Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 246

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

Golden Jubilee sets new record
New figures show that the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank carried out 18,509 procedures over the 12 months ending in March, beating its target of 18,362, which itself was a 40% increase on the previous year.

The Golden Jubilee now has 100 beds, a new catheterisation lab, state-of-the-art orthopaedic theatres which are the most modern in

Britain

and a new MRI scanning suite. Last year saw a rise in hip and knee joint replacements (up 39% to 1045), general surgery operations almost doubled to 1,663 and the number of ophthalmology procedures increased by 47%.

Plans have been drawn up for a cardio-thoracic service based at the Golden Jubilee to serve the whole of the West of Scotland. Consultation on this has just finished and a decision is expected shortly.

The hospital was bought by the NHS in July 2002 for £37.5 million from the Abu Dhabi Investment Company. At that stage it had just 32 available beds out of a potential of more than 300 on the site, carrying out 2,500 procedures a year. Unlike many other NHS hospitals the Golden Jubilee has no emergency admissions. It can concentrate all its resources solely on planned elective work.

Proposals for future of

Scotland

's first national park
Proposals which could shape the future of one of

Scotland

's most scenic areas were launched today by Deputy Environment Minister, Lewis Macdonald.

The draft plan for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is the first of its kind in

Scotland

. It sets out how the Park Authority proposes to guide the development, conservation and enhancement of the area.

The National Parks (

Scotland

) Act 2000 makes provision for the establishment of National Parks in

Scotland

. The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was established on 8^th July 2002 .

· promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public; and

· promote sustainable economic and social development of the area's communities.

Sections 11 to 13 of the 2000 Act state that each National Park Authority has a duty to prepare a National Park Plan setting out the overall vision, policies and specific objectives and programmes of actions to be pursued within a National Park by it and other bodies (in so far as they affect the National Park). The final Plan must be submitted to Scottish Ministers for approval before it can be adopted.

WEDNESDAY sees another 2 Committee debates, beginning with an Enterprise and Culture Committee debate on Restructuring Scotland’s Tourism Industry - Report on the Review of Area Tourist Boards.

In September 2003, the Committee agreed to scrutinise the Scottish Executive’s Review of Area Tourist Boards (ATBs). The outcome of the review was announced in the Parliament by the then Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Frank McAveety MSP, last March. Since then, the Scottish Executive, VisitScotland and ATBs have been busy implementing the review’s recommendations and restructuring the tourism industry in

Scotland

. Following the Minister’s announcements, the Committee undertook its initial investigations in May and June 2004 and the Committee published an interim report in July 2004. The Committee agreed at that time to return to the issue in late 2004 and continued its scrutiny into early 2005.

In summary, this report concludes that there continues to be broad support for the general principle of restructuring the ATB networks and that, as the Committee concluded in June 2004, the new structure has the potential to create a more consistent and coordinated service to improve support for tourism across

Scotland

. The Committee supports the general principles of the restructuring. However, the Committee will continue to monitor progress and examine whether the eventual structure delivers on the promised improvements to

Scotland

’s tourism industry in the coming months and years.

The Committee also recommends that the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and VisitScotland should pay particular attention to the operational structures to ensure involvement at the highest levels within the new network from the private sector, local authorities and the enterprise networks.

This is followed by a European and External Relations Committee debate on its Inquiry into the Promotion of Scotland Worldwide - the Strategy, Policy and Activities of the Scottish Executive.

The inquiry examined how the Scottish Executive is promoting Scotland in terms of its attractiveness to investors, economic partners, visitors and in education. It also examined Scotland 's role in the EU and its ability to influence policy, and more widely in terms of a contribution to international aid and development. In the course of the inquiry, the Committee took evidence from nearly 60 witnesses, including Robin Cook MP, Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, and former First Minister, Henry McLeish.

Published at the end of February, the report finds:

· While commending the direction of many of the Executive's activities, believes that the Executive should be more ambitious and effective in promoting Scotland abroad, in building partnerships with other countries and regions and in bringing investment, skills and events to Scotland .

· In order to improve the focus and delivery of the Executive's activities abroad, the responsibilities for external affairs, currently spread over six or more Ministers, should be concentrated in the hands of one lead Minister at Cabinet level.

· The Executive should direct VisitScotland to give greater priority to building up its operations and posts in overseas markets to enhance Scotland 's presentation as a destination for visitors.

· The Executive should give greater emphasis to promoting the high quality of Scottish education as a means of attracting overseas students and bringing people to Scotland .

· The Executive accepts that it has a role to play in international development and the Committee therefore wants to see this developed and has recommended Executive review its resources and skills to maximise the contribution Scotland can make.

Read the report

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on The Planning Process and the M74 Northern Extension from Rosie Kane (SSP).

THURSDAY morning begins with a Ministerial Statement entitled Follow-up to the Audit Committee Report on Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

Unsurprisingly, there has been a great deal of press speculation surrounding exactly what the Minister will say. As with all statements, however, it must be made first to the Parliament, so no concrete details are available at the moment.

There is then an Executive debate on Tackling Serious and Organised Crime - Developing Strategic Partnerships.

Back in January, the Parliament passed a Sewel Motion on the

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. This creates a new Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) – a UK-wide body designed to take to the next level the campaign against serious organised crime. While it was entirely within the remit of the UK Government to create such a body, the Executive was closely involved in the drafting of the legislation.

In February, new plans to support the police in the fight against crime and better protect communities were put out for consultation. They included:

· Bringing in new measures to tackle knife crime including doubling the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in public from two to four years, giving the police the unconditional power to arrest someone suspected of carrying a knife, and increasing the minimum age for buying a knife from 16 to 18.

· Encouraging those accused of crimes to give information and evidence to the police and prosecutors about others involved in serious and organised crime, in return for reduced sentences.

· Introducing mandatory drug testing and referral, upon arrest, for anyone aged 16 or over suspected of a drugs or drugs-related offence, to encourage them into treatment, reduce their levels of drug dependence and tackle drug-related crime.

· Establishing a new independent body to investigate non-criminal complaints against the police and ensure

Scotland

has a modern, transparent complaints system.

· Bringing together common police services such as the Scottish Police College and the Scottish Criminal Record Office, along with the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency into a single authority, to ensure services are delivered effectively and efficiently, and to improve accountability.

The consultation on these measures closed on May 4^th and it is likely that this debate will be the precursor to the introduction of new legislation to strengthen and improve policing and law enforcement in

Scotland

This is followed by General Question Time and First Minister’s Question Time.

In the afternoon, after Themed Question Time (for the featured departments, see Section 1 above) there is an Executive debate on the Voluntary Sector and the Social Economy.

2005 is the Year of the Volunteer, which promotes the benefits of volunteering and gives people information on how they can get involved. The Year is being run across the

and the Executive is supporting the work in

Scotland

with a range of voluntary organisations. The Year will see the production of a wide range of promotional materials about volunteering and information on how to get involved. There will be themed months: for instance, May is the environment month and August is dedicated to sport. In addition, there will be recognition of the achievement of volunteers across

Scotland

2005 will also see the launch of Project

Scotland

, which gives young Scots a unique opportunity to contribute to their community and their country, while learning new skills. It is a major partnership between government, the private and voluntary sector, with an initial focus on 16-25 year olds.

According to the Scottish Household Survey, around 25% of Scots volunteer, and around eight million hours are volunteered in

Scotland

each month.

The day concludes with a Member’s Business debate on the Trial Reintroduction of the European Beaver from Nora Radcliffe (LD).

Wednesday 18th May 2005
14:35 – 15:45	Enterprise and Culture Committee Debate: Restructuring Scotland’s Tourism Industry - Report on the Review of Area Tourist Boards
15:45 – 17:00	European and External Relations Committee Debate: An Inquiry into the Promotion of Scotland Worldwide - the Strategy, Policy and Activities of the Scottish Executive
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: The Planning Process and the M74 Northern Extension (Rosie Kane (SSP))

Thursday 19th May 2005
09:15 – 09:45	Ministerial Statement: Follow-up to the Audit Committee Report on Argyll and Clyde Health Board
09:45 – 11:40	Executive Debate: Tackling Serious and Organised Crime - Developing Strategic Partnerships
11:40 – 12:00	General Question Time
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:15 – 14:55	Themed Question Time: * Health and Community Care; and * Environment and Rural Development
14:55 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Voluntary Sector and the Social Economy
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Trial Reintroduction of the European Beaver (Nora Radcliffe (LD))

Tuesday 17th May 2005
AM	Finance	Academics and Professor Michael Barber, Director of the Delivery Unit at the Cabinet Office, give evidence on civil service reform as part of the Committee’s scrutiny of the Executive’s Efficient Government Initiative.
PM	Health	Stage 2 of the Smoking, Health and Social Care ( Scotland ) Bill begins.
	Local Government and Transport	Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, Tavish Scott, and officials give Stage 1 evidence on the Licensing ( Scotland ) Bill.
Wednesday 18th May 2005
AM	Communities	5 panels of witnesses give evidence on the Housing ( Scotland ) Bill.
	Justice 1	Children’s organisations, Families Need Fathers, the Grandparents Apart Self-Help Group, Stepfamily Scotland and women’s groups give evidence on the Family Law ( Scotland ) Bill.
	Education	A range of witnesses from the world of education give evidence on the pupil motivation inquiry.
	Environment and Rural Development	The Committee considers subordinate legislation and Brian Monteith (CON) will seek to move that nothing further be done under the Horse Passports ( Scotland ) Regulations 2005.