Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at
Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.30 am.
1. Discipline in Schools: Mr Brian Monteith
moved S1M-792That the Parliament believes that improved discipline in Scottish
schools would contribute greatly to improved educational standards and would improve
teacher morale; further believes that the introduction of targets to reduce the number of
pupil exclusions can have a negative impact on discipline; recognises that a more flexible
approach is required that puts faith in the judgement of headteachers to resolve
individual cases on their merits, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to abandon its
agenda of target setting for numbers of school exclusions in favour of an approach based
on the needs of individual children, their peers and teachers backed up by appropriate
resources to provide the diversity of educational provision and sanctions against bad
behaviour that are required to improve discipline.
The Deputy Minister for Children and Education moved
amendment S1M-792.2 to motion S1M-792
Leave out from first "believes" to end and
insert
", whilst acknowledging the
problem of maintaining discipline in schools, supports the Executives continuing
work to promote good discipline in schools; endorses the Executives commitment to
training and support for teachers in maintaining good discipline in the classroom;
welcomes the provision of resources from the Excellence Fund to identify viable
alternatives to exclusion from school and to integrate the support services for children
and their families within the school setting, and welcomes the Executives moves to
encourage the greater involvement of parents in their childrens education.".
Nicola Sturgeon moved amendment S1M-792.1 to motion
S1M-792
Leave out from "improved discipline" to
end and insert
"indiscipline in Scottish
schools undermines efforts to improve educational standards for all children and damages
teacher morale; believes that whilst exclusion of pupils from schools should always be a
last resort, headteachers professional judgement must not be unduly restricted by
the imposition of statistical targets for reducing exclusions; and calls upon the Scottish
Executive to implement a national strategy for improving school discipline which includes
an emphasis on the role of parents, improved teacher training, enhanced specialist
provision in schools, increased numbers of learning and behavioural support teachers, a
reduction in class sizes, and a constructive use of exclusions.".
After debate, amendment S1M-792.2 was agreed to
((DT) by division: For 60, Against 17, Abstentions 29). As a result, amendment S1M-792.1
was pre-empted.
The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT) by
division: For 61, Against 18, Abstentions 28).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolvedThat the
Parliament believes, whilst acknowledging the problem of maintaining discipline in
schools, supports the Executives continuing work to promote good discipline in
schools; endorses the Executives commitment to training and support for teachers in
maintaining good discipline in the classroom; welcomes the provision of resources from the
Excellence Fund to identify viable alternatives to exclusion from school and to integrate
the support services for children and their families within the school setting, and
welcomes the Executives moves to encourage the greater involvement of parents in
their childrens education.
2. Services for Elderly and Disabled People: Mary
Scanlon moved S1M-790That the Parliament notes that many elderly and disabled
citizens across Scotland feel let down by the Scottish Executive and its failure to deal
with issues which most directly affect them; further notes that such citizens are being
faced with escalating charges for variable social and other services provided by local
authorities; believes that many local authorities are taking measures which restrict
choice for the elderly in their selection of nursing or residential care; considers that a
lack of local authority resources for nursing home places and a lack of co-ordination
between health and social work has led to a 40% increase in bed blocking in the NHS since
1997; recognises that local authorities are systematically withdrawing financial support
from facilities used by elderly and disabled citizens, and calls upon the Scottish
Executive to abandon its agenda of political correctness and replace it with a programme
that delivers to Scotlands elderly and disabled citizens affordable services,
freedom of choice in care and the dignity and respect they deserve within our society.
The Deputy Minister for Community Care moved
amendment S1M-790.2 to motion S1M-790
Leave out from first "notes" to end and
insert
"welcomes the Executives
commitment to improving service provision for frail elderly and disabled people in
Scotland by creating modern user-focused services; notes the progress of the Carers
Strategy in Scotland, the drive towards joint working between the NHS and local
authorities, and the development of national standards for care; further notes the
additional funding for health boards announced this week to be used in part to reduce
significantly delayed discharge, and endorses the Executives vision of a Scotland
where every older person matters.".
Kay Ullrich moved amendment S1M-790.1 to motion
S1M-790
Leave out from first "that many" to end
and insert
"the failure of successive
Conservative and New Labour Governments in Westminster and of the Scottish Executive in
Holyrood to provide adequately for elderly and disabled citizens in Scotland; condemns the
cuts in grants to Scottish local authorities which have undermined much of the good work
being carried out throughout Scotland at a local level; supports greater guidance being
given to local authorities to ensure that money intended for the provision of community
care and other services for the elderly and disabled is channelled into those areas and
not diverted into other sectors of local authority spending; urges real joint working and
partnership between central and local agencies, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to
implement in full those aspects of the Royal Commission into Long Term Care of the Elderly
which fall within the scope of the Parliament.".
After debate, amendment S1M-790.2 was agreed to
((DT) by division: For 61, Against 44, Abstentions 2). As a result, amendment S1M-790.1
was pre-empted.
The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT) by
division: For 61, Against 18, Abstentions 26).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolvedThat the
Parliament welcomes the Executives commitment to improving service provision for
frail elderly and disabled people in Scotland by creating modern user-focused services;
notes the progress of the Carers Strategy in Scotland, the drive towards joint
working between the NHS and local authorities, and the development of national standards
for care; further notes the additional funding for health boards announced this week to be
used in part to reduce significantly delayed discharge, and endorses the Executives
vision of a Scotland where every older person matters.
3. Business Motion: Iain Smith, on behalf of
the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-795That the Parliament agrees
(a) the following revision to the Business Motion
approved on 27 April 2000
Thursday 4 May 2000
after Debate on the Role of Sport in Social
Inclusion, insert
followed by SPCB Motion on the establishment
of the Scottish Parliament CPA Branch
and b) the following programme of business
Wednesday 10 May 2000
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Non-Executive Business
Scottish National Party
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business debate
on the subject of S1M-769 Mr John Munro: The Black Cuillin
Thursday 11 May 2000
9.30 am Ministerial Statement on Drugs Action Plan
followed by Committee Business
Transport and Environment Committee Report on Telecommunications
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
followed by Debate on Special Educational
Needs
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business debate
on the subject of S1M-737 David Davidson: A90 Upgrade
Wednesday 17 May 2000
9.30 am Time for Reflection
followed by Executive Debate on Glasgow
Regeneration
12.00 pm Ministerial Statement
2.30 pm Continuation of the Executive Debate on
Glasgow Regeneration
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 18 May 2000
9.30 am Executive Debate on Community Care
12.00 pm Ministerial Statement
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members Business
The motion was agreed to.
4. Question Time: Questions were answered by
the First Minister and other Scottish Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers.
5. The Role of Sport in Social Inclusion: The
Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport moved S1M-793That the Parliament endorses the
Scottish Executives vision of achieving equality of opportunity for all; supports
its aim of making Scotland a more inclusive society where inequalities between communities
are reduced; recognises the important role which sports can play in promoting social
inclusion; and commends the work of the Executive, sportscotland and other agencies to
widen participation in sport as part of personal and community development.
Fiona McLeod moved amendment S1M-793.1 to motion
S1M-793
Leave out from "commends" to end and
insert
"calls for the establishment of
a national network of locally accountable partnerships between local authorities and
sports organisations with funding directed towards community sports initiatives."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT)
by division: For 29, Against 78, Abstentions 0).
Mr Brian Monteith moved amendment S1M-793.2 to
motion S1M-793
Leave out from "endorses" to end and
insert
"supports the aim of the
Scottish Executive to widen participation in sport by all sectors of society but does not
believe this aim will be achieved by its proposed strategy."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT)
by division: For 17, Against 63, Abstentions 27).
The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For
77, Against 0, Abstentions 27).
6. Establishment of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association Branch: Des McNulty, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary
Corporate Body, moved S1M-789--That the Parliament notes that the General Assembly of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has approved the Parliaments
application to join the CPA; agrees to establish a Scottish Parliament branch of the CPA,
and further directs the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to make arrangements for the
establishment of the Branch.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Approval of Reports: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf
of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-796That the Parliament agrees that the
following Reports be approved
Special Grant Report on Grant in Aid of Expenditure
on Rural Public Passenger Transport for 2000-01 (SE/2000/17)
Special Grant Report on Grant in Aid of Expenditure
on South Fife to Edinburgh Rail Services for 2000-01 (SE/2000/34).
The motion was agreed to (DT).
8. Designation of Lead Committee: Mr Tom
McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S12M-797That the Parliament
agrees the following designation of Lead Committee
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee to consider
The draft Census (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
9. Decision Time: The Parliament took
decisions on items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 as noted above.
10. Glenrinnes School Closure: The Parliament
debated S1M-626 in the name of Mrs Margaret EwingThat the Parliament recognises the
importance of primary schools to our rural communities; asks for clarification of the
Scottish Executives policy on the retention of such schools; is concerned that
Glenrinnes school is threatened by closure despite being the only focal point in the
village and despite the sound educational arguments proposed by parents and prospective
local residents; and considers that the proposals by Moray Council to close this
educational facility, which could accrue only £3,500 to Moray Council, should be
rejected.
The meeting closed at 5.44 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
4 May 2000
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the
Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Affirmative Instruments
The following instrument was laid in draft before
the Parliament on 4 May 2000 for approval by resolution
The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the
Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2000
laid under the Scotland Act 1998
Committee Reports
The following Report was published on 4 May 2000
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 17th Report
2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 120)
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