SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE
This week’s likely highlights in the Committee Corridors include: 
 

SECTION 2 – NEWS

Teacher training places to increase
Extra teacher training places have been announced.  The places will help increase the workforce to 53,000 by 2007 and reduce class sizes to 20 in S1 and S2 maths and English, and 25 in P1.

Efforts to attract former teachers back to the profession will also be stepped up.

Since May 2003, the intake for the one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Education (PGCE) has already increased from 1625 in 2003-4 to 2310 for 2004-5. In addition, further increases will take intakes for the one-year course to around:

·         3100 in 2005-6, and

·         2900 in 2006-7.

The figures have been derived from the annual workforce planning exercise involving universities, the General Teaching Council for Scotland and local authorities and represent the best estimates of how teacher training will need to expand to meet the target of 53,000 teachers by 2007.

These calculations are based on the current workforce (51,693 in September 2002), the projected number of pupils in the years ahead, the number of teachers leaving the profession each year (for example for retirement, maternity leave), the numbers who return, requirements to reduce class contact time for teachers as part of the teachers' agreement, and the number of teachers that do not complete their teacher training course or decide after course completion to pursue another career.

Full story

Promoting Excellence in Scotland guide
The Executive today published the latest edition of the Promoting Excellence in Scotland guide, which details examples of best practice aimed at driving up standards in the delivery of public services.

They include:

·         Aberdeenshire Council’s Personnel Support Team;

·         Ability Centre Support Services, West Lothian;

·         Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary;

·         The Edinburgh International Conference Centre;

·         The West Fife Community Drugs Team;

·         The Turning Point Initiative, Glasgow;

·         Renfrewshire Council; and

·         Comhairle nan Eilan Siar’s housing department.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY’s business in the Chamber begins with a Stage 1 debate on the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

This is an Executive Bill which amends the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 to provide for greater certainty in the proceedings of the High Court of Justiciary. The Bill also contains proposals affecting criminal cases dealt with by the sheriff courts under solemn procedure and other provisions which are relevant to both solemn and summary procedure cases, such as those relating to bail conditions.

For example, the bill aims:

·         To introduce a mandatory preliminary hearing in High Court proceedings so that the court may ascertain the readiness of the parties to go to trial;

·         To modernise the time limits for High Court proceedings to ensure adequate time for preparation so that trials proceed in a proper fashion without unnecessary disruption;

·         To replace the present system of trials within sittings with a system of trials on dates appointed by the court, so as to create greater certainty for all who have to attend, especially witnesses;

·         To clarify the provision whereby the court may reduce a sentence in recognition of a plea of guilty by the accused in order to encourage earlier realistic pleas;

·         To give the court power to proceed with a solemn trial in the absence of the accused; and

·         To enable action to be taken with a view to ensuring the attendance at court of reluctant witnesses.

In its Stage 1 report, the Scottish Parliament's Justice 1 Committee endorsed the general principles of the Bill. It did, however, make the following points:

·         There is strong evidence that the provision to appoint legal representation for an accused who has absconded is not workable;

·         The Bill refers to “reluctant witnesses”, while evidence shows that the majority of witnesses who fail to attend court are not being deliberately obstructive. The Committee believes that the Bill should state clearly that section 12 relates to recalcitrant witnesses;

·         There is not sufficient evidence to convince the Committee that tagging of “reluctant witnesses” is necessary; and

·         The timescale for the increase of sentencing powers of the sheriff courts should be reconsidered as there has not been adequate preparatory work undertaken.

Click here to read the Bill as introduced
Click here to read the Committee’s Stage 1 Report in full
Click here to read the Explanatory Notes
Click here to read the Policy Memorandum

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on General Medical Services Contracts from Alasdair Morgan (SNP).

THURSDAY morning begins with an Executive debate on A Better Deal for Young People.

While the motion has not yet been published and the precise focus is unclear, it is likely that the debate will scrutinise the various aspects of the work which the Executive has been doing in this area (for example, seeking to improve schools, appointing a Children’s Commissioner, trying to prevent children being let down by the care system etc.) and how Executive policy affects young people.

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

This is followed by First Minister’s Question Time.

In the afternoon, after Question Time, there is an Executive debate on Building and Supporting the NHS Workforce.

With workforce related matters (specifically the recruitment, training and retention of staff) at the heart of a variety of issues in the NHS, this looks likely to be a wide-ranging debate. 

More will be known, however, when the motion is published.  Again, see the Business Bulletin for the motion and the Official Report for the debate transcript.

The day is rounded off with a Member’s Debate on Planning for a Co-operative Development Agency from Labour’s Johann Lamont.

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