BUSINESS BULLETIN 180 / 2000

Thursday 23 November 2000

Section A – Daily Business List

Meeting of the Parliament

9.30 am Standards Committee Debate on its Report on Investigation of Complaints and the Appointment of a Standards Commissioner

S1M-1376 Mr Mike Rumbles on behalf of the Standards Committee: Recommendations of the Standards Committee, 4th Report 2000—That the Parliament agrees the recommendations of the Standards Committee, as set out in its 4th Report 2000, on the investigation of complaints, the appointment of a Standards Commissioner and other matters.

The Clerk has been informed that the following document(s) are relevant to this debate.

Standards Committee 4th Report, 2000 "Models of Investigation of Complaints" SP Paper 186

followed by Procedures Committee Debate on its Report on Parliamentary Questions

S1M-1382 Mr Murray Tosh on behalf of the Procedures Committee: Procedures Committee Report on Parliamentary Questions (SP Paper 169)—That the Parliament notes and agrees to the recommendations contained in the 1st Report of the Procedures Committee Preliminary Report into the Volume of Written Parliamentary Questions and the Scottish Executive’s Speed of Response (SP paper 169), as set out on pages 1 and 2 of the Report and reproduced below:

(a) to agree the terms of the proposed agreement between the Parliament and the Executive (as detailed on page 1 of the Report);

(b) that a continuing seminar on the resources for obtaining information and the appropriate use of parliamentary questions, and involving members, the Scottish Executive and Parliamentary officials, be organised by the Parliamentary authorities to assist those involved in the drafting of parliamentary questions, primarily members’ researchers and assistants;

(c) that internal departmental telephone directories of the Scottish Executive be made available to all MSPs; and

(d) that to facilitate the tracking of parliamentary questions and the answers submitted, the Parliamentary authorities should investigate now the feasibility of placing the date on which questions are lodged in the relevant Parliamentary publications.

The Clerk has been informed that the following document(s) are relevant to this debate.

Procedures Committee 1^st Report,2000 "Preliminary Report into the Volume of Written Parliamentary Questions and the Scottish Executive’s Speed of Response" SP Paper 169

Scottish Executive’s Response to the Procedures Committee 1^st Report, 2000

followed by Procedures Committee Debate on its Report on Private Legislation in the Scottish Parliament and its Report on Changes to Standing Orders

S1M-1383 Mr Murray Tosh on behalf of the Procedures Committee: Procedures Committee Reports on Private Legislation (SP Paper 204) and Changes to the Standing Orders (SP Paper 205)—That the Parliament notes

(a) the terms of the 2nd Report of the Procedures Committee Private Legislation in the Scottish Parliament (SP Paper 204) and agrees to amend the Parliament’s standing orders in terms of the amendments set out in Annex B to the Report;

(b) the terms of the 3rd Report of the Procedures Committee Changes to Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament (SP Paper 205) and agrees to amend the Parliament’s standing orders in terms of the amendments set out in Annexes A and B to that Report; and

agrees that these amendments come into force on 24 November 2000.

The Clerk has been informed that the following document(s) are relevant to this debate.

Procedures Committee 3^rd Report, 2000 "Changes to Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament" SP Paper 205

Procedures Committee 2^nd Report, 2000 "Report on Private Legislation in the Scottish Parliament" SP Paper 204

followed by Stage 1 Debate on the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill

S1M-1361 Ross Finnie: Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill.

followed by Financial Resolution in respect of the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill

S1M-1372 Angus MacKay: Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill - Financial Resolution—That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any increase attributable to that Act in the sums payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund by or under any other Act.

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

S1M-1386 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Membership of Committees—That the Parliament agrees that Duncan Hamilton be appointed to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee.

S1M-1378 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Designation of Lead Committees—That the Parliament agrees the following designation of Lead Committee—

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee to consider The Advice and Assistance (Assistance by Way of Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/draft).

S1M-1377 Mr Tom McCabe on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Approval of SSI—That the Parliament agrees that the following Order be approved—

The Budget (Scotland) Act 2000 (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/draft).

followed by Members' Business

debate on the subject of—

S1M-1218 Margaret Jamieson: Tinnitus—That the Parliament notes that tinnitus affects around one in ten of the population, including an even higher proportion of older people; further notes that following advances in various therapies to counter its effects a pharmacological solution is now a real possibility, and urges the Scottish Executive to encourage appropriate research to this end by all means at its disposal.

2.30 pm Question Time

1. David Mundell: To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to ensure that water authorities invest in infrastructure in rural areas. (S1O-2568)

2. Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure an adequate supply of qualified medical staff for Scotland’s hospitals. (S1O-2559)

3. Mr Kenneth Macintosh: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs to attend meetings of the Sustainable Development Group of Ministers. (S1O-2579)

4. Mr Adam Ingram: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in relation to the provision of subsidised school milk. (S1O-2556)

5. Mr Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated costs are for the recruitment of a new Chief Executive to the Scottish Tourist Board. (S1O-2576)

6. Mr Mike Rumbles: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the annual target of 120 dental graduates it has set is sufficient to meet the needs of the NHS Dental Service. (S1O-2584)

7. Alex Neil: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding any proposed extensions to qualified majority voting in devolved policy areas to be considered at the Nice Inter-governmental Conference. (S1O-2591)

8. Mr Jamie McGrigor: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the scallop industry. (S1O-2587)

9. Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact fuel costs will have upon the rural economy in Scotland from now until April 2002 and what measures it will take to address any such impact. (S1O-2585)

10. Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to alleviate family poverty. (S1O-2578)

11. Iain Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce details of the consultation exercise for the renewal of the ScotRail franchise and how wide that consultation will be. (S1O-2583)

12. Elaine Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support disadvantaged children in their early years. (S1O-2571)

13. Dr Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the textile industry in the South of Scotland and to retrain textile workers made redundant for alternative employment. (S1O-2590)

14. Irene Oldfather: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote social justice in deprived communities. (S1O-2586)

15. Tommy Sheridan: To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee report Poverty in Scotland. (S1O-2554)

16. Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how the consultation on any proposals to fluoridate the water supply will be conducted and who will carry out such consultation. (S1O-2581)

17. Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to tackle bullying in the workplace. (S1O-2572)

18. Trish Godman: To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to improve the quality of passenger rail services in terms of overcrowding and how overcrowding on trains is defined. (S1O-2562)

19. Ms Margo MacDonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it intends to make to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the use of additional tax revenue being received as a result of high oil prices. (S1O-2575)

20. Dennis Canavan: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in releasing the surplus in the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes to the pensioners concerned. (S1O-2565)

21. Mr Gil Paterson: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to meet its target of providing every school pupil with internet access and a personal e-mail address. (S1O-2557)

22. Mike Watson: To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to voluntary groups working with the families of drug users. (S1O-2567)

23. Mr Michael McMahon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional resources are being made available for the ambulance service in Lanarkshire. (S1O-2560)

24. Dorothy-Grace Elder: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the "Quango Watchdog" envisaged by the First Minister, as referred to in his Scotsman article on 15 November 2000, will include cross-party representatives. (S1O-2574)

25. Tricia Marwick: To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance it intends to make available in 2000-01 and 2001-02 to local authorities to subsidise local bus services. (S1O-2577)

26. Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the proportion of candidates sitting Higher exams who sit Higher Mathematics. (S1O-2561)

27. Johann Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in consulting environmental and community groups on plans to bring telecommunications masts under full planning control. (S1O-2555)

28. Mr Brian Monteith: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made since July with regard to the dispersal of civil service jobs to Tayside. (S1O-2582)

29. Maureen Macmillan: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being introduced to improve the childcare sector. (S1O-2570)

30.Withdrawn.

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

1. Mr John Swinney: To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Executive’s main priorities currently are. (S1F-675)

2. David McLetchie: To ask the First Minister when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Scotland and what issues he intends to raise. (S1F-674)

3. Marilyn Livingstone: To ask the First Minister what new action is being taken to expand opportunities for students from low income families to attend university. (S1F-680)

4. Ms Margo MacDonald: To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive plans to enhance its strategy for the development of the renewable energy industry. (S1F-670)

5. Scott Barrie: To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to protect coastal areas from the effects of erosion. (S1F-682)

6. Brian Adam: To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has any plans to introduce no fault compensation schemes for medical accidents and mistakes. (S1F-672)