Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 275

Support sought for Glasgow's Games
A campaign to encourage the whole of Scotland to back the bid to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Scotland was launched in Glasgow today.

First Minister, Jack McConnell, was joined by Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council and Louise Martin, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre to unveil new branding and the official website for the bid.

People wishing to express their support can do so in three ways:

By registering on the official website at www.glasgow2014.com
By texting GOLD to 61611
By completing a postcard distributed through sports clubs and leisure centres

A number of high profile celebrities have already publicly demonstrated their support including, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ally McCoist, Shirley Robertson, Lulu, Nick Nairn, Colin Montgomerie, and Carol Smillie.

The visual identity is designed to represent the modernity of Glasgow and Scotland while acknowledging the country's cultural heritage as it is recognised by the rest of the world.

Scotland faces competition to host the 2014 from Abuja, Nigeria, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Commonwealth Games Federation will announce the name of the 2014 host city in Sri Lanka in October 2007.

Transport Scotland begins work
The new public agency for road and rail, Transport Scotland, is now in charge of major infrastructure projects across the country. The agency assumed responsibility for delivering road and rail improvements on January 1st and will now be directing the Executive's £3 billion programme of investment.

Today also sees the submission to Parliament of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill.

WEDNESDAY begins with an Executive debate on the Sustainable Development Strategy.

Published at the end of last year, Choosing Our Future: Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy estimates that the area of land and sea needed to provide all the resources currently consumed in Scotland - the country's ecological footprint - is 2.4 times the global average.

It therefore aims to set out an urgent programme of action to improve quality of life, protect natural resources and reduce Scotland's impact on the global environment.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate on the Closure of Six Post Offices from Dr Elaine Murray (LAB).

THURSDAY morning begins with a Scottish National Party debate on Local Government Finance.

As is usual 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 debates will be available in the Official Report from 08:00 on Friday.

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

The day closes with a Member's Business debate on the Tayside Project from Shona Robison (SNP).

Wednesday 11th January 2006
14:35 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Sustainable Development Strategy
17:00 – 17:30	Member’s Business: Closure of Six Post Offices (Dr Elaine Murray (LAB))

Thursday 12th January 2006
09:15 – 11:40	Scottish National Party Debate: Local Government Finance
11:40 – 12:00	General Question Time
12:00 – 12:30	First Minister's Question Time
14:15 – 14:55	Themed Question Time: * Environment and Rural Development; * Health and Community Care
14:55 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Workforce Development
17:00 – 17:30	Member's Business: The Tayside Project (Shona Robison (SNP))

Tuesday 10th January 2006
AM	Equal Opportunities	Two panels, including representatives from the business community, give evidence on the disability inquiry.
	Finance	The Committee will consider the draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2005 Amendment Order 2006.
	Audit	The Auditor General for Scotland will brief the Committee on his report on the NorthLink ferry services contract. The Committee will also consider a response from the Scottish Executive to its report on further education colleges. In addition, senior figures from Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commission give evidence on the AGS' overview of the water industry in Scotland.
	*Procedures*	The Clerk of the Queensland Parliament, Australia, gives evidence via video-link on the review of parliamentary time. The Committee will also consider correspondence from the SPCB relating to Crown appointments.
PM	Health	The Committee will consider the Adults with Incapacity (Management of Residents’ Finances) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 and the Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2005, before turning to the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Health Bill.
	Justice 2	The Committee deals with a few pieces of Subordinate Legislation, before considering its draft Stage 1 report on the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.
	Local Government and Transport	Members will consider their approach to the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Bill, before looking at their Stage 1 report on the Council Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill.
Wednesday 11th January 2006
AM	Communities	Civil servants give evidence on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.
	Education	Education Minister, Peter Peacock and officials give evidence on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill.
	Environment and Rural Development	In addition to dealing with a range of Subordinate Legislation, the Committee takes more Stage 1 evidence on the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill.
	Justice 1	Members meet at 08:00 to take evidence via video-link from the Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission on the Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights Bill.