Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 70, 11^th June 2001

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

Wednesday 13^th June

09:30 - 12:30 Stage 3: the Housing (Scotland) Bill

14:30 - 19:00 Continuation of Stage 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill

Thursday 14^th June

Please note that Thursday’s business is dependent on Stage 3 of the Housing Bill being completed on Wednesday.

09:30 - 12:30 Stage 1: International Criminal Court Bill

14:30 - 15:10 Question Time

15:10 - 15:30 First Minister’s Question Time

15:30 - 17:00 European Committee Debate: The Common Fisheries Policy

17:00 - 17:30 Members' Business: Adult Learners’ Week (Cathy Jamieson (LAB))

IN COMMITTEE

Likely highlights from the Committee Chambers this week are:

• Education is in Stornoway today to discuss Gaelic broadcasting.
• Health returns to both the flu vaccine and MMR.
• Social Justice discusses houses in multiple occupation.
• Audit continues to examine the NHS in Tayside.
• Enterprise & Lifelong Learning returns to teaching and research funding, and the new economy.
• Local Government looks at the Local Government (Timing of Elections) Bill.
• Transport discusses the European Union’s Environmental Action Programme.
• Rural Development returns in private to the Wild Mammals Bill.
• Justice 2 returns to the subject of offending by women.

SECTION 2 – NEWS

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM SERIOUS OFFENDERS

Serious violent and sexual offenders will be subject to life-long control and supervision as part of a comprehensive package of measures announced today by Justice Minister Jim Wallace to provide better protection for the public.

Launching the Violent and Sexual Offenders White Paper, Mr Wallace confirmed that the Executive has accepted all the main recommendations of the MacLean Committee, established to examine the law in relation to serious violent and sexual offenders.

The recommendations are:

• A new sentence, the Order for Life-long Restriction (OLR), for life-long control of any offender considered by the court to be high risk;
• Risk Management Plans for offenders sentenced to OLRs to ensure the offender’s risk is properly managed and controlled;
• A new expert body, the Risk Management Authority (RMA), to assist the agencies responsible for offenders in managing the Plans; and
• Better arrangements for dealing with mentally disordered offenders who present a high risk.

The Minister confirmed that the Scottish Executive intends to introduce legislation to implement the proposals as soon as practicable.

Full Story

MACKAY DRIVES FORWARD MODERNISING GOVERNMENT AGENDA

The role of technology in delivering social justice and tackling poverty was mapped out today in a speech by Minister for Finance and Local Government, Angus MacKay.

Addressing the "Onecity" Telecities Conference in Edinburgh, Mr MacKay underlined the broad-ranging links between improved, technology-driven services and social change.

Speaking to an audience of representatives from across Europe, Mr MacKay said:

"Information and communications technology must be a powerful enabler of change. We must use it to make public service better and more efficient. The money we spend on new technology must help to deliver public services in the way citizens want them and in ways which help people to use them.

"Our 21st century Government agenda is a vehicle for the effective delivery of these objectives. It is about tackling poverty and improving people’s lives through a service-led agenda."

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

This will be a busy and important week in the Scottish Parliament. In a marathon sitting on WEDNESDAY (possibly carrying over to Thursday) the flagship Housing Bill goes through its 3^rd and final stage.

Regular readers will be familiar with the provisions contained with this Bill. For a general background note on the bill, however, click here.  At the time of writing, exactly what will happen on Wednesday is unclear. Should you require a full list of amendments which have been tabled when they become available, please contact the office.

If the Housing Bill proceeds according to plan, THURSDAY will begin with Stage 1 of the International Criminal Court Bill.

An International Criminal Court (ICC) is planned to be established to deal with human rights crimes such as genocide. The ICC Bill will give the Court statutory authority in Scots law and enable Scottish police to co-operate with it.

The ICC will have jurisdiction over serious international crimes, which are defined as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. The legislation planned by the Scottish Executive will enable the law enforcement authorities in Scotland to co-operate with the Court in matters such as the arrest and transfer of suspects, handing over information and conducting searches and seizures. It will also give effect to the fines and forfeitures ordered by the ICC and incorporate crimes that are within the Court's jurisdiction into domestic law. This may mean that new criminal offences are created and that UK courts are given extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences within the ICC's jurisdiction - such as genocide - committed by British citizens anywhere in the world.

See e-Brief Issue 32 for more information.

After Question Time and First Minister's Question Time, there will be a debate from the European Committee on its report into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Published on 17th May this year, the report says the CFP is failing to preserve fish stocks, failing to protect the fishing industry and is in need of a radical overhaul. The reality, say Committee members, is that a sizeable reduction in the size of the fishing fleet across Europe may be needed to safeguard the future of the industry.

Click here for more information

The week concludes with a Members' Business debate on Adult Learners’ Week from Labour’s Cathy Jamieson.

[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]

[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]

Previous Page