SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 1095 Title : Scottish Parliament: Chamber Minutes Vol 4, no 9 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. Text MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Meeting of the Parliament Vol 4, No 9 Session 1 Thursday 20 June 2002 Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time. The meeting opened at 9.30 am. 1. Railways in Scotland: Mr Kenny MacAskill moved S1M-3229—That the Parliament notes the ongoing problems for freight and commuters on the rail network in Scotland; welcomes the support within the transport and business community for responsibility for the rail network in Scotland to be devolved, and calls on the Scottish Executive to take full charge of the running and operation of the network in Scotland. The Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning moved amendment S1M-3229.3 to motion S1M-3229— Leave out from "notes" to end and insert— "welcomes the Executive’s proposals in the transport delivery report Scotland’s Transport: Delivering Improvements as the first steps in meeting the objective of a bigger, better and safer railway, and calls upon the Executive to continue to work closely with the Strategic Rail Authority in re-letting the Scottish passenger railway franchise and in developing a rail freight strategy for Scotland and, with Her Majesty’s Government, to ensure that Railtrack’s successor company delivers improved safety, growth and unity of purpose across the entire network." David Mundell moved amendment S1M-3229.1 to motion S1M-3229— Leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert— "expresses its concern that the Scottish Executive is presenting the renewal of the ScotRail franchise as a panacea for all the difficulties faced by Scotland’s railways while offering no guarantees that it can deliver a new franchise within the specified timetable and calls on the Scottish Executive to focus on the immediate priorities for the development of Scotland’s railways and as a first step to bring forward the detail of its financial contribution to the redevelopment of Waverley Station." Tommy Sheridan moved amendment S1M-3229.2 to motion S1M-3229— Insert at end— "and commits itself to public ownership of the rail industry in line with the demands of the rail industry trade unions and the public as reflected clearly in opinion polls on a consistent basis, and further believes that the rail industry should be run on the basis of maximum safety and service, not private profit." After debate, amendment S1M-3229.3 was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 60, Against 47, Abstentions 3). As a result amendments S1M-3229.1 and S1M-3229.2 were pre-empted. The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 61, Against 46, Abstentions 4). Accordingly, the Parliament resolved— That the Parliament welcomes the Executive’s proposals in the transport delivery report Scotland’s Transport: Delivering Improvements as the first steps in meeting the objective of a bigger, better and safer railway, and calls upon the Executive to continue to work closely with the Strategic Rail Authority in re-letting the Scottish passenger railway franchise and in developing a rail freight strategy for Scotland and, with Her Majesty’s Government, to ensure that Railtrack’s successor company delivers improved safety, growth and unity of purpose across the entire network. 2. Investment in Public Infrastructure: Alasdair Morgan moved S1M-3228—That the Parliament notes the recommendations of the Audit Scotland/Accounts Commission report on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) procurement in schools, Taking the Initiative - Using PFI contracts to renew council schools, and believes that PFI has proved to be a costly experiment, that local authorities and other public bodies should be free to use traditional public procurement and that, where "off balance sheet" solutions are desirable or necessary, these should be on a not for profit basis through bodies such as not for profit trusts and community trusts. The Minister for Finance and Public Services moved amendment S1M-3228.2 to motion S1M-3228— Leave out from "notes" to end and insert— "recognises, in developing Scotland’s infrastructure, the real progress being made through a balanced and sustained investment programme and the vital contribution which public private partnerships have made already in modernising Scotland’s infrastructure and public services, and welcomes the Executive’s intention to continue to encourage such partnerships, as part of a range of funding options, wherever and whenever they present themselves as providing the best value solution." Mr. David Davidson moved amendment S1M-3228.1 to motion S1M-3228— Leave out from "the recommendations" to end and insert— "the Audit Scotland/Accounts Commission report on Private Finance Initiative procurement in schools, Taking the Initiative – Using PFI contracts to renew council schools; welcomes the availability of such schemes which enable local authorities and public bodies to work in partnership with the private sector to deliver much needed capital projects early and in a cost-effective manner utilising private sector risk management and construction contract expertise, and further welcomes the Scottish Executive’s support for this innovative approach." After debate, amendment S1M-3228.2 was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 60, Against 48, Abstentions 3). As a result amendment S1M-3228.1 was pre-empted. The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 60, Against 47, Abstentions 3). Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises, in developing Scotland’s infrastructure, the real progress being made through a balanced and sustained investment programme and the vital contribution which public private partnerships have made already in modernising Scotland’s infrastructure and public services, and welcomes the Executive’s intention to continue to encourage such partnerships, as part of a range of funding options, wherever and whenever they present themselves as providing the best value solution. 3. Business Motion: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3230—That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Wednesday 26 June 2002 2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Committee of the Whole Parliament: Stage 2 of the University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill followed by Stage 3 Debate on University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill followed by Executive Debate on Action on Waiting and Delayed Discharge followed by Motion on Police Reform Bill – UK Legislation followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 27 June 2002 9.30 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Stage 3 Debate on Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill followed by Finance Committee Debate on its Report on Stage 1 of the 2003/04 Budget Process followed by Business Motion followed by Motions on appointment of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsmen 2.30 pm Question Time 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Executive Debate on Better Communities in Scotland: Closing the Gap followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business (b) that Stage 1 of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill be completed by 21 November 2002; and (c) that the Justice 1 Committee reports to the Justice 2 Committee by 2 September 2002 on the Sheriff Court Fees Amendment Order 2002 (SSI 2002/269), the Court of Session etc. Fees Amendment Order 2002 (SSI 2002/270), the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment No.2) 2002 (SSI 2002/274), the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Witnesses and Shorthand Writers in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2002 (SSI 2002/280) and the Gaming Act (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/281). After debate, the motion was agreed to. 4. HCI Hospital in Clydebank: The Minister for Health and Community Care made a statement on the HCI Hospital at Clydebank. 5. Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister and other Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers. 6. School Meals (Scotland) Bill – Stage 1: Tommy Sheridan moved S1M-3223—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the School Meals (Scotland) Bill. After debate, the motion was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 37, Against 74, Abstentions 0). 7. Approval of SSIs: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3231—That the Parliament agrees that the following instruments be approved— the draft Community Care (Assessment of Needs) (Scotland) Regulations 2002; the draft Community Care (Personal Care and Nursing Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2002; the draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Amendment (Scotland) Order 2002; the draft Advice and Assistance (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) (No.2) Regulations 2002; the draft Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) (No.2) Regulations 2002; and the Local Government Finance (Scotland) (No.2) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/230). The motion was agreed to (DT). 8. University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill – Electronic Voting: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3233—That the Parliament directs that under Rule 11.8.3 any division at Stage 2 of the University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill shall be taken using the electronic voting system. The motion was agreed to (DT). 9. University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill – Suspension of Standing Orders: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3234 —That the Parliament agrees that Rules 9.5.3B, 9.7.9 and 9.8.3 of the Standing Orders be suspended for the purposes of the University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill. The motion was agreed to (DT). 10. Designation of Lead Committee: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3235—That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Committee is designated as Lead Committee in consideration of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Bill and that the Justice 1 and 2 Committees be secondary committees. The motion was agreed to (DT). 11. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as noted above. The meeting was suspended from 5.11 pm to 5.18 pm. 12. VisitScotland Funding of Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board Foot-and-Mouth Recovery Plan: The Parliament debated S1M-3171 in the name of David Mundell—That the Parliament notes with extreme concern the failure of VisitScotland to allocate the necessary £280,000 to fund the second year of the foot-and-mouth recovery plan prepared by Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board; believes that funds allocated nationally to VisitScotland by the Scottish Executive to help the tourist industry recover from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak should be targeted on those areas most affected by the disease, and considers that the Scottish Executive should enter into urgent dialogue with VisitScotland to review their funding allocation to the board in the expectation that the necessary funding will be made available to support the Board's foot-and-mouth recovery plan which has already had considerable success in its first year. The meeting closed at 5.50 pm. P E Grice Clerk of the Parliament 20 June 2002 This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Document source: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/chamber/mop-02/mop-06-20.htm Information about document and author: Text Text audience General public: Audience size: 1000+ Text details Method of composition: Wordprocessed Year of composition: 2002 Word count: 1810 General description: Chamber Minutes. See http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/chamber/journalMinutes/Minutes.htm Text medium Web (webpages, discussion boards, newsgroups, chat rooms): Text publication details Published: Publisher: Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Publication year: 2002 Place of publication: www.scottish.parliament.uk Text setting Government/politics: Text type Written record of speech (e.g. hansard, legal proceedings, minutes of meetings): Author Author details Author id: 908 Surname: Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body