Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 132, 23^rd September 2002

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE
The likely highlights in the Committee Rooms this week include:

• Evidence at Public Petitions includes presentations from Gaelic students seeking greater resources for the language; and from a rural community in Midlothian opposed to a landfill expansion.
• Procedures looks at the time allowed for backbenchers to speak in debates; and whether the European Committee should also cover ‘external affairs’.
• Justice 1 continues with the Title Conditions Bill; but also words its motion for debate on the Prisons Estate Review.
• Justice 2 meets twice to plough on with amendments to the Land Reform Bill.
• Local Government talks about young people in the context of Renewing Local Democracy.
• Rural Development considers the controversial issue of the Cairngorms National Park.
• Education begins evidence on the Protection of Children Bill, hearing from schools and trade unions amongst others.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

INTERNATIONAL DRUGS SUMMIT
Scotland's support for increased global co-operation in attacking the international drug supply network and the drug barons who control it will be reinforced at a special meeting of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum today.

First Minister, Jack McConnell, will address high-ranking officers from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, who were invited after he accompanied its officers on an operation in New York earlier this year. Representatives from Scottish and UK enforcement agencies will also attend.

One of the areas under discussion is increasing the seizure of the assets drug dealers use to enjoy lavish lifestyles and fund criminal enterprises.

The special meeting will hear from Mr Richard Fiano, Director of US DEA Operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and Mr Joseph Keefe, US DEA Special Agent.

The First Minister, ACPOS President Chief Constable Andrew Cameron and SDEA Director Jim Orr will also meet with the US DEA officers.

The Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum, which meets annually, is chaired by Deputy Justice Minister Richard Simpson. It was established to bring together agencies involved in drug enforcement in Scotland to improve co-operation against drug dealing and first met in 2000.

In 2001-02, the SDEA seized drugs with a street value of £19.9 million (72% of which were Class A) and 172 people were arrested for drug trafficking offences. Since April of this year, drugs with a street value of £11.2 million have been seized, and 95 persons arrested for drug trafficking offences.

New powers to seize the assets of drug dealers and suspected drug dealers under the Proceeds of Crime Bill are expected to come into force early next year.

Full Story

LAUNCH OF WINTER FLU CAMPAIGN
The Executive's £12 million winter flu campaign - Don't Let Flu Strike - was launched today.

This year's campaign will encourage everyone aged 65 and over, and those under 65 with long term medical complaints, to come forward for their free winter jab. It aims to build on the high level of uptake achieved over the last two years and protect the most vulnerable against the complications of flu this winter.

Last year, NHS Scotland largely achieved its uptake target of 65% for those aged 65 and over. This year's target has been set at 70%. To help achieve this, an individual letter will be sent to those eligible for immunisation on age grounds.

The Executive's campaign will also include:

• TV and press advertisements from the end of September to early December;
• TV advertisements in 110 GP surgeries across Scotland during October and November;
• Billboard posters in inner city areas where uptake was low last year; and
• Posters on buses.

Speaking at the launch in Edinburgh today Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, warned against public complacency about flu. He said:

"After two winters of relatively low levels of flu, people need to be aware that previous years' immunisations will not protect them against this year's strain of flu. To achieve protection this year, it is vital for everyone in the targeted groups to come forward for a free flu jab this year.

"Around 800,000 Scots aged 65 and over and those with longer term medical complaints such as diabetes, asthma and kidney disease are being targeted through this year's campaign."

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY is a Committee day and sees a debate from the Education Culture and Sport Committee on its Report on a Proposed Commissioner for Children and Young People.

The report, published in July, proposes the establishment of an office for a Commissioner for Children and Young People. The report argues that establishing a Commissioner for Children and Young People would be a positive and welcome move and, should the Parliament endorse its report, the Committee has said it would seek to introduce a Bill to do this.

The report sets out how the independent Commissioner's office would operate, including the powers and remit of its work. It is expected that the Commissioner will promote awareness and understanding of the rights of children and young people, issue guidance on best practice in relation to the rights of children and young people, and publish, promote and commission research.

The Committee recommends that children and young people's views should inform the work of the office. Diverse approaches to engaging with children will be required, including surveys, discussion groups, and work with bodies like youth parliaments, schools and young people's forums.

The Committee's other recommendations include the following:

• The Commissioner be independent, publicly funded, and appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Parliament; and
• The work of the Commissioner should cover all children and young people up to the age of 18, and those over age 18 who have been looked after under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

This report follows the Committee's 2nd Report 2002, following its Inquiry into the need for a Children's Commissioner, and draws on the work of Jackie Baillie MSP (LAB) and Irene McGugan MSP (SNP) who were appointed reporters on this matter at that stage.

Click here to read the report in full

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on the Importance of Primary Care from the Conservatives' Mary Scanlon.

THURSDAY is an opposition day and begins two debates from the Conservatives: the first on Business Stability in Rural Scotland and the second on The Impact on Transport of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2002.

As neither motion has been published at the time of writing, the focus of both debates remains unclear.

As always, however, the full text of the motion will be published in the Business Bulletin in due course and a transcript of the debate will be available from the Official Report from 08:00 on Friday.

In the afternoon, after Question Time and First Minister's Question Time, there will be an Executive Debate on Race Equality.

Again, the motion has not yet been published. However, new race equality responsibilities which came into force this March gave public bodies including the Scottish Executive, NHS Boards, local authorities, the police and educational establishments until the end of November to set out detailed and specific arrangements for promoting race equality under the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.

An update on their progress may, therefore, feature.

The full text of the motion will be published in the Business Bulletin in due course and a transcript of the debate will be available from the Official Report from 08:00 on Friday.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on New Cancer BACUP Scotland Centre Opened in Glasgow from Labour's Brian Fitzpatrick.

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