Scottish Parliament e-Brief 

Issue 158, 9^th June 2003

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE
With Committee membership now agreed, all 16 Committees will meet for the first time in the new session this week. Each Committee will choose its Convener and Deputy Convener, and all members will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

Click here for full details of the membership of each Committee.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

ACTION OUTLINED ON E.COLI O157
Wide-ranging measures designed to reduce the threat posed by E.coli O157 in Scotland have been published by the Executive and the Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS).

The joint report - Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on E.coli O157 - outlines progress on actions taken over the last year by the Executive, FSAS, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), NHS Health Scotland , the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, and many others.

Key achievements and developments over the last year include:

By the Scottish Executive:

• Issuing guidance on recreational use of animal pasture to relevant organisations;
• Raising awareness of E.coli O157 by funding HUSH (Hemolytic Uraemic Syndrome Help);
• Investing in epidemiological research;
• Funding the Scottish Infection Standards and Strategy (SISS) Group to develop and disseminate good practice guidance and educational materials for health professionals;
• Regarding incident management, undertaking consultation on Managing Incidents Presenting Actual or Potential Risks to the Public Health - Guidance on the Roles and Responsibilities of Incident Control Teams; and
• Amending regulations, including the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, regarding sludge and organic waste on land.

By the Food Standards Agency Scotland :

• Undertaking a Food Hygiene Campaign for both commercial and domestic audiences;
• Initiating public consultation on revision of the FSA's Enforcement Codes of Practice;
• Carrying out a review of butchers' licensing; and
• Developing a strategy to support the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles which will update EU food hygiene law.

There were two large E.coli 0157 outbreaks in Scotland in 1994 in Lothian and 1996 in central Scotland . The number of reported E.coli 0157 infections in Scotland fell from 235 in 2001 to 229 in 2002. A study published by SCIEH in 2001 found that the highest risk of infection for sporadic cases was from contact with farm or other non-domestic animals and their environment.

Full story

NEW FREEDOM OF INFORMATION TIMETABLE
Full implementation of the Freedom of Information ( Scotland ) Act 2002 will take place by January 1^st 2005 – one year earlier than the deadline required by the legislation.

The provisions of the Act, which received its Royal Assent on May 28^th 2002 , must be brought into force by December 31^st 2005 (unless the Scottish Minister accepts a recommendation from the Scottish Information Commissioner that a later date should apply).

The Scottish Ministers are required to lay an annual report before the Scottish Parliament setting out their proposals for implementation of the Act. Their first report, laid in the Parliament on May 28^th, set out the timetable agreed with the Scottish Information Commissioner for implementation of the Act.

All public authorities will be required to adopt a publication scheme setting out the classes of information they intend to make available and how people can access the material. These publication schemes will require the approval of the Scottish Information Commissioner. The timetable provides for these to be rolled out throughout 2004. 

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

The week’s Chamber Business begins on WEDNESDAY with stages 2 and 3 of the Education (School Meals) ( Scotland ) Bill.

As was outlined in last week’s e-Brief, this is a technical measure which will plug a loophole which could have left thousands of children without their free school meal.

At present, children whose families receive Income Support, or an income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, are entitled to free meals. However, Westminster legislation, in the shape of the Tax Credits Act 2002, creates, among other things, a new tax credit (the Child Tax Credit (CTC)) which will replace the child-related elements of Income Support and income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The bill, therefore, will amend an existing Education Bill, ensuring that these changes to the benefits system do not mean any child’s right to free meals is lost.

Click here to read the Bill as introduced
Click here to read the Explanatory Note
Click here to read the Policy Memorandum

This is followed by the final stage of the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) Bill.

This Private Bill is a piece of unfinished business from the last session.  As regular readers will recall, the Bill centres around moves to allow Offshore Energy Resources Ltd. and Solway Offshore Ltd. to obstruct navigation and fishing to the extent necessary to construct and operate a wind farm on the Robin Rigg sand bank in the Solway Firth.  It will also allow them to establish an exclusion zone prohibiting navigation around the site during the construction period; to establish an exclusion zone preventing trawling and anchoring around the site during the operations period; and to authorise the establishment of an exclusion zone prohibiting navigation within 50 metres of various sections of the wind farm during its operation.

Click here to read the Bill as introduced
Click here to read the Explanatory Notes
Click here to read the Promoters' Memorandum

The day is rounded off by a Member's Business Debate on Fair Credit Schemes from Labour’s Sarah Boyack.

THURSDAY begins with an SNP debate on Europe .

While the motion has not been published, it is likely that the SNP will focus on today’s announcement at Westminster regarding the Euro.  It is also possible that issues of EU policy which impact on Scotland – such as fishing – will be raised.

As always, the motion will appear in section F of the Business Bulletin in due course and the full transcript will be printed in the Official Report at 08:00 on Friday.

In the afternoon, following Question Time and First Minister's Question Time, there is an Executive debate on Investing in Public Transport.

Again, the motion is not available, but it is likely that the Executive parties will focus on the transport section of the Partnership Agreement, which states that, by the end of 2006, Scottish Executive spending on transport will reach £1 billion per year, 70% of which will be targeted on public transport.

In summary, this cash is set to be invested in:

• Delivering rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports;
• Re-opening the Airdrie to Bathgate railway;
• Re-opening the Kincardine - Alloa - Stirling rail link;
• Constructing the Larkhall to Milngavie line;
• Redeveloping Waverley station in Edinburgh in co-operation with the Strategic Rail Authority;
• Investing in a tram network in Edinburgh ;
• Extending direct air routes through the Air Route Development Fund;
• Improving Scotland ’s ferry links to mainland Europe ;
• Extending concessionary fare schemes on public transport, including a national free off-peak bus scheme for older people and people with disabilities;
• Assessing improved public transport concessions for people with disabilities;
• Progressively introducing a scheme of national bus, rail and ferry concessionary travel for young people, initially for all in full time education or training;
• Supporting construction of the Borders Rail Line;
• Continuing to support feasibility studies into the Glasgow Crossrail project, and other public transport initiatives in Glasgow , and the Aberdeen cross-rail link.

As above, the motion will appear in section F of the Business Bulletin in due course and the full transcript will be printed in the Official Report at 08:00 on Friday.

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