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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Vol. 1, No. 49 Session 1 Meeting of the Parliament Thursday 3 February 2000
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Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time. The meeting opened at 9.30 am.
1. National Health Service in Scotland: Kay Ullrich moved S1M-482—That the Parliament recognises the debt owed to NHS staff at all levels in relation to their commitment over the winter period and through the flu outbreak; acknowledges that without this commitment on the part of the staff, the NHS in Scotland would not have coped over this period; recognises that the flu outbreak exposed an NHS in Scotland that is struggling to deliver high-quality patient care, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to acknowledge the problems that exist and to provide the necessary resources to ensure that the health service is adequately equipped and funded to provide optimum health care for the people of Scotland. The Minister for Health and Community Care moved S1M-482.1 to motion S1M-482— Leave out from "without this commitment" to end and insert— "the hard work and outstanding commitment of NHS staff, better preparation and contingency planning than ever before, record levels of investment and effective partnership working brought about by the abolition of the internal market has enabled the NHS to deal effectively with exceptional pressures and unprecedented levels of activity over the winter period; and welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Executive outlined in Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government to work in partnership with the health service for the people of Scotland". After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 70, Against 49, Abstentions 1). The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 73, Against 15, Abstentions 32). Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises the debt owed to NHS staff at all levels in relation to their commitment over the winter period and through the flu outbreak; acknowledges that the hard work and outstanding commitment of NHS staff, better preparation and contingency planning than ever before, record levels of investment and effective partnership working brought about by the abolition of the internal market has enabled the NHS to deal effectively with exceptional pressures and unprecedented levels of activity over the winter period; and welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Executive outlined in Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government to work in partnership with the health service for the people of Scotland.
2. Air Passenger and Freight Links to Scotland: Mr Kenny MacAskill moved S1M-483—That the Parliament recognises the vital importance of airlinks and air infrastructure to Scotland and the Scottish economy in the 21st century; acknowledges the potential for economic growth through improved air links; condemns the proposed privatisation of the National Air Traffic System and Her Majesty’s Government’s failure to ensure that Fed Ex remain at Prestwick, and calls for government action to retain air traffic control in the public sector, save associated jobs and promote economic prosperity by increasing direct air passenger and freight links to Scotland. Mr Murray Tosh moved amendment S1M-483.1 to motion S1M-483— Leave out from "acknowledges" to end and insert— "and, acknowledging the potential for economic growth through improved air links, supports the development of a new Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick funded by private capital, calls for the acceleration of the Scottish Airports and Air Services Study and effective surface access strategies for Scotland’s major airports, and calls for urgent assurances that other freight operators will be authorised to carry freight traffic currently carried through Prestwick Airport by FedEx." After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 17, Against 103, Abstentions 0). Tavish Scott moved amendment S1M-483.2 to motion S1M-483— Leave out from "in the 21st century" to end and insert— "and acknowledges the potential for economic growth through improved airlinks; notes that the future of air traffic control and associated issues are a reserved matter outwith the remit of the Parliament, but recognises that there are concerns and that the Liberal Democrats are opposed to the development of the air traffic control system by public private partnership; strongly supports a two centre strategy to protect jobs at Prestwick; underlines the need to give the highest possible priority to air safety, and further notes that during the second reading of the Transport Bill in the House of Commons on 20 December 1999, no Scottish National Party MP spoke in the debate, and only one voted against the second reading of the Bill". After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 88, Against 31, Abstentions 1). The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 87, Against 33, Abstentions 0). Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises the vital importance of airlinks and air infrastructure to Scotland and the Scottish economy and acknowledges the potential for economic growth through improved airlinks; notes that the future of air traffic control and associated issues are a reserved matter outwith the remit of the Parliament, but recognises that there are concerns and that the Liberal Democrats are opposed to the development of the air traffic control system by public private partnership; strongly supports a two centre strategy to protect jobs at Prestwick; underlines the need to give the highest possible priority to air safety, and further notes that during the second reading of the Transport Bill in the House of Commons on 20 December 1999, no Scottish National Party MP spoke in the debate, and only one voted against the second reading of the Bill. 3. Business Motion: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-489—That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Wednesday 9 February 2000
Wednesday 16 February 2000
(b) the following dates by which other committees should make any recommendations on instruments or draft instruments to the lead committee—
The motion was agreed to.
4. Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister and other Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers.
5. Sustainable Development: The Minister for Transport and the Environment moved S1M-486—That the Parliament places sustainable development at the core of its work and commends the Scottish Executive for its commitment to integrate the principles of sustainable development into all Government policies for the benefits it brings to the people of Scotland, now and in the future. Mr Kenny MacAskill moved amendment S1M-486.1 to motion S1M-486— Inset at end— "and urges the Scottish Executive, in order to fulfil that commitment, to prepare, through consultation, a strategy for implementation including an analysis of principal issues to be addressed, an indication of the targets and standards expected to be met, arrangements for independent monitoring and strategic direction for those expected to meet such commitments." After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 48, Against 72, Abstentions 0). Mr Murray Tosh moved amendment S1M-486.2 to motion S1M-486— Leave out from "places" to end and insert— "approves the Scottish Executive’s commitment to integrate the principles of sustainable development into all government policies for the benefits it brings to the people of Scotland, now and in the future, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to ensure that land and other resources will be made available for the economic development of Scotland." After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 17, Against 103, Abstentions 0). The motion was then agreed to (DT).
6. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 2 and 5 as noted above.
7. UN Convention Report on the Rights of the Child: The Parliament debated S1M-280 in the name of Elaine Smith—That the Parliament notes the recent publication of the second report by Her Majesty's Government on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; acknowledges the excellent work being undertaken by statutory and voluntary bodies at national and local level in upholding the Convention, including ‘Parents Action for Safe Play Kirkshaws’, an example of good practice in the constituency of Coatbridge and Chryston; affirms its support for the convention, and commits itself to working to ensure that it is fully implemented in Scotland. The meeting closed at 5.47 pm. P E Grice
Appendix (Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes) Subordinate Legislation
Not subject to any Parliamentary procedure The following document was laid before the Parliament on 3 February 2000 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure
Committee Reports The following Reports were published on 3 February 2000—
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