An elemental (although not in the scientific sense) theme to this week sees debates on both fire and water.

WEDNESDAY begins with the Stage 1 debate of the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill will replace the current Water Industry Commissioner with a Commission of four to six members. In its Stage 1 report, the Environment and Rural Development Committee, the lead Committee, registers its concern that it is ensured that customers are well represented in the system and that individual complaints are properly handled. The Committee has reserved judgement on these proposals until it takes more evidence before Stage 2.

Proposals in Part 2 of the Bill will regulate competition in the water industry.  The Bill prohibits anyone other than Scottish Water from using the public water and sewerage networks.  It also introduces a licensing system for companies who want to compete to provide retail water and sewerage services to business customers.  The Committee report, however, wants to see competition managed in a way that allows Scottish Water to remain a stable and efficient public provider.

There are also proposals for a new procedure for determining water charges and, in Part 3, dealing with water pollution from abandoned coal mines.

Click here to read the Bill and associated information

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate entitled Pools Companies Holding Scottish Football to Ransom from Roseanna Cunningham (SNP).

THURSDAY begins with the Stage 1 debate of the Fire (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 28^th June 2004 and aims to:

• Define the role of a modern Fire and Rescue Service;

• Ensure that the fire and rescue authorities have clear national and local priorities and objectives;

• Improve the protection offered to communities; and

• Revise fire safety legislation.

It is divided into five parts:

Part 1: Fire and Rescue Authorities
This determines the bodies which are fire and rescue authorities and makes provision for the constitution of joint fire and rescue boards to replicate the current position in which six joint boards operate on behalf of the majority of local authorities in respect of the issues.

Part 2: Fire and Rescue Services
This sets out:

• The functions of the fire and rescue authorities;

• Provisions for the supply of water;

• The powers of employees of fire and rescue authorities and police constables in relation to fires;

• Provisions for assistance to authorities in the discharge of their functions;

• Provisions for central supervision and support of authorities (including a National Framework, equipment and services); and

• Provisions on employment issues.

Part 3: Fire Safety
This concentrates on fire safety and proposes to consolidate and rationalise much of the existing fire safety legislation, with a view to maintaining and enhancing the protection afforded to both users of premises and others who may be affected by a fire on the premises.

Parts 4 and 5 deal with miscellaneous and general matters including the abolition of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and the determination of false alarms of fire as an offence.

Click here to read the Bill and associated information

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 the Stage 3 debate of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Bill.

A Member’s Bill, it was introduced by Elaine Smith MSP in December 2003 and seeks to make it an offence to prevent or stop someone from feeding milk to children under the age of two in a public place or on licensed premises. It also seeks to impose on Ministers a specific duty to support and encourage breastfeeding of children by their mothers.

Click here to read the Bill and associated information

Chamber business concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Diabetes in Scotland from Karen Whitefield (LAB).