Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 204, 1^st June 2004

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE

SECTION 2 – NEWS

Four more councils take up PPP investment
The next stage of Scotland's biggest ever school buildings programme was unveiled today, bringing the total investment to over £2.2 billion.

Four councils – Falkirk, Moray, Scottish Borders and West Dunbartonshire – are joining the 24 which are already part of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) school building programme.

During a visit to Vale of Leven Academy in West Dunbartonshire, Education Minister Peter Peacock said:

"Throughout Scotland, many communities are seeing the real benefits of our school buildings programme. Gone are the crumbling classrooms and out-of-date equipment. Instead, our pupils and teachers have schools fit for the 21st century, equipped to meet modern needs and challenges.

"That's what this investment is about – building for the future to deliver the very best for our young people and the generations who will follow them. All children deserve the best possible start in life and, to achieve that, we must ensure that our school environment does not put barriers in their paths.

"This investment – the biggest school buildings programme in Scotland's history – will help us meet our target to rebuild or refurbish 300 schools by 2009. As Education Minister, I relish the opportunity to visit schools and see the positive difference that the right environment, coupled with enthusiastic, well-motivated teachers, can make to a child's life.

"Today's further investment means that even more children, in more parts of Scotland, are set to reap these rewards."

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

Full story

Queens Award for Voluntary Service
First Minister Jack McConnell today paid tribute to the Scottish volunteers and community groups who have won a prestigious UK award.

Twelve Scottish organisations – including the Inverclyde Carers Council, which represents the interests and aspirations of local voluntary carers and provides training courses – have won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service for outstanding achievement in providing service to the community.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service was launched in 2003. It recognises and rewards excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. The award is a UK-wide initiative and 110 organisations in total will receive it this year.

Her Majesty the Queen will host a reception for representatives of all winning groups in St James' Palace on 19^th July. Presentation of the awards will be made to individual winning groups by their local Lord Lieutenant at ceremonies during June and July.

All successful groups have demonstrated that they:

• Have evolved locally and are locally run;

• Have a proven track record of active community involvement, normally over a period of three years or more;

• Are well designed to meet local needs;

• Add significant value by directly providing community focussed voluntary activities of a very high quality; and

• Generate a high level of local goodwill and respect.

Full story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Chamber Business begins on WEDNESDAY with an SNP debate on The International Situation.

Unfortunately, although the debate is less than 24 hours away, the motion has not been published, so – other than the likelihood that it will focus on Iraq – no further details, such as the course of action which the SNP will advise, are available.

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 Thursday.

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Affordable Housing in North-east Fife from Iain Smith (LD).

THURSDAY begins with an Executive debate on the Economy of the Highlands and Islands.

Again, at the time of writing, the motion has not yet been published, so the reason for the debate – and whether any announcement will be made – is unclear.

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), the Stage 1 debate on the Tenements (Scotland) Bill.

The changes in this Bill will ensure that basic repair and maintenance work on tenements can be carried out - even if a minority in a tenement property will not comply – and ensures that owners are taking on their responsibilities.  It will also make it easier for home-owners in a shared property to work together to maintain the shared areas of their buildings, such as the close and roof.

At the moment, if a dispute about liability arises around an issue which is not dealt with in an owner’s title deeds, the matter is determined by common law.  Much of this is based on the rules on tenements developed in the 17^th Century, supplemented by case law and is now seen as unsatisfactory and in need of updating.

The Bill, therefore:

• Clarifies and restates the common law rules which demarcate ownership of parts of the tenement;

• Introduces a tenement management scheme (TMS) which will allow easier decision making and swifter action in making repairs; and

• Provides that there will be compulsory insurance for all flats in a tenement.  (NB This is not a mandatory common policy.)

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

This is followed by a short Sewel motion (a technical measure which allows Westminster to legislate on devolved matters) on the UK Civil Partnership Bill.

The purpose of the Bill is to enable same-sex couples to obtain – provided, amongst other things, that they are not already in an existing civil partnership or marriage - legal recognition of their relationship as civil partners.

The creation of this new legal status combines reserved and devolved policy areas.  In order to develop a coherent package and to avoid cross border problems, parity across the UK is essential – hence the introduction of the UK Bill and the need for a Sewel motion.

The week concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Asbestos-Related Illnesses from Des McNulty (LAB).

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