Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 173

Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 173, 6^th October 2003

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

To watch any debate live, or on demand for 14 days, see: http://www.ScottishParliamentLive.com

Wednesday 8^th October 2003
14:35 – 15:05	Ministerial Statement: Subject TBA
15:05 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Proposals for Legislation
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Auxiliary Fire Units in the Highlands (Fergus Ewing (SNP))

Thursday 9^th October 2003
09:30 – 12:00	Executive Debate: Creating an Enterprise Culture in Scotland’s Schools
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:30 – 15:10	Question Time
15:10 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Scotland’s Contribution to Education in the Commonwealth – Past, Present and Future
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Macmillan / CAB Cancer Patient Services (Karen Whitefield (LAB))

IN COMMITTEE

Tuesday 7^th October 2003
AM	Equal Opportunities	Members look at attitudes to discrimination in Scotland, with evidence from Professor John Curtice of the National Centre for Social Research.
	Procedures	The Committee looks at Oral questions in the Chamber and considers whether to hold an Inquiry into Non-Executive Bills.
	Finance	The Committee will take evidence on the Financial Memorandum of the National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill from Scottish Executive officials.
	Standards	The findings of the investigation into the complaint against Kenny MacAskill MSP and Tricia Marwick MSP will be announced.
PM	Local Government and Transport	Evidence on the Budget Process 2004-05 comes from a range of witnesses, including academics, CoSLA; Transport Minister, Nicol Stephen; and a plethora of Scottish Executive officials.
	Health	The Committee considers petitions which have been referred to it for consideration.
	European & External Relations	The Convener will update the Committee on items including the Executive’s response on the impact of the draft EU Hallmarking Directive and the Executive’s response on the implementation of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment Directive in Scotland.
	Justice 1	Oral evidence on the Budget Process 2004-05 comes from Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson and officials; Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC; and representatives of the prosecuting authorities.
	Enterprise and Culture	The Committee will consider holding a stock-taking session on the evidence it has received to date on its Scottish Solutions inquiry, before taking Budget evidence from Enterprise Minister, Jim Wallace and his officials.
Wednesday 8^th October 2003
AM	Environment and Rural Development	After considering some petitions which have been referred to it, the Committee takes evidence on the Budget process 2004-05 from Environment and Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie. The Minister then gives evidence on the National Waste Plan Inquiry.
	Education	Members consider the issue of Youth Organisations, hearing evidence from representatives of the Boys Brigade; the Scouts; the Girl Guides; the Cadets’ Association; the YMCA Scotland; Youthlink Scotland; Youth Sport Trust; and Youth Scotland.
	Justice 1	Members look at a couple of referred petitions on the theme of road safety, then will consider their approach to the proposed bill to reform the High Court of Justiciary.
	Communities	The Committee will take evidence on Stage 2 of the Budget process 2004-05 from Communities Minister, Margaret Curran.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

West Dunbartonshire schools facelift
Schools in West Dunbartonshire are in line for a multi-million pound facelift now that the local authority has been told it can join the current Public Private Partnerships (PPP) school building programme.

West Dunbartonshire Council did not originally bid for a share of PPP money but has now been granted permission to bid belatedly.

To date, decisions taken by Ministers will support almost £2 billion of capital investment in 24 local authorities.

During a visit to Clydebank High School, Education Minister Peter Peacock said:

"These are historic times for Scotland's school estate. We are in the middle of the biggest ever school buildings programme; a programme which will see 300 schools rebuilt or substantially refurbished by 2009.

"Our schools play a vital part in unlocking the potential of our children and by providing the right teaching and learning environment we can help raise achievement and attainment. Unfortunately some school buildings are simply not equipped to meet the needs of pupils and teachers in the 21st century.

"I am delighted that the new administration in West Dunbartonshire has decided to join the school PPP programme. The council's recent HMIE report, while very positive on the whole, recommended that the condition of its school buildings be addressed as a matter of urgency.

"The council will now be asked to work up detailed proposals. I look forward to seeing its plans and announcing the exact level of PPP funding it will receive in due course."

Local authorities were invited in September 2001 to bid for a share of Executive revenue funding to support school building capital projects under Public Private Partnerships. They were invited to bid in either December 2001 or September 2002 (later extended to December 2002).

Fifteen local authorities entered bids in December 2001 (tranche one) and all were accepted. The indicative level of PPP investment supported by the Executive totalled almost £1.2 billion and was announced in June 2002. Fourteen local authorities entered bids in December 2002 (tranche two) and nine were accepted. The indicative level of PPP investment supported by the Executive totalled almost £750 million and was announced in March 2003. Discussions are continuing with the other five local authorities from tranche two about the further development of their bids.

Full story

UK’s first male cancer centre
The UK’s first male cancer centre has been officially opened by the First Minister, Jack McConnell.

The clinic brings together healthcare specialists, support and information into a single dedicated facility for men suffering from testicular, prostrate and penile cancer. Mr McConnell said that Scotland can be proud that the cancer centre is based here, but this should also be a strong reminder to Scottish men to take much better care of their health.

The First Minister unveiled plans in August for a national network of health MOTs for men by 2005, as part of the Scottish government’s drive to reduce the number of Scots who die prematurely from diseases such as stroke, cancer and heart disease. These could take place, for example, in a local golf club or at a football match or the supermarket.

The five-year survival rates from cancer for Scottish men have increased from 25% in the early 1980s to 38% in the late 1990s. However, over the same period, for Scottish women they have increased from 37% to 48%.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY begins with a Ministerial Statement, the subject of which is to be announced.

This is followed by an Executive debate on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Proposals for Legislation.

These are complex and detailed proposals with strands to them. However, the main plans can be summarised thus.

The National Framework
The National Framework will set out the Scottish Executive’s expectations of the Fire and Rescue Service, the standards it expects it to meet and how the service should undertake specific functions where this is necessary for reasons of national priority.

The Independent Review of the Fire Service highlighted that central government did not give adequate guidance or leadership on fire policy and that greater clarity of direction is required, the Scottish Executive agreed with this position.

The intention is to follow similar models to those that already exist. The Scottish Executive’s view is that the Fire and Rescue Service should remain as a locally delivered service and operate within a national framework which sets out clear and consistent objectives.

Integrated Risk Management
The proposed system introduces the concept of a Fire Authority Risk Management plan using risk assessment, which means measuring the impact on people and matching the fire service response to that risk.

It is the intention that Chief Fire Officers will be able to deliver Integrated Risk management plans.

Control Rooms
It is intended to carry out a technical review of control rooms and take decisions on the basis of the finding of that review. Factors which could come into play include the high cost of control systems and the frequency with which they are replaced.

Fire Prevention/Community Fire Safety
The Scottish Executive proposals will reform the Fire and Rescue Service into a service focussed on prevention and its new wider remit, including responding to terrorists attacks. For example, it is introducing a new system of fire and rescue cover based on risk to life rather than the current system based on the density of buildings in an area.

Continuing the fire theme, the day is rounded off with a member’s business debate on Auxiliary Fire Units in the Highlands from the SNP’s Fergus Ewing.

THURSDAY begins with an Executive debate on Creating an Enterprise Culture in Scotland’s Schools.

A number of commitments on encouraging young people to develop an understanding of enterprise and business are set out in the Executive's programme for the next 4 years. (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/pfbs-02.asp)

One of these is an undertaking to "develop an enterprising attitude and understanding of the world of work" by building on the Scottish Executive’s report, 'Determined to Succeed'. (The review of Enterprise Education, online at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/lifelong/reie-00.asp)

Other specific pledges in the Executive's programme include:

* Giving every pupil the opportunity to learn entrepreneurial skills at school by expanding the number of Scottish schools involved in Enterprise in Education from 10% to 100%.

* Developing partnerships between educational institutions and business to offer more apprenticeships and training opportunities.

* Encouraging local authorities "to give school pupils the opportunity for hands-on enterprise initiatives" and continuing "to promote manufacturing and engineering to our young people through initiatives like 'Make It In Scotland'."

* And, for the slightly older age group, encouraging universities to offer business and entrepreneurial experience, making use of sandwich years and buddy schemes.

This is followed by First Minister’s Question Time.

In the afternoon, after Question Time, there is an Executive debate Scotland’s Contribution to Education in the Commonwealth – Past, Present and Future.

This is designed to coincide with a Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Edinburgh this week. In the absence of a motion at present, however, little more about the focus of the debate is known.

As always, the motion will be published in Section F of the Business Bulletin and the full transcript of the debate will be available in the Official Report.

The week in the Chamber concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Macmillan / CAB Cancer Patient Services from Labour’s Karen Whitefield.

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