Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 312

Environment campaign launched
A major new campaign to get people thinking about their legacy for future generations was launched today.

The Executive's "Its Our Future" campaign aims to encourage more people, especially parents and children, to think now about the steps everyone can take to live within our environmental means.

New research carried out for the Executive shows that 81% of Scots agree that if they do not start making changes to their lifestyles today, then future generations will not be able to enjoy the same quality of life. The research also shows that 50% of Scots are more aware of the impact which their lifestyle has on the environment than they were a year ago. It also shows that 91% of people acknowledge that the public has a role to play in making sure that Scotland reduces the amount of energy it uses and waste it produces.

The "It's Our Future" campaign will be backed by a dedicated website - www.infoscotland.com/ourfuture - which provides a range of practical steps which anyone can take in the interests of a more sustainable Scotland.

New fund to help businesses fulfil growth potential
A new investment fund to help businesses expand and fulfil their growth potential is now open for applications, it was announced today.

The aim of the Scottish Venture Fund (SVF) is to play an important role in the comprehensive pipeline of support available to young and expanding businesses throughout Scotland.

As the next stage up from the successful Scottish Co-Investment Fund, the SVF will provide funding support for deals in the £2-£5 million range, leveraging in significant private sector funding.

The SVF is an equity investment initiative which will be administered by Scottish Enterprise. It will seek to co-invest in risk capital of between £500,000 and £2 million in deals in Scotland normally between £2-£5 million (but up to £10 million if required). The SVF contribution in single deals will normally be capped at 50%, with a £2 million overall ceiling. Initial funding will be £20 million for 2006-07 and 2007-08.

The SVF uses a co-investment approach, investing alongside private sector investors on a matched funding basis.

For early stage businesses, the Scottish Seed Fund will provide investments from £20,000 to £100,000. For small and ambitious companies, the Scottish Co-investment Fund provides between £50,000 and £500,000 in company finance deals of up to £2m, in partnership with the private sector on a matched funding basis.

The Co-investment Fund, in four years, has supported almost 150 deals with £20 million, leveraging in a further £50 million from the private sector.

A full plenary day on WEDNESDAY begins after Time for Reflection at 9:00 with an Education Committee debate on the report of its Early Years Inquiry.

Published in June, the report urges the Scottish Executive to ensure that pre-school education in Scotland's most disadvantaged areas benefits from having qualified teaching staff in post. It also calls for the pre-school workforce to gain more qualifications and become more skilled.

"Early years services," argues the unanimous report, "must be a priority for investment", contending that the extra money will boost children's development and attainment and help identify children who need extra support as early as possible. The Committee also believes that investment in early years will pay dividends in terms of Scotland's future economic growth.

The report views "upskilling" of the workforce as integral in driving up the quality of education and care offered. It also sees teachers as having a continuing role alongside other professionals in pre-school education. Members view with "unease" plans by some local authorities for removing teachers from their nurseries and in the longer term the Committee wants teachers and other early years workers to be trained together.

Following a petition by the road haulage industry, the Committee examined the future prospects of all modes of freight transport and Scottish Executive targets to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail, water and air. Published in July, the Committee's consequent report states that road haulage is still the dominant mode for transporting goods, carrying some 70% of freight tonnage in Scotland.

While the Committee accepts that road haulage will remain the dominant mode of freight transport, it favours a shift to rail and other modes and supports the Executive's decision to retain the Freight Facilities Grant scheme, despite its suspension in England. The report also calls for Scotland to have a dedicated port policy which takes into account the country's specific needs.

The report makes a number of recommendations for further investigation. These include that the Scottish Executive should:

Investigate the introduction of "non-car" lane schemes for road freight which could alleviate congestion;
Encourage local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships to review existing restrictions on night delivery and, where appropriate, consider their relaxation;
Commission a cost-benefit analysis of an increase in lorry speed limits on strategic single-carriageway roads, taking road safety fully into account, particularly the A9 between Perth and Inverness;
Investigate the feasibility of allowing companies operating trucks on forest roads to use red diesel; and
Promote the development of better road-side facilities for lorries in Scotland.

This is followed by an Independents’ Group debate entitled Scotland International.

As is normal with opposition debates, no motion has yet been published and so the issues likely to be raised in the debate are unclear. Given the spectrum of political views in the Independents' Group, however, the debate is likely to be wide-ranging. The motion will, as always, be published in the Business Bulletin in due course and a full transcript will be available from the Official Report on Thursday.

The day concludes with a Member's Business debate entitled The Caithness Economy Post-Dounreay from Jamie Stone (LD).

THURSDAY morning begins with two Green Party debates on Young People and Families and Climate Change and Road Transport.

Again, no motions have yet been published and what exactly will be proposed is unclear. The motions will, as always, be published in the Business Bulletin in due course and a full transcript of both debates will be available from the Official Report on Friday.

The day closes with a Member's Business debate on Aberdeen’s Bid for the National Energy Technologies Institute from Richard Baker (LAB).

Wednesday 25th October 2006
09:05 – 11:00	Education Committee Debate: 7th Report 2006, Early Years Inquiry
11:00 – 13:00	Local Government and Transport Committee Debate: 10th Report 2006, Inquiry into Freight Transport in Scotland
14:30 – 15:15	Stage 3 Proceedings: Tourist Boards (Scotland) Bill
15:15 – 17:00	Independents’ Group Debate: Scotland International
17:00 – 17:30	Member's Business: The Caithness Economy Post-Dounreay (Jamie Stone (LD))

Thursday 26th October 2006
09:15 – 10:25	Scottish Green Party Business: Young People and Families
10:25 – 11:40	cottish Green Party Business: Climate Change and Road Transport
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; * Environment and Rural Development
14:55 – 17:00	Executive Debate: Coastal and Marine National Parks
17:00 – 17:30	Member's Business: Aberdeen’s Bid for the National Energy Technologies Institute (Richard Baker (LAB))

Tuesday 24th October 2006
AM	Communities	Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, gives evidence on the budget process 2007-2008.
	Audit	The Committee will receive a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland on his report on the performance of transport in Scotland. Members will also consider a response from the Scottish Prison Service regarding the section 22 report thereon.
	European and External Relations	The inquiry into the European Commission's Strategy for Growth and Jobs hears from a number of figures from the economic development and business spheres.
	Subordinate Legislation	The inquiry into the regulatory framework in Scotland hears from two law professors.
	Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee	The Committee will consider a draft of its Consideration Stage report.
PM	Justice 2	Stage 2 of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill continues.
	Education	The Committee will take evidence on the Executive’s Draft Budget 2007-08 from the Minister for Education and Young People, his Deputy and Executive officials.
	Enterprise and Culture	Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson, and Executive officials give evidence on the budget process 2007-08, as do Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Also, Stage 2 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill rumbles on.
	Environment and Rural Development	A diverse group of interests - including the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society, Advocates for Animals, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Association of Electricity Producers, the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland and the Scottish Canoe Association - give Stage 1 evidence on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. Senior figures from SEPA also give evidence on the Executive’s draft budget 2007-08.
	Health	Senior figures such as Sir John Arbuthnott, Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde; Professor William Stevely, Chair of NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Richard Norris, Director of the Scottish Health Council; and Pat Watters, President of CoSLA give evidence on the Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill. Health and Community Care Minister, Andy Kerr, and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, Dr Kevin Woods, give evidence on the Scottish budget 2007-08.
	Local Government and Transport	Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, Executive officials and the Chief Executive of Transport Scotland give evidence on the Draft Budget 2007-08. In addition, the Scottish Prostitutes Education Project, Scot Pep; the Routes Out Intervention Team; the Leith Links Residents Association; and Calton for All give evidence on the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill.