Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 3, 24^th January 2000

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

Wednesday 19^th January

• Ministerial Statement on Water Charges
• Stage 1 Debate on the Budget Bill

Thursday 20^th January

• Debate on the British Irish Council
• Debate on Sustainable Development
• First Minister’s Questions
• Oral Questions

For a brief outline of the key points on these debates, please see Section 3.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Local Government (Meeting in Glasgow City Council)

• Abolition of Poindings & Warrant Sales
• Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Bill

Justice & Home Affairs

• Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Bill

Subordinate Legislation Committee

• Draft Instrument: The Census (Scotland) Order

Education, Culture and Sport Committee

• Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc, Bill

Please note that the Audit, European, Equal Opportunities, Procedures, Public Petitions, Rural Affairs, Standards Committee and Transport & the Environment Committees will also be meeting.

SECTION 2 - CURRENT ISSUES

DRAFT NATIONAL PARKS BILL LAUNCHED

Sarah Boyack launched the draft National Parks Bill on Friday 21^st January. The draft bill’s consultation period will run to 3^rd March 1999.

The Bill is an enabling bill that will provide the Parliament with the power to set up National Parks in Scotland. Each park will be set up through secondary legislation, which will specify the boundary of the park.

Sarah Boyack said at the launch of the Bill: ‘It is essential we maintain and enhance our natural heritage for all to enjoy and benefit from. This means striking the balance between conservation and social and economic development. I look to Scotland’s National Parks to become living, working examples of the true integration of the rural economy.’

The Press release is available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/news/press2000_01/se0116.asp

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S DEBATES

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’

- The Brundtland Report.

Environmental organisations debate at length the precise definition of sustainability and sustainable development. However, it is more important to focus on the actions that are needed and being taken to bring it about.

The Executive is broadly working towards the ‘Action Points for a Scottish Parliament’ presented in the report of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Group on Sustainable Development published last year. These include:

• The Parliament and Scottish Executive should demonstrate committed leadership
• Establish a public debate on sustainable development
• Put sustainable development at the heart of education, and education at the heart of sustainable development
• Be part of the international dimension of sustainable development
• Set sustainability aims, objectives, targets and timescales
• Take a pro-active approach to the sustainability of construction and the built environment
• Establish priority areas for action
• Strengthen the role of the planning system in delivering national and local sustainable development
• Support innovation in sustainable development.

THE BRITISH-IRISH COUNCIL

The principle of a British-Irish Council was established under strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement. The first meeting took place at Lancaster House in London on Friday 17^th December 1999 where the First Minister Donald Dewar represented the Scottish Executive.

The Good Friday Agreement is clear in its recommendations for the British-Irish Council as a council which will:

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