Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.

The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Ministerial Statement: The Minister for Health and Community Care made a statement on Partnership for Care Scotland’s Health White Paper.

2. National Gallery of Scotland Bill – Preliminary Stage: Rhona Brankin, on behalf of the National Gallery of Scotland Bill Committee, moved S1M-3935—That the Parliamentagrees to the general principles of the National Galleries of Scotland Bill and that the Bill should proceed as a private Bill.

After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).

3. Prostitution Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill – Stage 1: Ms Margo MacDonald moved S1M-3939—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Prostitution Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill.

After debate, the motion was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 11, Against 86, Abstentions 0).

4. Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister and other Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers.

5. European Year of Disabled People: The Minister for Social Justice moved S1M-3956—That the Parliament welcomes the European Year of Disabled People and reaffirms our commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity for disabled people; recognises and celebrates the European Year of Disabled People and the contributions that disabled people make to Scottish society at all levels; recognises the role of the arts, culture and sport in promoting social inclusion and equality of opportunity, and calls upon other organisations to recognise and celebrate the European Year of Disabled People.

Mr Kenneth Gibson moved amendment S1M-3956.1 to motion S1M-3956—

Insert at end—

", accepting that much more needs to be done to ensure that Scotland is fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995."

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 28, Against 70, Abstentions 0).

The motion was agreed to (DT).

6. Approval of SSI: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3947—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Housing Support Grant (Scotland) Order 2003 be approved.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

7. Approval of SSI: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3948—That the Parliament agrees that the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Grants) (Scotland) Scheme 2003 (SSI 2003/52) be approved.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

8. Approval of SSI: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3949—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Members of the Parole Board (Removal Tribunal) Regulations 2003 be approved.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

9. Approval of SSI: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3950—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert Human Intelligence Sources – Code of Practice) (Scotland) Order 2003 be approved.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

10. Approval of SSI: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-3951—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert Surveillance – Code of Practice) (Scotland) Order 2003 be approved.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

11. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 as noted above.

12. Wick Ambulance Service: The Parliament debated S1M-3647 in the name of Mr Jamie Stone—That the Parliament recognises the vital work of the Wick ambulance service; is concerned at the lack of additional funding that was made available to the Highlands from the £22 million the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) received for modernisation; notes the long on-call working regime that means ambulance crews are often on duty for as much as 20 hours at a time and are routinely required to make long journeys of over 200 miles; is further concerned that crews suffer from sleep deprivation, possibly endangering themselves, their passengers and other road users, and asks the Scottish Executive and the SAS to urgently review the on-call working arrangements at Wick Ambulance Station, where staff are paid less than 90p per hour for being on-call, with a view to upgrading it from part-time on-call to full-time.

The meeting closed at 5.36 pm.

P E Grice

Clerk of the Parliament

Thursday 27 February

Appendix

(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)

Subordinate Legislation

Affirmative Instruments

The following instruments were laid in draft before the Parliament on 27 February 2003 for approval by resolution—

The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003

laid under the Health Act 1999

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003

laid under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Note: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003, which was laid before the Parliament on 13 February 2003, has been withdrawn

Other Documents

The following document was laid before the Parliament on 22 March 2000 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure

Medical, Health Care and Associated Professions – Doctors: The General and Special Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003: Report on Conclusion (SE/2003/71)

laid under the Health Act 1999

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 27 February 2003—

Finance Committee, 3rd Report 2003: Financial Scrutiny Review (SP Paper 784)

Local Government Committee, 7th Report 2003: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 786)

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 19th Report 2003: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 788)