Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 205,
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
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Executive Debate: Promoting Choice
and Good Citizenship - Towards More Smoke-Free Environments |
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Member’s Business: The Turning of
the Tide Against Nazism (Trish
Godman (LAB)) |
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European Election day: no parliamentary business. |
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IN
COMMITTEE
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AM |
Procedures |
Evidence on timescales and Stages of Bills is
followed by consideration of the review of the recent changes to First Minister’s
Question Time and Question Time. |
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PM |
Audit |
The
Committee will consider a response from the Scottish Executive to its on the Scottish
Further Education Funding Council. |
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Subordinate
Legislation |
Members
consider the delegated powers provisions in the Antisocial Behaviour etc.
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Standards |
The
Committee looks at a draft report on the cross-party group system. |
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European and
External Relations |
The
main item of business is discussion of the agendas and information received
from the Executive on a number of meetings of the Council of the EU. |
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Health |
No
less than three panels of witnesses give evidence on the Prohibition of Smoking in Regulated Areas ( |
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Justice 2 |
The
Committee will take evidence on the Prisoner
Escort and Court Custody Services Contract. |
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AM |
Education |
Members take evidence on the school curriculum before considering
the evidence given by the Minister at the previous meeting on school closures. |
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Justice 1 |
Evidence
of Emergency Workers ( |
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Public Petitions |
New
petitions cover topics including reintroducing a Juvenile Court System and
the Chinese People’s Liberation Army performing at the Edinburgh Military
Tattoo. The Committee will also return to the petitions on street
prostitution in residential areas and planning applications in areas of
historical and cultural significance. |
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Communities |
The
Committee takes oral evidence on Charity
law. |
SECTION 2 – NEWS
Review
of rape and sexual offences law
The Scottish Law Commission is to carry out a wide-ranging and comprehensive
review of the criminal law in
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has contacted the Chair of the Scottish Law Commission to ask that the review consider:
The law and definition of rape and its proof; and
The common law and statutory provisions relating to sexual offences in general, and proof of such offences – with particular regard to gender and equality issues in statutory provisions and any anomalies or gaps.
The SLC was set up by the Law Commissions Act
1965 to offer the government independent advice in recommending reforms to
improve, simplify and update the law of
Progress
The Executive's second progress report on the Scottish Tourism Framework for
Action is published today.
Tourism Minister, Frank McAveety, said it showed
positive achievements in strong growth in the short-break sector and success in
developing working partnerships within the industry.
He added:
“We have seen strong growth in the short break sector, particularly with
visitors from the
Tourism is currently worth £4.5 billion a year to the Scottish economy
and accounts for around 215,000 jobs.
Published in March 2002, the Tourism Framework for Action is a three-year
plan setting out what needs to be done by the public and private sectors. The Tourism Framework for Action Steering and
Implementation Groups were set up in 2002 and are made up of tourism
representatives from the public and private sectors.
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER
BUSINESS
The issue of smoking in
public places has been the subject of debate in some quarters since the
introduction of a member’s bill on the issue – evidence on which is being
taken, as was noted above, by the Health Committee this week.
Also this week, the
Executive has launched a wide-ranging consultation to consider the introduction
of more smoke-free areas. Deputy Health
Minister Tom McCabe said that it marked a unique opportunity for Scottish
people to voice their opinions on what should be done about smoking in public
places.
Speaking today in
“Many Scots wish to
breathe smoke-free air. While we do not wish to curb smokers’ personal choice
to smoke, the health impacts of a smoky atmosphere must be taken into account.
That is why we committed to introducing more smoke free places in the
Partnership Agreement, what remains to be decided is how this is done.
“Legislation is
obviously an option, but all options will be considered. We are seeking to
promote good citizenship and ensure smokers are aware of how their second-hand
smoke affects others. A voluntary charter being operated by the licensed trade
has yielded some results, but seven out of ten pubs still allow smoking
throughout their premises and smoke-free pubs and restaurants are still few and
far between.”
See www.smokingconsultation.com to
see the consultation materials and response form. A consultation information
pack and response form can also be obtained by calling 0800 027 7127. The pledge to consult the public on smoking
in public places was first made in the Tobacco Control
Action Plan, which was launched in January 2004.
In 2002, it was thought
that around 1.15 million people (aged 16 and over) smoked - just over 28% of
the population. It is estimated that at least 20-25% of all deaths in
The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on The Turning of the Tide Against Nazism form Trish Godman (LAB).
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