Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 65, 8th May 2001
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
THE CHAMBER
Wednesday 9th May 2001
14:34 Executive Debate: the Impact of the European Union on Scotland
17:00 Members' Business: 70th Anniversary of Scottish Youth Hostels (Kenny MacAskill (SNP)) [Ends 17:30]
Thursday 10th May 2001
09:30 Conservative Debate: Tourism
11:00 Conservative Debate: Holyrood [Ends 12:30]
14:30 Question Time
15:10 First Minister's Question Time
15:30 Executive Debate: Urban Regeneration
17:00 Members' Business: Foot and Mouth Disease in Dumfries and Galloway (Elaine Murray (LAB)) [Ends 17:30]
IN COMMITTEE
The likely highlights in the Committee Corridor this week are:
For more detail, see today's Committee News.
SECTION 2 - NEWS
Grass-roots action to tackle Scotlands drugs problem has received a significant boost, following the announcement today by First Minister Henry McLeish of a new scheme to support community-based projects.
Individuals and local groups will be able to apply to Scottish Communities Against Drugs (SCAD) for funding. The aim is to provide financial backing quickly to address the problem of drugs in their local communities.
SCAD is a joint initiative between the Scottish Executive and the Daily Record. The Scottish Executive is providing up to £500,000 to match pound-for-pound the funding raised in a new Daily Record appeal.
The First Minister said:
"Scottish Communities Against Drugs is the important next part of our balanced approach. It will channel funds directly to where they are most needed, helping individuals and groups to develop positive local solutions to tackle the impact of drugs in their area."
Scottish Communities Against Drugs will be housed within Scotland Against Drugs. A panel including representatives from the Executive, the Daily Record, and members of communities will make decisions on applications.
Details of how to apply for funding will be available soon, through the Daily Record and Scotland Against Drugs.
Education Minister Jack McConnell today welcomed two reports which show that maths standards in Primary schools are improving.
Speaking as Standards and Quality in Primary Schools: Mathematics 1998-2001 and Early Intervention 1998-2000 were published by HMIE, Mr McConnell said:
"It is very encouraging to see that standards in maths are improving amongst our youngest children and the findings of both the reports on the key strengths and points for action are to be welcomed.
"I hope education authorities and schools across Scotland can now build upon the reports findings and respond positively to the areas identified for improvement."
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEKS CHAMBER BUSINESS
WEDNESDAY begins with an Executive debate on the Impact of the European Union on Scotland.
Time-tabled to coincide with Europe Day, the Executive motion highlights the benefits that membership of the European Union brings to Scotland. The debate will, however, be about more than the 286,000 Scottish jobs which depend on production for the EU market. It will also concentrate on the social benefits we have derived from membership.
Given that there is a Westminster General Election in the offing and the Conservatives' position on the issue, this is guaranteed to be a lively debate.
The day's business closes with a Members' Business debate on the 70th Anniversary of Scottish Youth Hostels from the SNP's Kenny MacAskill.
THURSDAY is an opposition day, opening with 2 debates from the Conservatives on Tourism and the Holyrood Project.
At the time of writing, neither motion has been published and no further information is available. Copies of the motions, however, will be available from the Business Bulletin in due course. Alternatively, full transcripts of the debates will be available from the Official Report on Friday.
After Question Time and First Minister's Question Time, there will be an Executive debate on Urban Regeneration.
Again, the motion has not yet been published, but it is likely the Executive will wish to use this debate to set out what it has done and what it plans to do to rejuvenate urban areas. It should be noted, however, that the focus of the debate will be on social justice and tackling poverty, rather than on economic / enterprise issues.
The week concludes with a Members' Business debate on Foot and Mouth in Dumfries and Galloway from Elaine Murray (LAB).
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