Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 66, 14th May 2001
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
THE CHAMBER
Wednesday 16th May 2001
14:34 Executive Debate: Architecture and the Built Environment
17:00 Members' Business: Rural & Island GPs (Tavish Scott (LIB DEM)) [Ends 17:30]
Thursday 17th May 2001
09:30 Education, Culture & Sport Committee Debate: Special Educational Needs [Ends 12:30]
14:30 Question Time
15:10 First Minister's Question Time
15:30 Stage 1 Debate: Scottish Local Authorities (Tendering) Bill
17:00 Members' Business: National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (Elaine Smith (LAB)) [Ends 17:30]
IN COMMITTEE
The likely highlights in the Committee Corridor this week are:
For more detail, see tomorrow’s Committee News.
SECTION 2 - NEWS
Good careers information can change people’s lives, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Wendy Alexander, has told local young people. The Minister was speaking as she presented 60 Renfrewshire pupils with On Track Graduation certificates at Greenock Town Hall last Friday.
The On Track programme, now in its second year, supports pupils in their final year of secondary education to make decisions about their future. Working with local businesses, the programme aims to place 85% of participants into education, training or employment.
Ms Alexander said,
"It is important that young people are given good advice about the options open to them and that their skills are developed to meet work and learning opportunities.
"The world of work has changed and no one now can expect to stay in the same job throughout their working life. We must equip young people with the skills and confidence to adapt to this ever-changing environment.
"The Scottish Executive is committed to making every Scot ready for the jobs of tomorrow. The Executive is widening access to Further and Higher Education and along with Modern Apprenticeships these options offer a real passport to the jobs market.
"On Track provides the kind of support young people need as they make important life decisions. Participation in the scheme is a positive step forward, and I congratulate everyone for their commitment and achievement."
£60,000 has been made available to each of 61 of Scotland’s community partnerships for a package of support for their community representatives this year.
Speaking during a debate on regeneration, Jackie Baillie, Minister for Social Justice, said:
"I am delighted to confirm that, from the resources made available to me in last year's spending review, I am allocating £3.7 million this year - £60,000 for each partnership - to provide support for community representatives– to help them operate as equal partners with their colleagues from enterprise networks, local authorities, health and so on."
61 partnerships are currently eligible for this funding - 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) and 13 Working for Community Pathfinders throughout Scotland. The position will be reviewed after 3 years or whenever any partnership comes to the end of its designated lifetime if sooner.
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS
WEDNESDAY begins with an Executive debate on Architecture and the Built Environment. At the time of writing, the motion has not 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 Thursday.
The day's business closes with a Members' Business debate on Rural & Island GPs from Tavish Scott (LIB DEM).
THURSDAY morning is devoted to a debate from the Education, Culture & Sport Committee on their report into Special Educational Needs. Published in February this year, the report says that education within mainstream schools can become a realistic option for the majority of children with special educational needs. It further argues that this can be achieved whilst maintaining the option of special school placements for those with the most significant needs.
During the inquiry, major concerns emerged about the current system of meeting special educational needs. Evidence received highlighted the inadequacy of training for school staff, the lack of support and information for parents and children and serious problems with the present Records of Needs procedures for assessing pupils requirements.
The report acknowledges the major commitment by the Scottish Executive to children with special educational needs (SEN) and their parents through the establishment of Enquire, its support for the National SEN Training Co-ordination Project and the proposed review of the recording process. Its recommendations build upon these developments and identify extensive changes which will be necessary to deliver an inclusive system of education for all children. Central to that process should be the maximising of the participation of all children with special needs in mainstream schools.
The committee's report makes 19 detailed recommendations in total.
Click here for further information
Click here to read the full report
After Question Time and First Minister's Question Time, there will be the Stage 1 debate of the Scottish Local Authorities (Tendering) Bill.
As fans of the Committee News will be aware, this bill’s primary purpose is to extend the scope of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (and hence the CCT moratorium) before the Best Value system is implemented. For further information, see Committee News Issue 31.
The week concludes with a Members' Business debate on National Breastfeeding Awareness Week from Labour’s Elaine Smith.
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