Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 16, 25^th April 2000

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

Wednesday 26^th April

• Ministerial Statement
• Debate on a Motion by the Rural Affairs Committee on Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundary
• Members Business

Thursday 27^th April

• Ministerial Statement
• Debate on Stage 1 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill
• Debate on Stage 1 of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill
• Members Business

COMMITTEE

Education, Culture & Sport

• Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Bill

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning

• Local Economic Development Inquiry – final report*

Finance

• Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill
• European Funding Inquiry
• Written Agreements with the Scottish Executive

Local Government

• Budget Process 2001/2*
• Performance of Councils in Refuse Collection Services

Rural Affairs

• Inquiry into the Impact of Changing Employment Patterns in Rural Scotland.
• Draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill – financial memorandum

Social Inclusion

• Drug Misuse and Deprived Communities – evidence and progress report

Please note that the Equal Opportunities, Health & Community Care, Justice & Home Affairs, Procedures, Public Petitions, Subordinate Legislation and Transport Committees are also meeting this week. Copies of agendas, minutes and transcripts will be available from: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee.html

*Meeting to be held in private

SECTION 2 - NEWS

McCONNELL TO PROPOSE EMPLOYERS AGREEMENT TO HELP REVITALISE PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS

Scottish Executive Ministers Jack McConnell and Susan Deacon will today urge employers to look at ways of allowing full-time employees to play a role in public service.

Speaking at a meeting of Scotland's major employers and employee organisations this evening, Finance Minister Mr McConnell will say he wants to work with both sides to reach an agreement which would allow people with full time jobs to take up a public appointment.

"Many full time workers are put off considering taking up a public appointment simply because of employment rights and entitlement implications. What I want to do is to open up the debate and look at how to overcome barriers to participation by this large sector of society.

"We are keen to work with employers to help them look at ways of allowing staff the flexibility to combine public service with their jobs. I am convinced there would be mutual benefits in this. Not only would it increase significantly the number of younger people who could come forward, but it would also provide an additional route for employers to develop key staff and hone their managerial skills.

"That's why I will be asking both sides to look at progressing this with the aim of drawing up an agreement or set of proposals for Ministers. This is just one of the steps the Executive is taking to recruit a much wider range of people to serve on the boards of Scotland's public bodies. I hope the current consultation we are undertaking on the subject will also help in the drive to make QUANGOs more representative of modern Scottish society."

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S DEBATES

ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) BILL

Councillors are elected, and members of public bodies are appointed; but both serve the public. This bill aims to ensure that they are seen to be governed by the same standards.

The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill is designed to introduce greater transparency and accountability to local authorities and devolved public bodies. The Executive intends to enhance the reputation of local government and this bill will provide a consistent framework of standards for Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and local authorities.

The Bill should enhance the reputation of local government and NDPBs and ensure that honest, hard-working councillors are not tainted by misplaced perceptions of corruption.

The key points are as follows:

• The establishment of a new independent Standards Commission will have the power to sanction members of devolved public bodies, as well as councillors. The Standards Commission will be responsible for enforcing the codes and dealing with allegations of misconduct and breaches of the councillors’ and members’ codes.
• The appointment of a Chief Investigating Officer within the Standards Commission to look into all allegations of impropriety, with impartiality and consistency.
• A national Code of Conduct for local authorities, setting out the principles governing the standards of councillors’ conduct.
• A new statutory Code of Conduct, or ‘members model code’ for other public bodies which will be flexible enough to suit the circumstances of each body.
• Special provision for a code of conduct for the Water Commissioner.
• Members of public bodies and councillors will have the right of appeal from decisions made by the Commission. The Executive will bring forward appropriate amendments to provide for a right of appeal.
• The Bill will also repeal section 2a and replace it with a new statutory duty on local authorities in respect of their functions which relate principally to children.

SCOTTISH ADJACENT WATERS BOUNDARY

This is a committee debate brought forward by Rural Affairs. It seeks to reopen the issue of the geographical boundary line for fisheries matters between Scottish Parliament and Westminster jurisdiction.

• The issue of the boundary is a reserved matter over which the Parliament has no control.
• The Scottish Parliament has already discussed and approved the Order in a debate last June.
• The boundary was established according to international convention.
• The boundary has absolutely no impact whatever on the rights of Scottish fishermen to fish where they choose in UK waters as they have always done.

There has been a good deal of conjecture and hypothesising about the position of the line and its impact.

• The boundary has not been moved since there was no previous boundary in existence. For the first time Scotland controls its own waters – two-thirds of the UK total.
• Concerns have been raised about different fishing regimes between Scotland and the UK. There would be a much greater likelihood of inconsistency if the boundary became an international one.

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