Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 271

16 days of action
Fifteen high-profile Scottish women have added their voices to that of Scotland's Deputy Communities Minister, Johann Lamont, as this year's international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence begins.

The comments from 16 Women for 16 Days highlights the issue of domestic abuse, their own personal thoughts on the issue and support for this year's call for "No More Violence."

Singer Annie Lennox, authors Denise Mina and Jenny Colgan, actress Dawn Steele, Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson and senior business figures are just some of the influential women who are supporting the 15th year of the 16 Days campaign.

The 16 Days campaign is supported by the Executive, whose own Domestic Abuse campaign continues to raise awareness of the issue in Scotland and of the help available to anyone affected by domestic abuse. The Executive has committed over £38m towards the provision of services to address violence against women and over 14,000 calls have been made to the abuse helpline on 0800 027 1234.

Promoting Scotland's enterprising spirit
Whisky distillers have teamed up with the Executive to re-affirm a commitment to promote the whisky industry for the benefit of the wider Scottish economy.

The whisky industry supports 41,000 Scottish jobs and annually generates £800m of income in Scotland. Every year, over £2 billion worth of whisky is exported - contributing £70 a second to the balance of trade - making the industry one of the UK's top five manufactured export earners.

'Scotland's Enterprising Spirit' is a new partnership document launched by Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson and Ian Good, Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), at Glengoyne Distillery, near Glasgow. It spells out the economic importance of Scottish whisky and identifies areas where government and industry co-operation can support its continued success. Issues include promoting responsible attitudes to alcohol, growing whisky exports, ensuring a fair tax and regulatory burden, encouraging tourism, sustainable development, and the industry's proposals for a new Scotch Whisky definitions law.

The 'Scotland's Enterprising Spirit' Partnership updates an earlier document - 'A Toast to the Future' - signed by the Executive and SWA in November 2000.

The Bill is based on recommendations from the Scottish Transplant Group and the Review Group on Retention of Organs at Post-Mortem and proposes a new framework for organ donation and transplantation; for post-mortem examination and associated retention of body parts; and for anatomical examination and the public display of dead bodies.

The provisions relating to organ donation and transplantation are aimed at strengthening the present system of "opting in". Carrying a donor card or putting your name on the Organ Donor Register will count as authorisations in terms of the Bill.

The provisions relating to hospital post-mortem examinations make it clear that no such examination can be carried out unless it has been authorised either by the person him or herself while still alive, or, if no such wishes were expressed, by the person's nearest relative. In the case of a child under 12, authorisation has to be given by the child's parents. Anyone performing a hospital post-mortem examination or retaining organs and tissue from such an examination without authorisation would be guilty of an offence and would face a substantial fine as well as the possibility of up to a year in prison.

The Anatomy Act 1984 is also to be modernised. Its provisions will be broadened to allow surgeons in training to practice surgical techniques and to allow HM Inspector of Anatomy in Scotland to regulate the use of bodies and body parts in public exhibitions under the guise of education or art.

Last week, the Health Committee published its Stage 1 Report on the Bill, which recommended that the Parliament supports the Bill at the Stage 1. The Committee expressed support for the framework for advance authorisation for organ donation and post-mortem set out in the Bill, and welcomed its clarification of the role of relatives where there is no advance authorisation. It also, however, set out a number of recommendations about how the Bill might be improved by amendment. Similarly, it made recommendations about the action required for effective implementation of the Bill, particularly for the promotion of public and professional awareness of the Bill’s provisions.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on Outsourcing of Rail Call Centre Jobs from Vertex Call Centre, Dingwall from Maureen MacMillan (LAB).

THURSDAY morning begins with an Executive debate on Ambitious Excellent Schools - One Year On.

At the beginning of November last year, Education Minister, Peter Peacock, unveiled 12 key actions to improve Scotland's schools.

This debate, as the title suggests, will allow MSPs to scrutinise the progress which has been made with these reforms in the intervening year.

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

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on Council Tax in Very Sheltered Housing (Alex Neil (SNP).

Wednesday 30th November 2005
14:35 – 17:00	Stage 1 Debate: Human Tissue (Scotland) Bill
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Outsourcing of Rail Call Centre Jobs from Vertex Call Centre, Dingwall (Maureen MacMillan (LAB))

Thursday 1st December 2005
09:15 – 11:40	Executive Debate: Ambitious Excellent Schools - One Year On
11:40 – 12:00	General Question Time
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:15 – 14:55	Themed Question Time: * Finance and Public Services and Communities; * Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
14:55 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Sea Fisheries
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Council Tax in Very Sheltered Housing (Alex Neil (SNP))

Tuesday 29th November 2005
AM	Finance	Officials give evidence on the Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights Bill's Financial Memorandum.
	Subordinate Legislation	The Committee looks at the delegated powers in the Council Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill.
	Audit	The Auditor General for Scotland gives a briefing on his report entitled, "Leadership Development" and members consider responses from the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Executive on the Auditor General for Scotland's section 22 report on the Scottish Prison Service.
PM	Enterprise and Culture	Senior figures from BBC Scotland give evidence on the internal reviews in the BBC and senior Ofcom figures give evidence on public service broadcasting.
	Health	The Deputy Health Minister and the Member in Charge both give evidence on the Abolition of NHS Prescription Charges (Scotland) Bill.
	Justice 2	The Deputy Justice Minister and Scottish Executive officials give evidence for the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.
Wednesday 30th November 2005
AM	Environment and Rural Development	Two panels of witnesses, which include representatives of the National Sheep Association, Quality Meat Scotland, the Road Haulage Association, give evidence on the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill.