This weekly eBulletin provides an 'at a glance' guide to the week ahead in the Scottish Parliament and is issued every week, except when the Parliament is in recess.
All proceedings in the Debating Chamber, committee rooms and committee meetings outwith Edinburgh can be viewed, or listened to, live in the Parliament TV section of our website.
Points to Note
Scottish Parliament's carbon footprint down 12% against 2005-06
This year’s Environmental & Sustainability Annual Report includes details of the Parliament’s 12% carbon footprint reduction (521 tonnes), its landfill waste reduction of 65% and electricity use reduction of 15%, based on 2005-06 levels.
Environmental & Sustainability Annual Report 2010-11 (1.1MB pdf)
Letter associated with William Wallace to go on display
A 700-year-old letter believed to have been in the possession of William Wallace will be displayed in the Scottish Parliament alongside the famous Lübeck letter.
The free exhibition will run from Friday 10 to Friday 31 August 2012.
News Release – Scottish Parliament to exhibit medieval William Wallace letter
Holyrood Highlights
The latest Holyrood Highlights reports on recent events regarding the control and staging of a referendum on independence.
The show features interviews with Fiona McLeod MSP and Richard Simpson MSP.
Holyrood Highlights – 12/01/12
This week in the Debating Chamber
Wednesday 18 January 2012
2.30 pm Time for Reflection – Katie McKenna and Dominic Bradley, former pupils of St Ninian’s High School, East Dunbartonshire
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Ambulance Service Rest Breaks
followed by Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee Debate: Common Agricultural Policy (for text of motion see S4M-01679 in Section F of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 12 January 2012)
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01596 Elaine Murray: Independence Referendum, Let Wallace Vote (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 19 December 2011)
Thursday 19 January 2012
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Local Government Elections 2012
11.40 am General Question Time (for text of General Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 12 January 2012)
12.00 pm First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Culture and External Affairs;
Infrastructure and Capital Investment (for text of Themed Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 12 January 2012)
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Cities Strategy
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01065 Joan McAlpine: Save Introducing in Scotland (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 17 October 2011)
Committee meetings
Health and Sport Committee
17 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 8 in private, and whether to consider oral evidence heard by the Committee in private at future meetings.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Excepted Services) Regulations 2012 [draft] and the Public Services Reform (Social Services Inspections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft] from—
Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, Alessia Morris, Head of the Sponsorship & Social Services Improvement Team, and Nicholas Duffy, Solicitor, Food Health and Community Care Division, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: Michael Matheson to move S4M-01684—
That the Health and Sport Committee recommends that the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Excepted Services) Regulations 2012 [draft] be approved.
4. Subordinate legislation: Michael Matheson to move S4M-01686—
That the Health and Sport Committee recommends that the Public Services Reform (Social Services Inspections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft] be approved.
5. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill - witness expenses: The Committee will be invited to delegate to the Convener responsibility for arranging for the SPCB to pay, under Rule 12.4.3, any expenses of witnesses on the Bill.
6. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Gavin Hewitt, Chief Executive, Scotch Whisky Association;
Michael Patten, Global Public Affairs Director, Diageo;
George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship and PR, Tennent Caledonian Breweries (UK) Limited;
Bob Price, Director General and Policy Adviser, National Association of Cider Makers;
Patrick Browne, Chief Executive, Scottish Beer and Pub Association;
Paul Waterson, Chief Executive, Scottish Licensed Trade Association;
Emma Reynolds, Government Affairs Director, Tesco;
David Paterson, Head of Regional Affairs, Asda;
and then from—
Kate Higgins, Policy Manager, CHILDREN 1ST;
Major Dean Logan, Addiction Services Officer, Salvation Army;
Sarah O’Neill, Director of Policy, Consumer Focus Scotland;
Andrew Deans, Convener of the Health and Wellbeing Committee, Scottish Youth Parliament.
7. European Union legislative proposal: The Committee will consider the following European Union legislative proposal which may raise questions in relation to subsidiarity—
Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a Health for Growth Programme, the third multi-annual programme of EU action in the field of health for the period 2014-2020.
8. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 24 January, the Committee expects to consider subordinate legislation, its work programme and continue to take evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Education and Culture Committee
17 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to consider item 4 in private. The Committee will also decide whether its consideration of a draft report on the educational attainment of looked after children should be taken in private at future meetings.
2. Kinship Care: The Committee will take evidence, in a round-table discussion, from—
Robert Swift, Chair of the Adoption and Fostering Subgroup, Association of Directors of Social Work;
Alison Todd, Director of Policy and Practice, Children 1st;
Lindsay Isaacs, Kinship Care Service - National Co-ordinator, Citizens Advice Scotland;
Mike Callaghan, Policy Manager - Education, Children and Young People Team, COSLA;
Anne Black, Independent Social Work Consultant;
Tommy McFall, New Fossils Group.
3. Appointment of a European Union Reporter: The Committee will appoint a member to serve as its European Union Reporter.
4. Inquiry into the educational attainment of looked after children: The Committee will consider issues arising from the chamber debate on the inquiry.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 24 January, the Committee expects to carry out a broadcasting round table and is likely to consider its draft report on the inquiry into the educational attainment of looked after children.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Justice Committee
17 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.45 am in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 6 and 7 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will further consider the following negative instrument—
Prior Rights of Surviving Spouse and Civil Partner (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/436).
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
Charities References in Documents (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/446).
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instruments which are not subject to any parliamentary procedure—
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms) (No. 2) 2011 (SSI 2011/431);
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) (No. 2) 2011 (SSI 2011/432);
Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session Amendment No. 8) (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures) 2011 (SSI 2011/441).
5. Committee Bills: The Committee will consider the procedure for introducing a Committee Bill.
6. European Union legislative proposal: The Committee will consider the following European Union legislative proposal which may raise questions in relation to subsidiarity—
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC and proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes.
7. Proposed police and fire reform bill: The Committee will consider whether to issue a call for evidence on the proposed bill at Stage 1.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 24 January, the Committee expects to further consider its approach to the proposed police and fire reform bill, including consideration of initial witnesses, and to consider a draft letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the Carloway Review.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
17 January 2012
1st Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.15 pm in Committee Room 4
1. Declaration of interests: Margaret McCulloch will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.
3. Cross-Party Groups: The Committee will consider applications for recognition from four Cross-Party Groups.
4. Section 7 of the Code of Conduct: The Committee will consider an approach paper.
5. Orders under Public Bodies Act 2011: The Committee will consider a note by the Clerk.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 31 January, the Committee expects to consider its approach to a review of Cross-Party Groups.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
18 January 2012
1st Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 1
1. Declaration of interests: Anne McTaggart and John Pentland will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Inquiry on a living wage in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from—
Colin Borland, Head of External Affairs, Federation of Small Business Scotland;
Amy Dalrymple, Policy and Research Manager, Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
3. Dangerous buildings and building MOTs: The Committee will take evidence from—
Professor Cliff Hague, Chair, Built Environment Forum Scotland;
David Gibbon, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland;
John McKinney, Secretary, National Federation of Roofing Contractors Scotland;
Michael Levack, Chief Executive, Scottish Building Federation;
and then from—
Bill Dodds, Head of Building Standards, Scottish Government Built Environment Directorate;
Alastair Mackenzie, Scottish Association of Building Standards Managers.
4. Petition PE1320: The Committee will consider the evidence recieved on a Petition by Douglas McKenzie, on behalf of Communities Against Airfield open Cast calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend Planning Circular 3/2009, Notification of Planning Applications to (a) provide the same status to a planning objection to a major development from a neighbouring local authority as to one from a government agency in order to trigger a notification to Scottish Ministers and (b) state that such objections by a neighbouring local authority to major developments which represent a departure from the development plan should be a significant factor in the decision to call-in.
5. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider forthcoming legislation on reform of police and fire services in Scotland.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 25 January, the Committee expects to take oral evidence from the Minister for Local Government and Planning on an affirmative instrument setting out regulations for the forthcoming Scottish local elections. The Committee also expects to consider a draft report on its inquiry into a living wage in Scotland.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
18 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 3
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Andy Wightman;
Iain Langlands, Chartered Surveyor, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors;
Graham Little, Head of Service Delivery, Data Collection and Management, Ordnance Survey;
and then from—
Richard Blake, Legal Adviser, Scottish Land and Estates;
Tom Axford, Corporate Secretary & Head of Legal, Scottish Water.
3. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will review the evidence heard at today's meeting.
4. Acheiving the Scottish Government's renewable energy targets: The Committee will consider a draft remit, terms of reference and call for evidence for its inquiry.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 25 January, the Committee expects to take further oral evidence on the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Finance Committee
18 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private.
2. Fiscal sustainability: inequalities and socio-economic deprivation: The Committee will take evidence in a round table format from—
Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance;
Colin Mair, Chief Executive, Improvement Service;
Dr James McCormick, Scotland Adviser, Joseph Rowntree Foundation;
Chris Oswald, Head of Policy and Parliamentary Affairs, Equality and Human Rights Commission;
Laurie Russell, Chief Executive, The Wise Group.
3. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider a draft report on the Financial Memorandum of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.
4. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the Financial Memorandum of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 25 January, the Committee will hold a round table evidence session on fiscal sustainability and inequalities and social deprivation.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
18 January 2012
1st Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 4
1. Declaration of interests: Margaret McCulloch will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Infrastructure Investment Plan: The Committee will take evidence from—
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Janet Egdell, Head of Infrastructure Investment Policy, David Anderson, Head of Planning and Design, Transport Scotland, and Bruce Teubes, Economist, Communities Analytical Services Division, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
the Bus Lane Contraventions (Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/442);
the Bus Lane Contraventions (Approved Local Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/443); and
the Bus Lanes (Approved Devices) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/444).
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 25 January, the Committee will take evidence in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Public Audit Committee
18 January 2012
1st Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Declaration of interests: Iain Gray and Mark Griffin will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Choice of Convener: The Committee will choose a Convener.
3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.
4. Section 23 report - The role of community planning partnerships in economic development: The Committee will take evidence on the joint Auditor General for Scotland and Accounts Commission report entitled "The role of community planning partnerships in economic development" from—
Alex Anderson, Economic Development Manager at North Ayrshire Council and Chair, and Jim Galloway, Head of Services at City of Edinburgh Council and Vice Chair, Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group;
and then from—
Paul Gray, Director-General Governance and Communities, John Mason, Director of Business, and Ian Davidson, Deputy Director, Local Government Division, Scottish Government.
5. Consideration of evidence - The role of community planning partnerships in economic development: The Committee will consider the evidence received at agenda item 4.
6. Section 23 report - An overview of Scotland's criminal justice system (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on the joint Auditor General for Scotland and Accounts Commission report entitled "An overview of Scotland's criminal justice system".
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, it is expected that the Committee will take evidence from the Auditor General for Scotland in relation to reports he has recently published.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
18 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Christopher Nicholson, Vice Chairman, Scottish Tenant Farmers' Association;
Andrew Wood, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors;
Richard Blake, Legal Adviser, Scottish Land and Estates Ltd;
Scott Walker, Chief Executive, National Farmers Union Scotland;
Phil Thomas, Chairman, Tenant Farming Forum.
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instruments which are not subject to any parliamentary procedure—
the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/433 (C. 37));
the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/437 (C. 38)).
4. Long Leases (Scotland) Bill The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
5. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 25 January, the Committee expects to take evidence on the Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill and consider affirmative SSIs on Marine Licensing (Exmpted Activities) (Scottish Inshore and Offshore Regions) and the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Useful weblinks
Our website now features a range of RSS feeds – including new links for the news and video feeds.
Did you know that the Scottish Parliament is on Twitter? You can follow our tweets at @ScotParl.
You can find out when the transcripts of specific meetings will be added to the site by using the Official Report Publication Schedule.