Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 2.30 pm.
1. Time for Reflection: Rev Stephen Taylor, Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting, Aberdeen, led Time for Reflection.
2. Business Motion: Michael McMahon, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-2050—That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business for Wednesday 4 June 2008—
after
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
insert
followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Ambulance Service
The motion was agreed to.
3. Ministerial Statement: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon) made a statement and answered questions on the Scottish Ambulance Service.
4. Drugs Strategy: The Minister for Community Safety (Fergus Ewing) moved S3M-2038—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, as a sound framework for tackling drug misuse in Scotland; acknowledges that it is founded on expert advice and has been developed through a wide-ranging and inclusive process; supports the Scottish Government’s vision that recovery should be the guiding principle of all services for problem drug users; recognises the breadth of action set out in the strategy to prevent drug use, to make communities safer, to tackle drug use in prisons and to protect children affected by parental substance misuse; recognises the Scottish Government’s intention to support action to tackle drug misuse with £94 million from the Justice portfolio alone over the nextthree years and welcomes the work that Audit Scotland is carrying out into the scale and effectiveness of drugs expenditure, and resolves to support the implementation of the strategy over the coming years.
Paul Martin moved amendment S3M-2038.2 to motion S3M-2038—
insert at end—
“acknowledges the efforts of all those engaged in drug misuse services; recognises that the strategy identifies the need for broader treatment services and wrap-around care for drug users to move beyond stabilisation; believes that the strategy should provide detail on targets on a range of indicators so that progress can be monitored; strongly believes that there should be a clear and identifiable increase in funding in the justice and health budgets, and further strongly believes that there should be a continuing focus on enforcement against all drug dealers and that communities most blighted by drugs will benefit from the proceeds of crime legislation.”
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 57, Against 64, Abstentions 1).
The Presiding Officer called amendment S3M-2038.1 (in the name of Annabel Goldie) to motion S3M-2038—
after second “misuse” insert—
“; further recognises in relation to drugs in prison both the extent of addiction and availability of illegal substances and urges the Scottish Government to adopt the approach taken by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections which has resulted in Pennsylvanian prisons being virtually drug free;”.
The amendment was not moved.
Margaret Smith moved amendment S3M-2038.3 to motion S3M-2038—
after “action set out in the strategy” insert—
“and calls on the Scottish Government to provide the leadership and resources necessary”.
After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to (DT).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, as a sound framework for tackling drug misuse in Scotland; acknowledges that it is founded on expert advice and has been developed through a wide-ranging and inclusive process; supports the Scottish Government’s vision that recovery should be the guiding principle of all services for problem drug users; recognises the breadth of action set out in the strategy and calls on the Scottish Government to provide the leadership and resources necessary to prevent drug use, to make communities safer, to tackle drug use in prisons and to protect children affected by parental substance misuse; recognises the Scottish Government’s intention to support action to tackle drug misuse with £94 million from the Justice portfolio alone over the nextthree years and welcomes the work that Audit Scotland is carrying out into the scale and effectiveness of drugs expenditure, and resolves to support the implementation of the strategy over the coming years.
5. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-2051—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 11 June 2008
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Alternative Business Structure for the Legal Profession
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Impact of the Small Business Bonus Scheme
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 12 June 2008
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
12.30 pm Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Debate: Expenses Scheme
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Finance and Sustainable Growth
2.55 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Public Health etc. (Scotland) Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Wednesday 18 June 2008
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Creative Scotland Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Creative Scotland Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 19 June 2008
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Europe, External Affairs and Culture;
Education and Lifelong Learning
2.55 pm Stage 1 Debate: Scottish Register of Tartans Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
The motion was agreed to.
6. Approval of SSI: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-2052—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Advice and Assistance (Limits, Conditions and Representation) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 be approved.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 4 and 6 as noted above.
8. 60th Anniversary of the National Health Service: The Parliament debated S3M-1923 in the name of Bill Butler—That the Parliament celebrates the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service, launched on 5 July 1948 by Labour Minister for Health, Aneurin Bevan; recognises the continuing relevance of its founding principles of a socialised health service, funded through general taxation, free to all at the point of need; salutes the huge contribution of all NHS staff down the years in providing vital, lifesaving care and treatment which has improved the quality of life for millions of people, leading to dramatic improvements in life expectancy; supports the central role of the state in providing healthcare free at the point of need; encourages communities throughout Scotland to become involved in events to mark this anniversary, including those organised by NHS Greater Glasgow, the Evening Times and Radio Clyde, which will tell the story of the first 60 years of the NHS and serve as a powerful reminder of the unacceptable state of healthcare available to the vast majority of the population prior to 1948, and considers that all citizens, trade unions and politicians should remain true to the founding principles of the NHS.
9. Motion without Notice: Bill Butler moved without notice that, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended until 6.00 pm. The motion was agreed to.
The meeting closed at 6.00 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
4 June 2008
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
New Bills introduced or reprinted on 2 June 2008
Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Bill—A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the duties of local authorities in relation to parking places for use by disabled persons’ vehicles; and for connected purposes. (SP Bill 10) (Member’s Bill)
Introduced by: Jackie Baillie
Explanatory Notes (and other accompanying documents) (SP Bill 10-EN) and a Policy Memorandum (SP Bill 10-PM) were printed to accompany the Bill.
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 29 May 2008 and are subject to annulment—
The Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/201)
laid under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972
The National Scenic Areas (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/202)
laid under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972, section 106 of the Electricity Act 1989 and section 275(3) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2008 (SSI 2008/203)
laid under section 275(5) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 2 June 2008 and are subject to annulment—
The Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/204)
laid under section 3(1) of the Education and Training (Scotland) Act 2000
The Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI2008/205)
laid under section 133(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980
The Education (Means Testing) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI2008/206)
laid under section 133(2) of the Education (Scotland) 1980
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 4 June 2008 and are subject to annulment—
The Education (Assisted Places) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/213)
laid under section 133(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
The St Mary’s Music School (Aided Places) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/214)
laid under section 133(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
The Feeding Stuffs (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/215)
laid under section 84(2) of the Agriculture Act 1970.
The Spreadable Fats, Milk and Milk Products (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/216)
laid under section 48(3) of the Food Safety Act 1990.
Committee Reports
The following report was published on 2 June 2008
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, 3rd Report, 2008 (Session 3): Stage 1 Report on the Creative Scotland Bill (SP Paper 105)