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
New bills introduced to Scottish Parliament
You can track the progress of these bills on the Current Bills page.
In addition, each bill has an RSS feed. (The feed can be found on the right-hand side of a bill's page.)
New consultations
The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee is seeking views on the achievability of the Scottish Government's renewable energy targets.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee call for views
The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee is seeking views on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee call for views
The Justice Committee is seeking views on the general principles of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Justice Committee call for views
Thousands visit our free 'Design and Democracy' exhibition
Over 22,000 people have visited the Scottish Parliament’s ‘Design and Democracy’ exhibition since it opened in December.
The exhibition brings together works by new graduates from Scotland’s four renowned art schools.
The selected exhibits showcase how inspired design can be both life-enhancing and creative.
News release – Thousands flock to Parliament’s design exhibition
Holyrood Highlights
The guests on the most recent Holyrood Highlights were Jackson Carlaw MSP and Nigel Don MSP.
The programme included reports on:
- the Ministerial Statement on Scottish Ambulance Service Rest Breaks
- the Independence Referendum
- the Infrastructure Investment Plan
Holyrood Highlights – 19/1/12
This week in the Debating Chamber
Wednesday 25 January 2012
1.30 pm Time for Reflection – Reverend Dr Stewart Gillan, Minister, St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Referendum Consultation
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Budget (Scotland) Bill (for text of motion see S4M-01773 in Section F of the Business Bulletin for Friday 20 January 2012)
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01700 Stewart Maxwell: Holocaust Memorial Day 2012 (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 16 January 2012)
Thursday 26 January 2012
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
11.40 am General Question Time (for text of General Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 19 January 2012)
12.00 pm First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Education and Lifelong Learning (for text of Themed Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 19 January 2012)
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Claim of Right
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01690 Patricia Ferguson: Save Glasgow’s Local Train Services (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 16 January 2012)
Committee meetings
Education and Culture Committee
24 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether its consideration of its work programme should be taken in private at future meetings.
2. Broadcasting: The Committee will take evidence, in round table format, from—
John Boothman, Head of News and Current Affairs, BBC Scotland;
Stuart Cosgrove, Director of Creative Diversity, Channel 4;
Stephen Emerson, Online Editor, Scotsman;
Paul Holleran, Scottish Organiser, NUJ Scotland;
Gordon MacMillan, Head of News, Scotland, STV;
Ruth Wishart, Journalist.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 31 January, the Committee expects to consider its work programme.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Health and Sport Committee
24 January 2012
4th 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. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Professor Jonathan Chick, Honorary Professor, Queen Margaret University;
Dr John Holmes, Public Health Research Fellow, and Professor Alan Brennan, Professor of Health Economics and Decision Modelling, University of Sheffield;
Andrew Leicester, Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
3. Appointment of European Union Reporter: The Committee will appoint a member to serve as its European Union Reporter.
4. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.
5. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 31 January, the Committee expects to consider subordinate legislation and continue to take oral evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Justice Committee
24 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 11.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) (No. 2) 2011 (SSI 2011/432)
3. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
4. The Carloway Review: The Committee will consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government highlighting evidence received on Lord Carloway's review of criminal law and practice in Scotland.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 31 January, the Committee expects to begin taking evidence on the Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Public Petitions Committee
24 January 2012
1st Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 2
1. Declaration of interests: Anne McTaggart will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions—
PE1413 Preserving marriage
3. Consideration of current petitions: The Committee will consider the following current petitions—
PE1124 Ban the manufacture, sale, possession and use of all snares
PE1175 A92 upgrade
PE1319 Improving youth football in Scotland
PE1394 Reintroduce Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service
PE1396 The overbreeding and abandonment of Staffordshire bull terriers
PE1404 Access to insulin pump therapy
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 7 February, the Committee expects to consider petitions on St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, free calls to NHS 24 for mobile phones, tackling child sexual exploitation in Scotland and the future support of and funding for In Care Survivors Service Scotland.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
24 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.30 pm in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 7 and 8 in private.
2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment (No. 2) Order 2012 [draft];
Forestry Commissioners (Climate Change Functions) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft];
Advice and Assistance (Assistance By Way of Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft];
Representation of the People (Post-Local Government Elections Supply and Inspection of Documents) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft];
Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2012 [draft]
3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/3);
National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission Charges) (Scotland) (No. 2) Amendment Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/449);
Sea Fish (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/4);
Fodder Plant Seed (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/5);
Conservation of Salmon (River Annan Salmon Fishery District) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/6)
4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No.3) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/1);
Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/2)
5. Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in the Bill at Stage 1.
6. Budget (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in the Bill at Stage 1.
7. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report to the Health and Sport Committee.
8. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 31 January, the Committee expects to consider Scottish statutory instruments.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
25 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 4
1. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Alan Cook, Chairman, and Ann Stewart, Member, SPF Commercial Committee & Professional Support Lawyer, Scottish Property Federation;
Gary Donaldson, Business Development Manager, Millar & Bryce;
and then from—
Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of the Register, Gavin Henderson, Land Registration Bill Team Leader, and John King, Director of Registration, Registers of Scotland.
2. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will review the evidence heard at today's meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 1 February, the Committee will continue to take oral evidence on the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) BIll.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Finance Committee
25 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Public Sector Pay: The Committee will take evidence from—
Will Hutton, Principal, Hertford College, University of Oxford and author of the Review of fair pay in the public sector.
3. Fiscal Sustainability: universal services: The Committee will take evidence from—
Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland;
Paul Brewer, Partner, Corporate Finance, Infrastructure and Government, Pricewaterhouse Coopers;
Graeme Downie, Communications Manager, National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts;
Professor Jim Gallagher, School of Law, University of Glasgow;
Professor Jeremy Peat, Royal Society of Edinburgh;
Dr Andrew Walker, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow.
4. Long Leases (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the Financial Memorandum of the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 1 February, the Committee will hold a round table evidence session on fiscal sustainability and additional funding methods.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
25 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 5 in private.
2. The Scottish Ferry Services Draft Plan: The Committee will take evidence from—
Keith Brown, Minister for Housing and Transport, Graham Laidlaw, Head of Ferries Unit, Judith Ainsley, Head of Ferries Policy and Procurement, David Notman, Economic Adviser, and Cheryl Murrie, Ferries Policy Officer, Transport Scotland, Scottish Government.
3. Scottish Social Housing Charter: The Committee will take evidence from—
Jim Harvey, Director, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations;
David Bookbinder, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland;
Euan McDougall, Policy, Information and Parliamentary Officer, Scottish Disability Equality Forum;
Danny Mullen, The Regional Networks of Registered Tenants Organisations;
Alan Stokes, Policy and Strategy Manager, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations;
Ilene Campbell, Director, Tenants Information Service.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Amendment) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/445)
5. Work programme: The Committee will review its work programme.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 8 February, the Committee will continue to take evidence on the Scottish Social Housing Charter and the 2012 Homelessness Committment.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
25 January 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5
1. Inquiry on a living wage in Scotland (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
Not before 11.00 am
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Act 2011 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2012 from—
Derek MacKay MSP, Minister for Local Government and Planning, Jaime Neal, Policy Assistant, Elections Team, Deborah Blair, Solicitor, Local Government Division, and Andrew Sinclair, Policy Officer, Elections Team, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: Derek MacKay MSP (Minister for Local Government and Planning) to move—
S4M-01687—That the Local Government and Regeneration Committee recommends that the Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Act 2011 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2012 be approved.
4. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 1 February, the Committee expects to consider proposals for two Members' Bills, the proposed High Hedges (Scotland) Bill, and the proposed Building Repairs (Scotland) Bill. The Committee also expects to consider the evidence it recently received on dangerous buildings and building MOTs; as well as consider, in private, a draft report on its inquiry on a living wage in Scotland.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
25 January 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore and Offshore Regions) Amendment Order 2012 [draft] from—
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Matthew Cartney, Policy Officer, Marine Planning and Policy, and Ian Vickerstaff, Solicitor, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government.
2. Subordinate legislation: Richard Lochhead to move S4M-01685—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore and Offshore Regions) Amendment Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft] from—
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Gordon Struth, Senior Policy Officer, and Andrew Voas, Veterinary Adviser, Animal Health and Welfare Division, and Michael Anderson, Solicitor, Rural Affairs, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: Richard Lochhead to move S4M-01688—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft] be approved.
5. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Iain Dewar, Bill Team Leader, Agriculture and Rural Development Division, and Caroline Mair, Solicitor, Rural Affairs, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government.
6. 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 8 February, the Committee expects to take evidence on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill from the Scottish Government Bill Team.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Useful weblinks
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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.