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 approves nomination of new Scottish Information Commissioner
The Scottish Parliament approved the nomination of Rosemary Agnew as the new Scottish Information Commissioner on Wednesday 1 February.
News release – New Scottish Information Commissioner to be approved by Parliament
New call for evidence – review of Section 7 of Code of Conduct for MSPs
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee has begun an inquiry to review Section 7 of the Code of Conduct for MSPs.
The Committee launched a call for evidence on Thursday 2 February.
Review of Section 7 of Code of Conduct for MSPs (includes link to call for evidence)
Code of Conduct for MSPs
Local Government and Regeneration Committee is ‘broadly supportive’ of the campaign for a living wage.
In a report published on Friday 3 February, the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Regeneration Committee indicated that it is ‘broadly supportive’ of the campaign for a living wage.
News release – Local Government Committee 'broadly supportive' of living wage
Local Government and Regeneration Committee – 2nd Report, 2012 (Session 4): Living wage in Scotland
Recess dates
On Wednesday 1 February, the Parliament agreed the following recess dates:
- 6 to 21 October 2012 (inclusive)
- 22 December 2012 to 6 January 2013 (inclusive).
Full list of recess dates for 2012-13
Holyrood Highlights
The most recent edition of Holyrood Highlights included reports on:
- the ministerial statement on Higher Education and Further Education Governance Reports
- UK and Scottish Ministers' evidence on the Energy Policy
- Health and Sport Committee evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.
The guests were John Park MSP and John Wilson MSP.
Holyrood Highlights – 2/2/12
This week in the Debating Chamber
Wednesday 8 February 2012
2.30 pm Time for Reflection – Paul McKeown, Tibetan Buddhist, Inverness
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Budget (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01532 Jamie McGrigor: Designation of Special Areas of Conservation (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 12 December 2011)
Thursday 9 February 2012
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Review of Teacher Employment
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft]
11.40 am General Question Time (for text of General Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 2 February 2012)
12.00 pm First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Justice and the Law Officers;
Rural Affairs and the Environment (for text of Themed Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 2 February 2012)
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Youth Employment Strategy
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – S4M-01683 Helen Eadie: Celebrating the Value of Co-operatives Internationally (for text of motion see Section F of the Business Bulletin for Monday 16 January 2012)
Committee meetings
Education and Culture Committee
7 February 2012
5th Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2
1. National Library of Scotland Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Colin Miller, Head of Public Bodies Policy Unit, Carole Robinson, Bill Team Leader, and David Seers, Head of Cultural Excellence, Scottish Government;
Greig Walker, Solicitor, Economy and Transport Division, Scottish Government Legal Directorate;
and then from—
Andrea Longson, Senior Librarian, and Mungo Bovey QC, Keeper of the Library, Faculty of Advocates;
Elaine Fulton, Director, Scottish Library and Information Council;
Martyn Wade, National Librarian and Chief Executive, and Professor Michael Anderson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, National Library of Scotland.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment (No. 2) Order 2012 [draft] from—
Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, John Gunstone, People and Leadership Unit, and Helen Reid, People and Leadership Unit, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: Alasdair Allan to move—S3M-01906—That the Education and Culture Committee recommends that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment (No. 2) Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instrument which is not subject to any parliamentary procedure—
The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/1)
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 February, the Committee expects to take further oral evidence on the National Library of Scotland Bill and evidence on college governance.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Health and Sport Committee
7 February 2012
6th 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 items 3 and 4 in private.
2. European Commission Work Programme: The Committee will consider the European Commission Work Programme and European Union priorities for engagement and scrutiny.
3. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to a short inquiry into the Scottish Government's plan to integrate adult health and social care.
4. Work programme: The Committee will review the work completed since June 2011 and consider options for enhancing engagement with stakeholders in future.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 February, the Committee expects to consider a draft report on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill. The Committee is also planning to carry out a short inquiry into the Scottish Government's plan to integrate adult health and social care later in the year.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Justice Committee
7 February 2012
5th 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 take item 3 in private.
2. Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Robert Forrester, Iain McKie, Len Murray, and Dr Jim Swire, Justice for Megrahi;
and then from—
Sir Gerald Gordon QC, and James Chalmers, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh;
and then from—
Ken Macdonald, Assistant Commissioner (Scotland and Northern Ireland), and Sheila Logan, Operations and Policy Manager, Information Commissioner's Office.
3. Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence received.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 February, the Committee expects to conclude its evidence taking on the Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Equal Opportunities Committee
7 February 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 4
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Inclusive play: The Committee will consider written evidence on inclusive play park provision received from local authorities.
3. Petition PE1372: The Committee will consider petition PE1372 by Duncan McLaren on behalf of Friends of the Earth Scotland on whether access to the Scottish courts is compliant with the Aarhus convention on ‘Access to Justice in Environmental Matters’.
4. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.
Proposed future business
The Committee's next meeting is a "round-table" session, during Trade Union week, on 21 February 2012.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
European and External Relations Committee
7 February 2012
3rd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private.
2. Developments in the Eurozone: The Committee will take evidence from—
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Elspeth MacDonald, Deputy Director of Constitution and Europe Division, and Lucy Proud, Economic Policy Adviser, Office of the Chief Economic Advisor, Scottish Government.
3. EU Structural Funds: The Committee will consider an approach paper for its inquiry on EU Structural Funds .
4. Developments in the Eurozone: The Committee will consider the evidence taken earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Public Petitions Committee
7 February 2012
2nd Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 1
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.
2. PE1393 ‘Cut them free’ – Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation in Scotland The Committee will take evidence from—
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People and Philip Raines, Head of Child Protection Policy, Scottish Government
3. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions—
PE1414 Funding for further education
4. Consideration of current petitions: The Committee will consider the following current petitions—
PE1105 St Margaret of Scotland Hospice
PE1285 Free calls to NHS24 for mobile phones
PE1397 Future support of and funding for In Care Survivors Service Scotland
5. Consideration of evidence - PE1393 ‘Cut them free’ – Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation in Scotland The Committee will consider the evidence received at agenda item 2.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 February, the Committee expects to consider petitions on acquired brain injury services, gypsy/traveller encampments, "Mosquito" devices, speech and language therapy, funding for lesser taught languages, a Scottish cancer drug fund, school uniform policies, bonds of caution and the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
7 February 2012
3rd 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 item 6 in private.
2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft];
Housing Support Grant (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft];
Budget (Scotland) Act 2011 Amendment Order 2012 [draft];
Public Services Reform (Recovery of Expenses in respect of Inspection of Independent Further Education Colleges and English Language Schools) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft].
3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) (No. 2) 2011 (SSI 2012/7);
National Health Service (General Medical Service Contracts) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/9);
National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/10);
Scottish Road Works Register (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/11);
Repayment of Student Loans (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/22);
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/24).
4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms) (Amendment) 2012 (SSI 2012/8);
Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/16);
Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/19);
Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 (Commencement) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/20);
Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2012 (SSI 2012/23).
5. Long Leases (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
6. Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider a draft report to the Justice Committee.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 February, the Committee expects to consider Scottish statutory instruments and the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
8 February 2012
4th Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 9.45 am in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 8 and 9 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Representation of the People (Post-Local Government Elections Supply and Inspection of Documents) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012, and the Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2012 from—
Derek Mackay, Minister for Local Government and Planning, Andrew Sinclair, Policy Officer, Elections Team, Jaime Neal, Policy Assistant, Elections Team, and Deborah Blair, Solicitor, Local Government Division, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: Derek Mackay (Minister for Local Government and Planning) to move—S4M-01904—That the Local Government and Regeneration Committee recommends that the Representation of the People (Post-Local Government Elections Supply and Inspection of Documents) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 [draft] be approved.
4. Subordinate legislation: Derek Mackay (Minister for Local Government and Planning) to move—S4M-01905—That the Local Government and Regeneration Committee recommends that the Scottish Local Government Elections Amendment Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
5. Proposed building repairs bill: The Committee will take evidence on the statement of reasons lodged to accompany the draft proposal from—
David Stewart.
6. Petition PE1405: The Committee will consider a petition from Mr Andrew Muir, calling on the Scottish Parliament to request the Government to carry out urgently an independent “fit for purpose” review of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman which encompasses opening a public inquiry to collect evidence to scrutinize the high rate of case closures since Mr Jim Martin took office in May 2009. The Committee will take evidence from—
Andrew Muir, Petitioner.
7. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Christie Smith, Head of Police and Fire Reform Division, Liz Sadler, Head of Policy and Legislation Unit, Police and Fire Reform Division, and Stephanie Virlogeux, Policy and Legislation Unit, Police and Fire Reform Division, Scottish Government.
8. Draft Budget 2012-13 and Spending Review 2011 Scrutiny: The Committee will consider a response from the Scottish Government to its report to the Finance Committee on the Draft Budget 2012-13 and Spending Review 2011.
9. Proposed building repairs bill: The Committee will consider the statement of reasons.
10. Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence received.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on Tuesday 21 February, the Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
8 February 2012
5th Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5
1. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Scottish Government;
Gavin Henderson, Land Registration Bill Team Leader, Registers of Scotland;
Matthew Smith, Land Registration Bill Team Officer, and Valerie Montgomery, SGLD Principal Legal Officer, Scottish Government.
2. European Commission Work Programme: The Committee will consider the European Commission Work Programme and European Union priorities for engagement and scrutiny.
3. 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, 22 February, the Committee expects to consider a draft report on the Land Registration etc. Scotland Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Finance Committee
8 February 2012
5th Meeting, 2012
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 4
1. Early years intervention: Birmingham City Council: The Committee will take evidence from—
Cheryl Hopkins, former Director of Strategy, Commissioning and Business Transformation, Birmingham City Council.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 22 February, the Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Financial Memorandum of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
8 February 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 6 and future consideration of related draft reports in private.
2. Homelessness: The Committee will take evidence from—
Keith Brown, Minister for Housing and Transport, and Marion Gibbs, Team Leader, Housing Options and Services Unit, Scottish Government.
3. Scottish Social Housing Charter: The Committee will take evidence from—
Keith Brown, Minister for Housing and Transport, William Fleming, Branch Head, and Anne Cook, Tenant Participation Development Manager, Social Housing and Strategy Unit, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instruments which are not subject to any parliamentary procedure—
the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Order 2012: SSI 2012/2 (C. 2)
5. European Union legislative proposals: The Committee will consider the following European Union legislative proposals which may raise questions in relation to subsidiarity—
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (COM(2011) 895); and
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurement (COM(2011) 896)
6. Homelessness and the Scottish Social Housing Charter: The Committee will consider the evidence heard during the meeting and previous evidence sessions.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 22 February, the Committee will take evidence on Broadband Infrastructure in Scotland.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
8 February 2012
4th 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 take items 6 and 7 and future consideration of evidence heard on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Forestry Commissioners (Climate Change Functions) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] from—
Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Dr Heike Gading, Solicitor, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government;
David Henderson-Howat, Deputy Director, Forestry Commission Scotland.
3. Subordinate legislation: Stewart Stevenson to move S4M-01903—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Forestry Commissioners (Climate Change Functions) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
4. Long Leases (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Simon Stockwell, Bill Team Leader, Sandra Jack, Policy Officer, Family and Property Law, Law Reform Division, and Graham Fisher, Head of Branch, Constitutional and Civil Law Division, Scottish Government.
5. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
the Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 SSI2012/3;
the Sea Fish (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2012 SSI 2012/4;
the Fodder Plant Seed (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 SSI 2012/5;
the Conservation of Salmon (River Annan Salmon Fishery District) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/6).
6. European Commission Work Programme: The Committee will consider the European Commission Work Programme and European Union priorities for engagement and scrutiny.
7. Long Leases (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 22 February, the Committee expects to take evidence on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill, to consider subordinate legislation, its work programme and a draft report on the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee.
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