SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

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

SECTION 2 – NEWS

DRAFT fireworks regulationS PUBLISHED
Draft regulations to combat the misuse of fireworks have been published.

The proposals include the introduction of a curfew on the use of fireworks during antisocial hours and the licensing of fireworks vendors.

The draft regulations are contained in a consultation document issued jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry.  The regulations will be made under the Fireworks Act 2003.  Scottish Ministers will be responsible for introducing a curfew on the use of fireworks.  It is proposed to prohibit the use of fireworks between 11 pm and 7 am, with the exemption of 5^th November, 31^st December, Diwali night and Chinese New Year.  Local authorities would be allowed to grant dispensations to the curfew for special local occasions.

It is proposed that further regulations, extending to Scotland, would be introduced by Department of Trade and Industry Ministers to introduce the licensing of fireworks suppliers.

These will build on regulations introduced in December to prohibit the possession of fireworks by those under the age of 18 in public places and of the most powerful fireworks by members of the public in public places.

In addition, the supply of air bombs to the general public will shortly be prohibited.

The closing date for the consultation is 2^nd July.

Full story

Business Improvement Districts
Following the outcome of the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) consultation, a working group involving stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to progress the introduction of BIDs in Scotland has been set up.

BIDs – a partnership between a local authority and local businesses to secure additional services in order to improve the business environment – have proved successful in transforming areas like Times Square in New York.

The remit of the Working Group is to bring forward proposals on how to establish Business Improvement Districts in Scotland, producing for Ministerial consideration:

• Recommendations on the involvement of property owners;

• Recommendations on the introduction of BID pilot projects in Scotland;

• Draft guidance document on BIDs for consultation; and

• Recommendations on the use of BIDs in rural areas.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Business in the Chamber on WEDNESDAY is largely taken up with Stage 3 of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Criminal procedure in Scotland is mainly regulated by the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act). The Bill seeks to amend the 1995 Act to reform the operation of the High Court.  The provisions, which should be seen alongside the newly passed Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, aim to assist victims and witnesses by creating greater certainty about when trial will proceed and preventing unnecessary adjournments.

The Bill is divided into four parts:

·         Part 1 provides for changes to court procedures in the High Court, including a new mandatory preliminary hearing and changes to how trial dates are set.

·         Part 2 includes proposals for i) changes to time limits; ii) the extension of existing provisions allowing trials in the absence of the accused; and iii) to add new measures in relation to obstructive witnesses.  It also includes provisions applying to High Court cases and to cases prosecuted in the Sheriff Courts under solemn procedure.

·         Part 3 would provide courts, both in solemn and summary cases, with the power to require the electronic monitoring of a condition of bail restricting a person’s movements.

·         Part 4 Includes proposals relating to matters which should be dealt with during “first diets” (an existing pre-trial procedural hearing held in Sheriff Court Cases under solemn procedure); sentencing following a guilty plea; and the sentencing powers of a Sheriff under solemn procedure.

Click here to read the Bill as amended at Stage 2
Click here to read the Explanatory Notes
Click here to read the Policy Memorandum

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Chiropody Care from Mary Scanlon (CON).

THURSDAY morning sees and SNP debate on The European Constitution.

While, as is usual with opposition debates, the motion itself has not yet been published.  However, it can be surmised that it will focus on the referendum on any constitutional treaty and the circumstances in which the SNP would support it.  Judging by weekend press reports, such circumstances are likely to centre around the issue of fish.

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 (for the departments featured in the themed section this week, see Section 1 above), there is an Executive debate on Reducing Reoffending – Improving the Effectiveness of Custodial and Non-Custodial Sentences.

Recent statistics show that around 60% of offenders were convicted of another offence within two years of their release from prison and Ministers last month launched a consultation on how to bring this figure down.

The key questions include:

·         What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current system providing offender services?

·         How could these services be improved?

·         What can be done to improve the rehabilitation of short term prisoners?

·         How can we ensure that community and prison based programmes are complementary to each other and ensure maintenance of the progress an individual has made?

·         What are the barriers in the current arrangements to achieving a seamless management of sentenced offenders?

·         What organisational structures would provide an effective solution? 

To read the consultation document in full, see: www.scotland.gov.uk/reoffendingconsultation/

The day is rounded off with a Member’s Debate on the Threat to Jobs at TransBus International from Dennis Canavan (IND).

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