Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 221

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

Scotland

scoops prestigious business award

Scotland

is one of the best places to do business in Europe, according to a competition run by the Financial Times group.

The “European Region of the Future” accolade from fDi (foreign direct investment) magazine highlights Scottish strengths across a range of areas, including investment promotion; higher education; transport; and support for technology and innovation.

In the category awards,

Scotland

also picked up the regional “Best FDI Promotion Strategy.”

This year's European Cities and Regions of the Future awards were in three rounds, with around 140 entries judged against 33 individual criteria.

Scotland

first had to compete against other

regions, then in the Northern Europe competition. In the final round,

Scotland

was up against

Hungary

, Saxony, the Canary Islands, and Krasnodar Krai (

Russia

). Barcelona won the European City of the Future award.

fDi magazine, part of the Financial Times group, is published on a bi-monthly basis to a global audience of over 45,000 corporate investors and their location advisors.

Reforms aim to improve

Scotland

's schools
Twelve key actions to improve

Scotland

's schools have today been unveiled by Education Minister, Peter Peacock. They are part of a wider package of reforms, which together make up what will be the most comprehensive modernisation programme in schools for a generation.

WEDNESDAY begins with an Executive debate on Schools.

This will focus on today’s announcement (see above) by Education Minister, Peter Peacock, of major plans to shake-up (mainly secondary) school education.

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on the Development and Manufacture of Renewable Energy from Maureen Macmillan (LAB).

THURSDAY begins with an SNP debate, the subject of which is to be announced.

As soon as the SNP confirms the topic, it will appear in Section B of the Business Bulletin.

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 a Ministerial Statement on Youth Justice.

The details of any statement, of course, must be made first to the Parliament and so the specifics are not known.

That being said, it will be made against the backdrop of the Executive’s work around the Children’s Hearings system, fast track hearings, increasing the resources available to deal with persistent offenders, Youth Courts, a national system of warnings for young offenders, restorative justice and diversionary activities.

This is followed by an Executive debate on Domestic Abuse.

Over 36,000 incidents of domestic abuse were reported to police in 2002 and, at the end of last month, it was announced that children and young people who suffer the effects of domestic abuse will benefit from an investment of £6 million in improved services. The extension will mean that any child or young person who requires advice or support will be able get help.

Since 1999 the Executive has committed over £32 million for enhanced refuge provision, provided specialist services such as a 24-hour telephone helpline (0800 027 1234) and support workers, and funded an awareness raising campaign. The £6 million is on top of this.

Chamber business concludes with a Member’s Business debate on the Launch of the Gretna-Lockerbie-Annan Economic Regeneration Prospectus from David Mundell (CON).

Wednesday 3^rd November 2004
14:35 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Schools
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Development and Manufacture of Renewable Energy (Maureen Macmillan (LAB))

Thursday 4^th November 2004
09:30 – 12:00	SNP Business: Subject TBC
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:00 – 15:00	Question Time: * Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport; * Justice and Law Officers; * General Questions
15:00 – 15:30	Ministerial Statement: Youth Justice
	Executive Debate: Domestic Abuse
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Launch of the Gretna-Lockerbie-Annan Economic Regeneration Prospectus (David Mundell (CON))

Tuesday 2^nd November 2004
AM	Equal Opportunities	The Committee considers two petitions. One on the lack of care homes for young physically disabled people and another, from Scottish Women Against Pornography, calling for the Scottish Parliament to enact legislation to define pornographic material as incitement to sexual hatred and to make such incitement an offence similar to that of incitement to racial hatred.
	Finance	Two academics give evidence on the Budget process 2005-06.
PM	Enterprise and Culture	A range of witnesses from the world of further and higher education give evidence on the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill.
	Health	A busy meeting begins with the continuation of the Workforce Planning Inquiry. This week, the Chief Executive and Postgraduate Dean of NHS Education for Scotland give evidence. Health Minister, Andy Kerr, then gives evidence on the Budget process 2005-06.
	Justice 1 & Justice 2	The Committees meet jointly to consider to take evidence on the Budget process 2005-06 from, among others, the Lord Advocate and Minister for Justice.
	Local Government and Transport	A full agenda features evidence from the Transport Minister and officials on the Inquiry into issues arising from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001; the Rail Industry in Scotland; and the Budget process 2005-06.
Wednesday 3^rd November 2004
AM	Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill	The Private Bill Committee meets to take oral evidence on the adequacy of the accompanying documents.