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The meeting opened at 9.30 am.
1. Proportional Respresentation:
Tricia Marwick moved S1M-2487—That the Parliamentapproves
the principle of proportional representation for local government
elections, as recommended in the Kerley Report.
The Deputy Minister for Finance and Public
Services moved amendment S1M-2487.1 to motion S1M-2487—
Leave out from "approves" to end and insert—
"notes the Scottish Executive’s continuing
commitment to the pledge made in its Programme for Government
to make progress on electoral reform, to the principles
of renewing local democracy as set out in the Kerley report,
including the importance of the member/ward link in local
government, to the need to secure general consent and wide
support for the system of electing local councils and to
producing a timetable for further progress with urgency."
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT)
by division: For 66, Against 34, Abstentions 15 ).
The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT)
by division: For 66, Against 3, Abstentions 46).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the
Parliament notes the Scottish Executive’s continuing commitment
to the pledge made in its Programme for Government to
make progress on electoral reform, to the principles of renewing
local democracy as set out in the Kerley report, including the
importance of the member/ward link in local government, to the
need to secure general consent and wide support for the system
of electing local councils and to producing a timetable for
further progress with urgency.
2. Scottish Transport Group Pensions
Scheme: Fergus Ewing moved S1M-2486—That the Parliament
notes that both the Scottish Transport Group Staff Pension Fund
and the Scottish Transport Group Transport Operatives Pension
Scheme have still to be wound up some eight years after privatisation;
further notes that the Scottish Executive promised in December
2000 that a total sum of £100 million would be distributed to
the pension scheme members and that this would result in a payment
of an average of about £7,000 for each member; recognises that
the actual total surplus of the pension funds is considerably
in excess of £100 million; believes that the level of payment
proposed last December by the Scottish Executive is inadequate
and should be increased, and calls upon the Scottish Executive
to meet representatives of the Scottish Bus Group Pensioners’
Action Committee and to make available to them all relevant
information to enable them to assist the pensioners in achieving
a just settlement.
The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and
Lifelong Learning moved amendment S1M-2486.1 to motion S1M-2486—
Leave out from "both" to end and
insert—
"Scottish Ministers have secured from
HM Treasury a substantial pay out for Scottish Transport
Group Pension Scheme former members despite the absence
of any legal entitlement; further notes that any change
to the amount to be distributed to former members is a matter
for HM Treasury, and finally notes that the key remaining
step is the winding up of the pension scheme, which is a
matter for the schemes’ trustees."
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT)
by division: For 81, Against 33, Abstentions 1).
The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT)
by division: For 81, Against 34, Abstentions 0).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the
Parliament notes that Scottish Ministers have secured from HM
Treasury a substantial pay out for Scottish Transport Group
Pension Scheme former members despite the absence of any legal
entitlement; further notes that any change to the amount to
be distributed to former members is a matter for HM Treasury,
and finally notes that the key remaining step is the winding
up of the pension scheme, which is a matter for the schemes’
trustees.
3. Election of Deputy Presiding Officer:
The following members were nominated as candidates for appointment
as deputy Presiding Officer: Cathy Peattie and Mr Murray Tosh.
The result of the first round of voting was—
Cathy Peattie 45
Mr Murray Tosh 68
Mr Murray Tosh was duly elected as a Deputy
Presiding Officer.
4. Question Time:
Questions were answered by the First Minister and other Ministers
and junior Scottish Ministers.
5. Social Justice: The Minister for
Social Justice moved S1M-2492—That the Parliament welcomes the
Executive’s publication of the Social Justice Annual Report
2001; notes the progress which is being made, and supports
the work of the Executive, local government and other public
agencies and the voluntary, community and private sectors in
working together to deliver social justice in Scotland.
Kenneth Gibson moved amendment S1M-2492.3 to
motion S1M-2492—
Leave out from "the progress" to
end and insert—
"the slow progress in addressing social
inequality and believes that the Parliament could best succeed
in driving forward the social justice agenda if it had the
powers of an independent sovereign state."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to
((DT) by division: For 33, Against 81, Abstentions 1).
Lyndsay McIntosh moved amendment S1M-2492.1
to motion S1M-2492—
Leave out from "welcomes" to end
and insert—
"notes the information to date which
shows that the Scottish Executive still has a long way to
go to meet its own objectives against the targets and milestones
it set itself on social justice; affirms its commitment
to building a civic society based on opportunity and responsibility
for all, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to address
the problems of crime in Scotland’s communities and devolve
power to individuals, families and communities as an essential
step on the road to achieving social justice."
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to
((DT) by division: For 16, Against 67, Abstentions 31).
The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division:
For 67, Against 47, Abstentions 1).
6. Suspension of Standing Orders:
Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2481—That
the Parliament agrees that Rule 9.5.3A of the Standing Orders
be suspended for the purposes of the Scottish Local Government
(Elections) Bill.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Approval of SSIs: Euan Robson,
on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2490—That the
Parliament agrees that the following instruments be approved—
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.10) (Scotland)
Order 2001 (SSI 2001/406);
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.11) (Scotland)
Order 2001 (SSI 2001/420);
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.12) (Scotland)
Order 2001 (SSI 2001/423); and
The draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2001 (Amendment)
Order 2001.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
8. Designation of Lead Committee:
Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau moved S1M-2494—That
the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Committee be
designated as lead committee in consideration of the Scottish
Public Sector Ombudsman Bill and that the Health and Community
Care Committee and the Social Justice Committee be secondary
committees.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
9. Motion without Notice: Patricia
Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without
notice that S1M- 2499 be taken at this meeting of Parliament.
The motion was agreed to.
10. Membership of Committees: Patricia
Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2499—That
the Parliament agrees that the following Members be appointed
to Committees—
Tom McCabe and Des McNulty to replace Dr
Richard Simpson and Mike Watson on the Finance Committee;
Sarah Boyack to replace Hugh Henry on the
European Committee;
Susan Deacon to replace Patricia Ferguson
on the Procedures Committee and on the Standards Committee;
Jackie Baillie to replace Cathy Peattie
on the Education Committee;
Angus MacKay to replace Andy Kerr on the
Transport and the Environment Committee;
Alasdair Morrison to replace Mary Mulligan
on the Justice 2 Committee;
Alasdair Morrison and Irene Oldfather to
replace Cathy Jamieson and Dr Elaine Murray on the Rural
Development Committee; and
Tommy Sheridan to be appointed to the Equal
Opportunities Committee.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
11. Decision Time:
The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and
10 as noted above.
12. Digital Hearing Aids and Review of Audiology Services:
The Parliament debated S1M-2436 in the name of Mr Mike Rumbles—That
the Parliament notes that the Scottish Executive is conducting
an audiology services review; recognises that many hard of hearing
and profoundly deaf people are still provided with out-dated
analogue hearing aids; is aware that new digital hearing aids
can improve the quality of life for those who need them; realises
that digital hearing aids are not widely available on the NHS
in Scotland and are expensive to purchase privately; understands
that the cost can be dramatically reduced by a system of bulk-buying;
further notes that such a scheme has been introduced into 20
NHS hospitals in England, and considers that the Scottish Executive
should make a commitment to provide digital hearing aids on
the NHS in Scotland.
The
meeting closed at 6.00 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
29 November 2001
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of
the Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before
the Parliament on 29 November 2001 and are subject to annulment—
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in
the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2001 (SSI 2001/438)
laid under the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) 2001 (SSI 2001/439)
laid under the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 and
the Execution of Diligence (Scotland) Act 1926
The Beef Special Premium (Scotland) Regulations
2001 (SSI 2001/445)
laid under the European Communities Act
1972
The Local Government Act 1988 (Competition)
(Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/446)
laid under the Local Government Act 1988
The Community Care (Direct Payments) (Scotland)
Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/447)
laid under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968
Not Subject to any Parliamentary Procedure
The following instruments were laid before
the Parliament on 29 November 2001 and are not subject to any
Parliamentary procedure—
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (Scotland) Order
2001 Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/442)—
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) (East Coast) (No.2) (Scotland)
Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/443)—
The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions)
(Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.3) (Scotland)
Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/444)—
laid under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985
Other Documents
The following documents were laid before the
Parliament on 29 November 2001 and are not subject to any Parliamentary
procedure—
Statistical Bulletin: Homicide in Scotland
2000 (SE 2001/278)
laid under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967
as amended by the Police Magistrates’ Courts Act 1994
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Annual Report
and Accounts 2000-01 (SE 2001/279)
laid under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland)
Act
Committee Reports
The following Reports were published on 29
November 2001—
Transport and the Environment Committee,
15th Report 2001: Stage 1 of the Water Industry
(Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 456)
Health and Community Care Committee,
22nd Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation
(SP Paper 459)
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