumping of toxic waste at Paterson’s Landfill site in Mount Vernon, Glasgow.

S1W-7159 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it will give in relation to the environmental regeneration of current nuclear sites in Scotland as a result of statements on nuclear disarmament by the UK at a recent United Nations meeting in New York.

S1W-7160 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will cancel the use of silicon breast implants in the NHSiS immediately in response to the inquiry into their safety announced by the European Commission.

S1W-7161 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate any cancellations of post-operative patient appointments at the Scottish Cardiac Transplant Patient Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

S1W-7162 Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive how many post-operative patient appointments at the Scottish Cardiac Transplant Patient Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have been cancelled in the years 1998, 1999 and in the current year to date, and what were the reasons for the cancellations.

S1W-7163 Mr Brian Monteith: To ask the Scottish Executive whether every Scottish school receives a visit from a school nurse and, if so, how often this happens.

S1W-7164 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial support it will give to museums in (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh in 2000-01.

S1W-7165 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to motivate and manage staff and manage the process of change in local government.

S1W-7166 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to enable local government to have a greater community leadership role and show increased openness and accountability to the public.

S1W-7167 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities implement organisational learning in order to gain knowledge, develop skills and transfer these into effective strategies and decisions.

S1W-7168 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities exchange ideas, good practice and training across local authority boundaries.

S1W-7169 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to create a knowledge environment in local government, integrating people processes and technology.

S1W-7170 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive how much money Greater Glasgow Health Board transferred from capital to revenue budgets in each year from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 inclusive and what the mechanism was for carrying out such transfers.

S1W-7171 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce widespread screening for prostate cancer and at what age.

S1W-7172 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce prostate-specific antigen testing to assist in diagnosing prostate cancer.

S1W-7173 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of consultants in specialities where there is currently a shortage of qualified and available doctors.

S1W-7174 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6583 by Henry McLeish on 18 May 2000, how many of the planned jobs in Dunbartonshire announced over the last five years were located in Clydebank.

S1W-7175 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6584 by Henry McLeish on 18 May 2000, whether any sites in Clydebank have been considered suitable for consideration as possible locations for new investment during the last five years.

S1W-7176 Donald Gorrie: To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to and what plans it has for the creation of "Millennium Greens", using National Lottery money to help people design, create and own their own local green area.

S1W-7177 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish Minister could allow his or her name to be associated with any particular company or businesses by authorising the use of his or her photograph on its products.

S1W-7178 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-661 by Susan Deacon on 28 September 1999, whether arrangements for public consultation have now been established and what weight will be attached to local opinion polls or any other form of specifically local consultation in reaching final decisions on whether to fluoridate water supplies.

S1W-7179 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-662 by Susan Deacon on 11 October 1999, whether health boards will be asked to absorb revenue costs to them of flouridating water supplies, including their share of capital costs, insofar as they are not met by the Executive, or whether their budgets will be adjusted, on a board by board basis, to compensate them for the costs incurred by flouridation.

S1W-7180 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1415 by Henry McLeish on 10 October 1999, whether it will consider endorsing or promoting all or any of the said devices as part of its strategy for reducing emissions from motor vehicles to improve air quality.

S1W-7181 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2877 by Sarah Boyack on 12 January 2000, whether it will clarify what Scottish Enterprise’s delegated authority is and whether the spending category indicated would be allowable within the figure for delegated authority.

S1W-7182 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3205 by Sarah Boyack on 13 January 2000, whether the land in question has now been successfully purchased, and whether it will state the costs incurred in purchasing the land and for legal, professional and other procedural purposes.

S1W-7183 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3458 by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2000, whether it has now made a nomination to the Board of the Strategic Rail Authority, and when it expects to hear whether the nomination has been accepted.

S1W-7184 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3461 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2000, (a) whether the consultations in question have been completed, (b) whether it intends to make public the responses made by consultees and (c) what measures it will take in response.

S1W-7185 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3635 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2000, to identify all additional capital consents, including housing revenue account capital consents, issued to local authorities in the final quarter of financial year 1999-2000.

S1W-7186 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3637 by Sarah Boyack on 24 January 2000, whether it is now possible to state whether the results of the 1997 survey of aggregate working will be published and, if so, when.

S1W-7187 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-3641 by Sarah Boyack on 25 January 2000, which planning authorities have established joint working in order to ensure that adequate reserves of aggregates are available in all local authority areas.

S1W-7188 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4013 by Sarah Boyack on 11 February 2000, what actions the Minister for Transport and the Environment has taken as a result of her meeting with the Quarry Products Association on 10 September 1999.

S1W-7189 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4704 by Sarah Boyack on 15 March 2000, whether it will specify every respect in which the "new dual carriageway special road" in question will be "special".

S1W-7190 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the implementation of the proposals to regulate the private security industry.

S1W-7191 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with representatives of the private security industry in connection with the announcement of proposed new regulations.

S1W-7192 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it intends to carry out following the announcement of proposed new private security regulations.





BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section F - Motions and Amendments




The full text of all outstanding motions and amendments will appear in the Business Bulletin every Monday.

Items marked with an asterisk (*) are new or have been altered. Asterisks in the text show the extent of alterations made.

Motions which members wish to be considered for debate as members’ business in the Parliament are marked with a hash symbol (#)


*S1M-910 Donald Gorrie: Social Exclusion Research—That the Parliament notes research of the Social Exclusion Unit (PAT 14) and other bodies confirming that a lack of access to short-term credit and other financial services creates serious problems for many low income households, who face extortionate interest rates; urges the Scottish Executive to develop further its joined up approach to economic citizenship including better access to social fund grants, improved regulation of consumer credit lending, better resourcing of credit unions and pressing banks to provide a more socially responsible service, and calls for a public debate on the issue.

*S1M-909 Donald Gorrie: Post Office Pension Fund—That the Parliament notes that the Post Office has responded to a surplus in its pension fund by giving itself a contributions holiday for the past 13 years instead of using the windfall to improve the position of its pensioners; regrets that the corporation should follow worst industry practice in this respect and urges Post Office pension fund trustees to review their policy.

*S1M-908# Elaine Thomson: Women's Pay - 30 Years on from the Equal Pay Act—That the Parliament notes with concern that 30 years after the introduction of the Equal Pay Act women earn only 73.3% of average male earnings; notes further that Aberdeen has the widest discrepancy between men and women’s earnings in Scotland, with women in Aberdeen earning only 64.2% of men’s earnings; believes that these figures clearly show that legislation in itself has failed to deliver parity in the labour market; believes that the Scottish Executive and its economic development agencies should pursue policies that would assist in the equalisation of pay between the genders, and asks the Scottish Executive, whilst pursuing the creation of a knowledge economy, to put in place adequate monitoring and evaluation to ensure that women will become equal players in the labour market.

Supported by: Trish Godman*, Maureen Macmillan*, Paul Martin*, Mr John McAllion*, Marilyn Livingstone*, Johann Lamont*, Cathy Jamieson*, Dr Richard Simpson*, Bristow Muldoon*, Mike Watson*

*S1M-907 Mr Jamie Stone: East Sutherland Economy—That the Parliament notes with concern the current and long-term problems faced in the local economy of Sutherland and asks the Scottish Executive to bring forward proposals for a multi-agency forum which could target resources, discuss possible solutions to these problems and prepare a report with recommendations at the earliest opportunity for consideration by the Parliament, the Scottish Executive and the Highlands and Islands Convention.

*S1M-905 Bill Aitken: Announcements made by the Scottish Executive—That the Parliament agrees that considerable confusion has been caused by a number of recent Scottish Executive announcements, particularly funding announcements; believes that the way funding announcements are made by the Scottish Executive has done little to further open government; notes that the Executive has allowed the same resources to be announced as "new funding" on more than one occasion, thus damaging public scrutiny, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to institute a new protocol for all public and press announcements in order that these make clear whether funding announced is additional resources or whether it is part of a previous funding package and, if it is, when and through what statement the funding was previously announced.

S1M-903# Carrick - City of Adelaide (lodged on 23 May 2000) Mr Brian Monteith*, Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Michael Russell*, Mr Jamie Stone*

S1M-899 Millennium Dome Bail Out (lodged on 23 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-898# Scottish Tomato Industry (lodged on 23 May 2000) Michael Russell*, Mr Brian Monteith*, Dr Elaine Murray*, Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Dorothy-Grace Elder*

*S1M-896.1 Alex Johnstone: Rural Scotland: A New Approach—As an amendment to motion (S1M-896) in the name of Ross Finnie, leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "notes the publication by the Scottish Executive of the document Rural Scotland: A New Approach; further notes the lack of progress which the Executive has made in placing rural Scots in the mainstream of its policies and activities, and calls upon the Executive to acknowledge that Scotland’s rural economy was in the past, and must continue to be in the future, based on its primary industries."

Supported by: Alex Fergusson*, Mr Jamie McGrigor*

*S1M-896.2 Alasdair Morgan: Rural Scotland: A New Approach—As an amendment to motion (S1M-896) in the name of Ross Finnie, leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "notes the publication by the Scottish Executive of Rural Scotland: A New Approach; recognises the need to place rural Scots in the mainstream of its policies and activities, but regrets that the retention of many powers at Westminster undermines the ability of the Scottish Executive to be fully effective in dealing with the affairs of rural Scotland."

Supported by: Richard Lochhead*, Irene McGugan*, Mrs Margaret Ewing*, Fergus Ewing*, Linda Fabiani*

S1M-895# Expansion of Signum Circuits (lodged on 23 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-894# Greenock Morton Football Club (lodged on 23 May 2000) Trish Godman*, Mike Watson*, Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Colin Campbell*, George Lyon*

S1M-892 Saltmarket Centenary (lodged on 22 May 2000) Tommy Sheridan*, Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-891# Projected Costings for the Parliament Remaining in Glasgow until 2003 (lodged on 22 May 2000) Tommy Sheridan*

*S1M-887.1 Michael Matheson: Race Relations (Amendment) Bill—As an amendment to motion (S1M-887) in the name of Jackie Baillie, insert at end "but regrets that discrimination on the grounds of nationality or ethnicity will not be unlawful where it is done by Ministerial authorisation or by officials acting within immigration laws or rules."

S1M-885# Car Parking Charges in Fife Hospitals (lodged on 22 May 2000) Tommy Sheridan*, Dr Elaine Murray*, Mr Brian Monteith*

S1M-884 Mike Tyson Debate (lodged on 19 May 2000) Richard Lochhead*, Fergus Ewing*, Nora Radcliffe*

S1M-883 Use of National Stadium for Mike Tyson Fight (lodged on 19 May 2000) Fergus Ewing*, Nora Radcliffe*

S1M-882# Edinburgh Folk Festival (lodged on 19 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Fergus Ewing*, Nora Radcliffe*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-881 Carers' Week 2000 (lodged on 19 May 2000) Margaret Jamieson*, Dr Elaine Murray*, Mike Watson*, Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Nora Radcliffe*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-880 Hampden and the Mike Tyson Fight (lodged on 19 May 2000) Fergus Ewing*, Nora Radcliffe*

S1M-879 Mike Tyson - Decision to Grant Entry for Proposed Fight in Glasgow (lodged on 19 May 2000) Fergus Ewing*

S1M-878 Parliament Meetings in the North East (lodged on 18 May 2000) Fergus Ewing*, Nora Radcliffe*

S1M-874# Young People and Transport (lodged on 17 May 2000) Nora Radcliffe*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-873 AIDS and Hepatitis C Education (lodged on 17 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-871# Shirley McKie and the Scottish Criminal Records Office (lodged on 17 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Fergus Ewing*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-870 Expedition to the North Pole (lodged on 17 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-863 Glasgow the Caring City: International Relief Aid (lodged on 16 May 2000) Fergus Ewing*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-862 Ilisu Dam Project (lodged on 16 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-860 Translation of St Margaret (lodged on 16 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-859 Scottish Highlands Branch of the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association (lodged on 16 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-857 Gourock/Dunoon Ferry Service (lodged on 15 May 2000) George Lyon*

S1M-856# Assisted Area Status of Arbroath (lodged on 15 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-855# Dervish Landmine Clearance Project (lodged on 15 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-853 Marymass Festival, Irvine (lodged on 12 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-849# Voluntary Moratorium on Siting of New Telecommunications Masts (lodged on 12 May 2000) Dr Elaine Murray*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-846# Additional Resources for Grampian Police Force (lodged on 11 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-844 ITC Report on Grampian Television (lodged on 11 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-843# Scottish Aid Agency (lodged on 11 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-842# Funding of Voluntary Projects (lodged on 11 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-840 Building Standards (lodged on 10 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-839 Museums and Galleries Month 2000 (lodged on 10 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-838 Patenting of Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes (lodged on 10 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-836 All-Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer (lodged on 10 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-835# Irvine Pensioners' Petition Against Sheltered Housing Cuts (lodged on 10 May 2000) Mr Kenneth Gibson*

S1M-832 Ethical Investment (lodged on 10 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-831# Allotments (lodged on 10 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-830# Racing Pigeons (lodged on 10 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-824 Breast Cancer Awareness (lodged on 9 May 2000) Donald Gorrie*

S1M-821# National Volunteer Week (lodged on 9 May 2000) David Mundell*, Mike Watson*, Karen Whitefield*, Bristow Muldoon*, Donald Gorrie*

S1M-820# "Working Together" Project (lodged on 9 May 2000) Mr John McAllion*, Donald Gorrie*




BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section G - Bills, amendments to Bills and proposals for members’ Bills




New amendments to Bills lodged on 24 May 2000

Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill – Stage 2

Section 26

Mr Michael McMahon

144 In section 26, page 12, line 4, after <development> insert—

<( ) the important place of marriage in society, and in raising children;

( ) the importance of avoiding intolerance, stigmatization and stereotyping of children from alternative family units;>



Proposals for Members’ Bills

Names marked with an asterisk (*) are new names of support. Proposals that have attracted 11 supporters have those supporters’ names shown in bold. The member who lodged such a proposal has the right to introduce a Member’s Bill to give effect to that proposal under rule 9.14.

Alex Neil: Proposed Bank Arrestment (Scotland) Bill—Proposal for a Bill to provide safeguards for debtors with bank accounts by restricting the extent to which an arrestment attaches to monies in bank accounts; and by providing a new sheriff court procedure, to be known as an arrestment restriction order, whereby a debtor may apply to the sheriff for an order releasing monies from arrestment (lodged 26 April 2000)

Supported by: Tommy Sheridan, Mr John McAllion, Michael Matheson, Ms Margo MacDonald, Dorothy-Grace Elder, Andrew Wilson, Fergus Ewing, Linda Fabiani, Brian Adam, Ms Sandra White, Robin Harper, Shona Robison, Christine Grahame, Mr Kenneth Gibson, Kay Ullrich

Fergus Ewing: Proposed Registration of Scotland’s Land Bill—Proposal for a Bill to amend the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 to make the registration of title to land compulsory in the circumstances set out in section 2 of that Act; to make the registration of title to land in other circumstances compulsory according to a timescale or timescales to be specified by order; and to require information regarding beneficial ownership of land to be displayed on the title sheet. (lodged 23 May 2000)

Supported by: Christine Grahame*





BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section H - New Documents




Committee Reports

The following Reports are being published on 25 May 2000—

Justice and Home Affairs Committee,

4th Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 132)

Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee, 2nd Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 133)

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 20th Report, 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 134)



European Documents

Members wishing to see a list of European documents received in the Parliament should contact the clerks to the European Committee (stephen.imrie@scottish.parliament.uk). Members are reminded that a complete set of all documents received is held by SPICe in G15, PHQ and copies can be made available on request.




BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section I - Petitions lodged on 17 May 2000




The following Petitions were lodged with the Parliament on 24 May 2000—

PE205 Petition by Fred and Maureen Collie calling for the Scottish Parliament to review and increase the minimum sentence for convictions of murder; that sentences for other crimes committed during a more serious offence be consecutive and that parole boards consider all information including previous offences and submissions from victims and relatives.

PE206 Petition by Mr Steven Birrell calling for the Scottish Parliament to ascertain the feasibility of a permanent webcast facility covering the proceedings of the Chamber and non-private Committee meetings once the Parliament returns to Edinburgh.

PE207 Petition by Mr Gordon Clyde Ford on behalf of the Mearns Community Council calling for the Scottish Parliament to introduce a more public friendly planning system by granting objectors to a development exactly the same rights as the developers.

PE208 Petition by Douglas Hardie on behalf of the Melrose Traders Association calling for the Scottish Parliament to review all aspects of the proposed Parking Charges in Melrose and urge the Scottish Borders Council and Historic Scotland to rethink these proposals.

PE209 Petition by Age Concern Dundonald calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate the reasons for the termination of support for elderly care by South Ayrshire Council and consider what implications this will have on future community care demands.



BUSINESS BULLETIN 89 / 2000

Thursday 25 May 2000

Section J - Progress of Parliamentary business




For further information on the progress of Bills, subordinate legislation and committees shown in this section, please contact either the relevant clerk or web site (end of Section for addresses)


Bills in Progress

Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill

Bill passed 3 May

Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill

Stage 1 completed 27 April

Education and Training (Scotland) Bill

Stage 1 (debate, meeting of the Parliament) 25 May

Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill

Stage 2 (Day 3, Local Government Committee) 30 May

Family Homes and Homelessness (Scotland) Bill

Introduced 4 April

Leasehold Casualties (Scotland) Bill

Introduced 10 May

National Parks (Scotland) Bill

Stage 1 (debate, meeting of the Parliament) 24 May

Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill

Stage 1 (evidence, Rural Affairs Committee) 4 April

Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Amendment (Scotland) Bill

Stage 1 completed 18 May

Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Bill

Stage 2 completed 15 May



Subordinate legislation in progress

(date of laying) (Lead Committee)

Affirmative Instruments

For approval by resolution

The draft Census (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000 (25 April 2000) (Justice and Home Affairs)

The draft Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000 (28 April 2000 (Social Inclusion, Housing and the Voluntary Sector)

The draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2000 (4 May 2000) (Health and Community Care)

The draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2000 (Amendment) Order 2000 (22 May 2000) (Finance Committee)


Negative Instruments

Subject to annulment until 25 May 2000

The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) (Butchers’ Shops) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/93) (30 March 2000) (Health and Community Care)


Subject to annulment until 26 May 2000

The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/95) (31 March 2000) (Transport and the Environment)

The Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/96) (31 March 2000) (Transport and the Environment)


Subject to annulment until 30 May 2000

The Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/100) (4 April 2000) (Transport and the Environment)


Subject to annulment until 31 May 2000

The Census (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/102) (5 April 2000) (Justice and Home Affairs)

Subject to annulment until 3 June 2000

The Repayment of Student Loans (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/110) (13 April 2000) (Enterprise and Lifelong Learning)

The Divorce etc. (Pensions) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/112)

(19 April 2000) (Justice and Home Affairs)


Subject to annulment until 6 June 2000

The European Communities (Lawyer’s Practice) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/121) (28 April 2000) (Justice and Home Affairs)


Subject to annulment until 11 June 2000

The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (British Wool Marketing Board) Order 2000 (SI 2000/1113) (3 May 2000) (Rural Affairs)


Subject to annulment until 17 June 2000

The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/129) (9 May 2000) (Transport and the Environment)

Foods for Special Medical Purposes (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/130) (9 May 2000) (Health and Community Care)

The Colours in Food (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/131) (9 May 2000) (Health and Community Care)


Subject to annulment until 26 June 2000

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Shorthand Writers in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2000 (SSI 2000/145) (18 May 2000) (Justice and Home Affairs)


Subject to annulment until 27 June 2000

The Children (Protection at Work) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000./149) (19 May 2000) (Education, Culture and Sport)



Committee Business

Dates indicate when the next meeting is due to take place on the relevant subject.

Audit 30 May

Education, Culture and Sport 30 May

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 31 May

Equal Opportunities 6 June

European 30 May

Finance 30 May

Health and Community Care 31 May

Justice and Home Affairs 30 May

Local Government 30 May

Procedures 20 June

Public Petitions 6 June

Rural Affairs 30 May

Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector 31 May

Standards 31 May

Subordinate Legislation 30 May

Transport and Environment 31 May


[CENSORED: table inserted here in original giving contact information]

Information about Document 1193

Scottish Parliament: Business Bulletin 89/2000