Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.30 am.
1. Ministerial Statement: The Minister
for Finance and Local Government made a statement on the local
government settlement.
2. Sea Fisheries: The Deputy Minister
for Rural Development moved S1M-1433—That the Parliament calls
upon the Scottish Executive to seek from the negotiations leading
up to the December Fisheries Council the best available outcome
for the Scottish fishing industry consistent with sustainability
of fish stocks.
Richard Lochhead moved amendment S1M-1433.1 to
motion S1M-1433—
Insert at end—
", and to negotiate the transfer of lead responsibility
for European Union fisheries negotiations from Her Majesty's Government
to the Scottish Executive in recognition of Scotland’s dominant
position within the UK industry; questions the basis on which
many of the proposals tabled by the EU Commission for the December
Fisheries Council were formulated; calls for the urgent implementation
of a recovery plan for fish stocks comprising a range of technical
measures to achieve the aim of sustainability; further recognises
that adequately funded economic and social measures will also
be required to ensure the viability of our fishing communities
and achieve a restructuring of the fishing fleet; calls for an
early introduction of zonal management to ensure that the unacceptable
decision-making process that prevents stability in the fishing
industry is not repeated, and notes that the Labour-Liberal coalition’s
policies have left the Scottish fishing industry at a competitive
disadvantage."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to
((DT) by division: For 28, Against 75, Abstentions 0).
The motion was then agreed to (DT).
3. Business Motion: Mr Tom McCabe,
on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1428—That the
Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 13 December 2000
9.30 am Time for Reflection –
The Reverend Dr. Gordon Murray, Minister, Edinburgh
and Forth Methodist Circuit
followed by Parliamentary Bureau
Motions
followed by Education,
Culture and Sport Committee and Enterprise and Lifelong
Learning Committee Debate on SQA Inquiries
2.30 pm Finance Committee Debate on 2001-02
Budget Process Stage 2
followed by Parliamentary Bureau
Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
- debate on the subject of S1M-1206 Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Abercorn Primary School West Lothian
Thursday 14 December 2000
9.30 am Scottish National Party Business
followed by Ministerial Statement
on the Health Plan
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Debate on Committee Restructuring
followed by Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau
Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business -
debate on the subject of S1M-808 Fergus Ewing: Shinty
Wednesday 20 December 2000
9.30 am Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau
Motions
followed by Stage 3 Debate on the
Transport (Scotland) Bill
2.30 pm Continuation of Stage 3 Debate
on the Transport (Scotland) Bill
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
The motion was agreed to (by division: For 74,
Against 3, Abstentions 0).
4. Question Time: Questions were answered
by the First Minister and other Ministers and junior Scottish
Ministers.
5. Development of a National Alcohol Misuse
Strategy: The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
moved S1M-1434—That the Parliament endorses the Executive’s plans
to work towards the publication of a national action plan to tackle
alcohol misuse.
Mr Keith Harding moved amendment S1M-1434.1 to
motion S1M-1434—
Leave out from "endorses" to end and
insert—
"notes the Executive’s plans to work towards
the publication of a national action plan to tackle alcohol misuse
and calls upon the Executive to review the terms of the Licensing
(Scotland) Act 1976 in order that licensing practices are brought
into line with modern attitudes and social outlooks."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT)
by division: For 18, Against 60, Abstentions 25).
The motion was then agreed to (DT).
6. Membership of Committees: Mr Tom McCabe,
on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1430—That the
Parliament agrees that Mrs Margaret Ewing be appointed to the
Education, Culture and Sport Committee following the resignation
of Ms Nicola Sturgeon.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Approval of SSIs: Mr Tom McCabe, on
behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1431—That the Parliament
agrees that the following Orders be approved—
The draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions
to the Scottish Ministers etc.) (No.2) Order 2000;
The draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule
5) Order 2000;
The draft Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public
Authorities) (Adaptation of Functions etc.) (No.2) Order 2000;
The Mink Keeping (Scotland) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/400);
and
The draft Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations
2000.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
8. Sitting Days: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf
of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1432—That the Parliament
agrees that between 8 January 2001 and 11 January 2002 (inclusive)
the Office of the Clerk will be open on all days except: Saturdays
and Sundays, 13 April, 16 April, 7 May, 25 May, 28 May, 30 November,
24 December (pm), 25 December, 26 December 2001, 1 January 2002
and 2 January 2002.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
9. Membership of Committees: Mr Tom McCabe,
on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1438—That the
Parliament agrees that Bill Butler be appointed to the Enterprise
and Lifelong Learning Committee following the resignation of John
Home Robertson.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
10. Decision Time: The Parliament took
decisions on items 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as noted above.
11. Let’s Keep Safe: The Parliament
debated S1M-1363 in the name of Scott Barrie—That the Parliament
notes the widespread harassment that people with learning difficulties
can be subjected to in Scotland; further notes the work undertaken
by MENCAP and ENABLE to highlight this problem; congratulates
Values Into Action for producing the A to Z booklets Let’s
Keep Safe and Let’s Report It to assist people in dealing
with and overcoming such bullying and harassment; further notes
the successful launch of these booklets in Edinburgh on 15 November
2000, and commends them to local authorities, NHS Trusts and voluntary
groups as a guide to best practice in this area
The meeting closed at 5.32 pm.
P
E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
7 December 2000
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the
Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instrument was laid before the Parliament
on 7 December 2000 and is subject to annulment
The Divorce etc. (Pensions) (Scotland) Amendment
(No.2) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/438)
laid under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985
Other Documents
The following document was laid before the Parliament
on 7 December 2000 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure
Scottish Transport Group Report and Accounts
for the year to 31 March 2000 (SE/2000/213)
laid under the Transport Act 1962 as amended
by the Transport Act 1968
Committee Reports
The following Report was published on 7 December
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector
Committee, 6th Report 2000: Report on Inquiry
into Drug Misuse and Deprived Communities (SP Paper 198)