Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 235

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

Fresh Talent - one year on
A new package of measures to help employers recruit staff from overseas was announced today.

First Minister, Jack McConnell, made the announcement during a visit to IBM Greenock, where he met some of the company's 1000 strong international workforce.

Antisocial behaviour funding allocations
Local communities across Scotland today learned how much they are to receive to fight antisocial behaviour in their areas.

Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, confirmed that £30.83 million in 2006/07 and £33.16 million in 2007/08 will be made available to support local strategies. Inverclyde will receive a total of £3,665,000 - £1,765,000 in 2006/07 and £1,900,000 in 2007/08.

It is for local agencies working with local people to identify priorities in their area where the funding should be spent, but it is likely that most of the new funding will be used to continue and strengthen services that were set up with the first allocations of antisocial behaviour funding in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

The Noise Provisions of the Antisocial Behaviour Act also came into force today. Local authorities will be able to take powers to set up noise control services and impose £100 on-the-spot fines on noisy neighbours.

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY begins with Stage 1 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

A not insubstantial piece of legislation, the Bill has three parts:

PART 1 covers Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs).

The Bill requires Scottish Ministers to establish a network of RTPs covering the whole of Scotland. RTPs will be managed by councillors and external members; each local authority within the boundary of a RTP will be represented by one councillor who will have a vote weighted by the population of that authority. External members will initially be appointed by Scottish Ministers and thereafter by the RTP itself; external members will control no more than 33% of the voting power of a RTP. The area, constitution and powers of a RTP will be specified in secondary legislation, however each RTP will at least be required to draft a Regional Transport Strategy.

PART 2 aims to reduce the inconvenience caused by roadworks.

The Bill covers all roads, including trunk roads, and creates a statutory single national register for planning and coordinating roadworks, called the Scottish Road Works Register. The Bill also creates a Scottish Road Works Commissioner to improve and monitor national performance on roadworks; strengthens requirements for directing the timing of works and reinstating roads; and creates new provisions for resurfacing roads.

In addition, the Bill changes the enforcement regime for offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and strengthens requirements, and improves training for persons carrying out, supervising or administering road works.

PART 3 provides mostly for the introduction of national travel concession schemes. It also proposes minor amendments to legislation on pedestrian crossings, Harbour Orders, and the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960. Part 3 also clarifies provisions on bus quality partnerships, road user charging and the role of local authorities in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area in developing an integrated transport scheme.

This is followed by the Preliminary Stage Debate of the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill.

Following last week’s debate on the Line Two Bill, this Private Bill is also promoted by the City of Edinburgh Council, which is seeking statutory powers to construct and operate a tram line from St Andrew Square along Leith Walk to Leith, west to Granton, South to Haymarket and back to St Andrew Square along Princes Street.

The Private Bill Committee set up to examine the Bill reported on its general principles earlier this month, concluding that the proposals could bring transport, socio-economic and environmental benefits to the local and regional economy and recommending to the Parliament that the Bill should proceed to Consideration Stage.

Should the Bill proceed to Consideration Stage, then the Committee will meet in a quasi-judicial capacity to hear evidence on the Bill and on objections to it. The Committee then meets in a legislative capacity to consider and dispose of amendments.

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on Fairtrade Fortnight from Christine May (LAB).

THURSDAY morning is given over to the Scottish Socialist Party, who have called two debates on the G8 and School Meals.

As is normal with opposition debates, no motion has yet been published. As always, however, the motion will be published in Section F of the Business Bulletin in due course and a full transcript of the debate will be available in the Official Report from 08:00 on 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 Parliament debates the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been unlawful in Scotland since 1985, by virtue of the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. The Bill proposes to re-enact the existing offences in the 1985 Act and extend protection by giving those offences extra-territorial effect in order to protect those being sent abroad to have FGM carried out. The Bill also proposes an increase in the penalty on conviction from indictment from 5 to 14 years imprisonment. Following the passing of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, equivalent provisions are in force in the rest of the UK and the intention of the Bill is to ensure that equal legal protection is afforded in Scotland as in the rest of the UK.

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on the Renfrew and Inverclyde Scout Association – Lapwing Lodge from Bruce McFee (SNP).

Wednesday 2^nd March 2005
14:35 – 16:00	Stage 1 Debate: Transport (Scotland) Bill
16:00 – 17:00	Preliminary Stage Debate: Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill
17:00 - 17:30	Member’s Business: Fairtrade Fortnight (Christine May (LAB))

Thursday 3^rd March 2005
09:30 – 10:45	Scottish Socialist Party Debate: G8
10:45 – 12:00	Scottish Socialist Party Debate: School Meals
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:00 – 15:00	Question Time: * Environment and Rural Development; * Health and Community Care; and * General Questions
15:00 – 17:00	Stage 1 Debate: Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Bill
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Renfrew and Inverclyde Scout Association – Lapwing Lodge (Bruce McFee (SNP))

Tuesday 1^st March 2005
AM	Procedures	Rt Hon Henry McLeish and Lord Sewel give evidence on the Convention named after the latter.
	Finance	After evidence on the Scottish Parliament Holyrood Building from a range of senior figures, the Committee will consider the Financial Memorandum of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill.
PM	Enterprise and Culture	Stage 2 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill continues.
	Local Government and Transport	3 panels of witnesses give evidence on Margo Macdonald’s Prostitution Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill.
	Health	The Committee takes evidence on Parts 4 (discipline) and 5 (infection with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment) of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill.
Wednesday 2^nd March 2005
AM	Communities	Some 5 panels of witnesses give evidence on the Executive’s draft planning guidance on the working of opencast coal.
	Education	Stage 2 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill begins.
	Public Petitions	New petitions cover matters including the implications of the proposed ban on smoking in public places for the hospitality industry, the law of trust and reviewing the distribution of Education Maintenance Allowance payments. The petitions on the Electoral Commission’s role in Scottish local government elections, school holidays and the effectiveness of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 return for further consideration.