Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 10, 13^th March 2000

SECTION ONE - THIS WEEK’S BUSINESS

THE CHAMBER

Wednesday

• Stage 2 of the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
• Stage 3 of the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
• Members’ Business: Cashpoint Services (Dr Elaine Murray)

Thursday

• Standards Committee Debate on MSP Staff Register of Interests
• Health & Community Care Committee Debate
• Members’ Business: Rail Travel for the Blind

COMMITTEES

Equal Opportunities

• Draft Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill
• 2001 Census of Population Reporters’ reports

Finance

• Inquiry into the Finance Functions of the Scottish Executive
• Scottish Parliament Building Project – Reporter

Local Government

• Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill
• Students and Council Tax
• Appointment of a Reporter to the Standards Committee.

Please note that the Justice & Home Affairs; Public Petitions; Subordinate Legislation; and Transport & Environment Committees will also meet.

SECTION TWO - NEWS

COUNCIL TAX LEVELS

Council Tax levels were announced across Scotland last Thursday.

Extra resources have been targeted at widely recognised priorities such as education, social work and community care, as well as protective services such as police and fire. This means that other budgets have been tight.

The Executive recognises the tough choices that many local authorities have been facing. However, having got through this year’s settlement, it is looking forward to the recently announced review of Local Government finance.

In the Local Government debate on 1^st March, Jack McConnell confirmed the Executive’s commitment to constant review of the local government finance system:

• There is a commitment to review the way deprivation and poverty are reflected in the grant distribution system.
• The Scottish Executive has also agreed with COSLA to establish a joint working committee to look at key issues, including three-year planning, hypothecation, salaries, budgets and the guidelines.

SECTION THREE - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S DEBATES

Due to the by-election in Ayr, Parliamentary business will adjourn after the morning session. This week, therefore, is dominated by technical Committee business.

• The main debate is on Stages 2&3 of the Census Bill – an issue which has already been extensively discussed. For a briefing on the issue, see e-Brief 6 (14^th February 2000).

• The Health & Community Care Debate will focus primarily on how NHS Trusts make decisions and on the level of public consultation. Detailed information is not available at the moment. For further information, log on to the Committee's homepage.

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