BUSINESS BULLETIN No. 167/2012 Monday 9 January 2012

Transcription

1 BUSINESS BULLETIN No. 167/2012 Monday 9 January

2 Contents The sections which appear in today s Business Bulletin are in bold Section A: Section B: Section C: Section D: Section E: Section F: Section G: Section H: Section I: Section J: Today s Business - Meetings of Committees - Meeting of the Parliament Future Meetings of the Parliament Future Meetings of Committees Oral Questions - Questions selected for First Minister s Question Time - Questions selected for response by Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers at Question Time Written Questions new questions for written answer Motions and Amendments Bills - New Bills introduced - New amendments to Bills - Members Bills proposals New Documents new documents laid before the Parliament and committee reports published Petitions new public petitions Progress of Legislation progress of Bills and subordinate legislation 2

3 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section B Future Meetings of the Parliament Business Programme agreed by the Parliament on 21 December 2011 Wednesday 11 January pm Time for Reflection Paul O Kane, Development Officer, Volunteer Centre East Dunbartonshire followed by followed by followed by followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions Education and Culture Committee Debate: Inquiry into the educational attainment of looked after children Business Motion Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members Business: S4M Annabel Goldie: Volunteer Centre East Dunbartonshire (for text of motion see Section F) Thursday 12 January am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Scottish Labour Party Business Scotland s Future am General Question Time (for text of General Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 22 December 2011) pm First Minister s Question Time 2.15 pm Themed Question Time Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy (for text of Themed Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 22 December 2011) 2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Improving Learning Outcomes for All Young People in

4 followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members Business: S4M Margaret Burgess: Highinterest Payday Loans (for text of motion see Section F) Wednesday 18 January pm Time for Reflection followed by followed by followed by followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions Scottish Government Business Business Motion Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members Business Thursday 19 January am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Scottish Government Business am General Question Time (for names of those Members selected for General Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 22 December 2011) pm First Minister s Question Time 2.15 pm Themed Question Time Culture and External Affairs; Infrastructure and Capital Investment (for names of those Members selected for Themed Questions see Section D of the Business Bulletin for Thursday 22 December 2011) 2.55 pm Scottish Government Business followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members Business 4

5 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section C Future Committee Meetings This section includes the agendas of the forthcoming committee meetings and outlines proposed future business, which may be subject to change. Committees have the right to take items in private and this will be notified as far in advance as possible. Many committees include details of their future business on their webpages, which can be accessed at: Education and Culture Committee 10 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 2 1. Declaration of interests: Neil Bibby and Neil Findlay will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Choice of Deputy Convener: The Committee will choose a Deputy Convener. 3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Equality Act 2010 (Specification of Public Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] from Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, Robert Marshall, Directorate for Children and Families, and Moray Paterson, Directorate for Children and Families, Scottish Government. 4. Subordinate legislation: Aileen Campbell to move S4M That the Education and Culture Committee recommends that the Equality Act 2010 (Specification of Public Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2012 [draft] be approved. 5. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment Order 2012 [draft] from Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, Robert Marshall, Directorate for Children and Families, and Moray Paterson, Directorate for Children and Families, Scottish Government. 6. Subordinate legislation: Aileen Campbell to move S4M That the Education and Culture Committee recommends that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment Order 2012 [draft] be approved. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 17 January, the Committee expects to hold a round table discussion on kinship care. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. 5

6 Justice Committee 10 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 6 1. Declaration of interests: Jenny Marra will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Choice of Deputy Convener: The Committee will choose a new Deputy Convener. 3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 8 in private. 4. Freedom of Information: The Committee will take evidence from Kevin Dunion, Scottish Information Commissioner, on his report Informing the Future. 5. Petition PE1280: The Committee will consider a petition by Dr Kenneth Faulds and Julie Love calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to give the same level of protection to the families of people from Scotland who die abroad as is currently in place for people from England by amending the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 to require the holding of a fatal accident inquiry when a person from Scotland dies abroad. 6. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments the Confirmation to Small Estates (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/435); the Prior Rights of Surviving Spouse and Civil Partner (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/436). 7. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instrument which is not subject to any parliamentary procedure Act of Adjournal (Amendment of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995) (Refixing diets) 2011 (SSI 2011/430). 8. Commission on a UK Bill of Rights: The Committee will consider a draft response to the Commission s consultation. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 17 January, the Committee expect to consider items of Subordinate Legislation. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Health and Sport Committee 10 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 1 1. Declaration of interests: Drew Smith will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 6

7 2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private. 3. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from Professor Anne Ludbrook, Professor of Health Economics, University of Aberdeen; Benjamin Williamson, Senior Economist, Centre for Economics and Business Research; Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland; Dr Jan S Gil, Reader at Queen Margaret University; Dr Peter Rice, Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and Consultant Addictions Psychiatrist, NHS Tayside. 4. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting Proposed future business At its next meeting, on the afternoon of 10 January, the Committee expects to continue to take oral evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill via video conference. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Equal Opportunities Committee 10 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 4 1. Declaration of interests: The Committee will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Choice of Convener: The Committee will choose a new Convener. 3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 6 in private. 4. Diversity Delivers: The Committee will consider a report by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland, Diversity Delivers - Three Years On. 5. Petitions: The Committee will consider the following petitions PE1372 Petition 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. PE1169 Petition by Margaret Forbes, on behalf of Scottish Women Against Pornography, calling for measures that ensure that magazines and newspapers containing sexually graphic covers are (a) not displayed at children s eye-level or below or adjacent to children s titles and comics and (b) screen sleeved before being placed on the shelf. 6. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to developing its work programme. 7

8 Proposed future business The Committee s next meeting will take place on 7 February In the interim, the Committee will hold an informal session on Gypsies/Travellers. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. European and External Relations Committee 10 January th 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 4 and 5 in private. 2. Scottish Malawi Partnership: The Committee will consider correspondence from the Scottish Malawi Partnership. 3. Brussels Bulletin: The Committee will consider the latest edition of the Brussels Bulletin. 4. Horizon 2020: The Committee will consider a draft approach for an inquiry on Horizon EU Structural Funds: The Committee will consider a report from its meeting on 13 December 2011 of its round table discussion with stakeholders regarding EU Structural Funds. Proposed future business For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Subordinate Legislation Committee 10 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at 2.30 pm in Committee Room 6 1. Declarations of interests: Michael McMahon and John Pentland will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 6 and 7 in private. 3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following Bus Lane Contraventions (Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/442); Bus Lane Contraventions (Approved Local Authorities) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/443); Bus Lanes (Approved Devices) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/444); 8

9 Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Amendment) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/445); Charities References in Documents (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/446). 4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following 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); Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2) Amendment Order 2011 (SSI 2011/437 (C. 38)); Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/433 (C. 37)); Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session Amendment No. 8) (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures) 2011 (SSI 2011/441). 5. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage Commencement orders and transitional provisions: The Committee will consider the response from the Minister for Parliamentary Business in relation to its letter on commencement orders and transitional provisions. 7. UK Public Bodies Act 2011: The Committee will consider correspondence in relation to orders made under clause 9 of the Act. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 17 January, the Committee expects to consider Scottish statutory instruments. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Health and Sport Committee 10 January nd Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at 6.00 pm in Committee Room 1 1. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence, via video conference, on the Bill at Stage 1 from Professor Timothy Stockwell, University of Victoria, British Columbia. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 17 January, the Committee expects to continue to take oral evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill and consider subordinate legislation. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. 9

10 Finance Committee 11 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 2 1. Declaration of interests: Michael McMahon and Elaine Murray will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private. 3. Fiscal sustainability: Demographic change: The Committee will take evidence from Professor Robert E Wright, Professor of Economics, University of Strathclyde; Professor Charlie Jeffery, Head of School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh; James McCormick, Scotland Adviser, Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Professor Carol Jagger, Professor of Epidemiology of Ageing, Newcastle University; Geroge MacKenzie, Registrar General and Keeper of the Records and Chief Executive, National Records of Scotland. 4. Scotland Performs: The Committee will take evidence from Roger Halliday, Chief Statistician, and Dette Cowden, Senior Statistician, Scottish Government. 5. National Library of Scotland Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the Financial Memorandum of the National Library of Scotland Bill. 6. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 18 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, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee 11 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 4 1. Declaration of interests: Claudia Beamish and Margaret McDougall will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 and future consideration of evidence heard on the Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill in private. 3. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from 10

11 David Barnes, Deputy Director, Fiona Leslie, Land Tenure Branch Policy Officer, Agriculture and Rural Development Division, and Caroline Mair, Solicitor, Rural Affairs, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government. 4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments the Control of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petrol Vapour Recovery) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/418); the Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles (Prescribed Sums and Charges etc.) (Scotland) Revocation Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/428); the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Amendment Revocation Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/429). 5. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting. Proposed future business At its next meeting, on 18 January, the Committee expects to continue to take evidence on the Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee 11 January st Meeting, 2012 The Committee will meet at am in Committee Room 1 1. Declaration of interests: John Park will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 and all future reviews of evidence taken in private. 3. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from John Scott, Solicitor, and Ross MacKay, Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland; Fiona Letham, Professional Support Lawyer, Dundas & Wilson; Graeme McCormick, Founder and Managing Director, Conveyancing Direct; Ken Swinton, Senior Lecturer in Law, Abertay University, Council Member, and Ian Ferguson, Solicitor, Partner Mitchells Roberton Solicitors, Council Member, Scottish Law Agents Society. 4. Land Registration etc (Scotland) Bill The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting. Proposed future business 11

12 At its next meeting, on 18 January, the Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill and to consider a remit and terms of reference for its proposed inquiry into the Scottish Government s renewable energy targets. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. 12

13 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section E Written questions lodged between 23 December 2011 and 6 January 2012 Questions marked with a triangle (Δ) are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an "R". S4W Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the reports required under section 37(2) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 on the emissions of greenhouse gases that have been produced by or otherwise associated with the consumption and use of goods and services for (a) 2010 and (b) S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has done with train operating companies to roll out wi-fi services on train services in S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect the Scottish wildcat from extinction. S4W Margaret McCulloch: To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to change the definition of a full-time student in further education. S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to conservation agencies to protect the Scottish wildcat. S4W Margaret McCulloch: To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the rebasing of funding for further education will not take place on an annual basis. S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers flooding one of the most prominent risks to communities and households in Perthshire. S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing Perth and Kinross Council to improve flood prevention measures. S4W Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a national review of flood prevention measures and identify priority areas for improvements. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Court Service regarding future court structures. 13

14 S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established a timetable in the event that proposals are brought forward to close courts. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what the real-terms reduction in the Scottish Court Service (a) revenue and (b) capital budget will be in (i) , (ii) , (iii) and (iv) S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the Scottish Police Service to initiate a voluntary redundancy scheme in S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) High Court, (b) Sheriff Court and (c) Justice of the Peace Court trials have been delayed in and were delayed in (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) and (v) S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many defendants have changed their preliminary hearing plea from not guilty to guilty prior to trial in each of the last five years. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Court Service assists (a) witnesses and (b) victims of crime attending trials away from home. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) parttime and (b) full-time (i) judges and (ii) sheriffs the Scottish Court Service employs. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been released under automatic unconditional early release in each of the last five years. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many people serving sentences of more than four years have been released early in each of the last five years. S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received or have received community service orders in (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f) S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many community service orders have not been or were not completed in (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f) S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many community service orders have not been or were not started within six months in (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f) S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received or have received custodial sentences in (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f)

15 S4W Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects that the VAT liability will be of a single (a) police force and (b) fire service. S4W Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prisoner-onprisoner and (b) prisoner-on-staff assaults have been recorded at HMP Addiewell in each year since it opened. S4W Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Executive what the cause was of the reported incident that occurred at HMP Addiewell on 2 January S4W Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prisoner-onprisoner and (b) prisoner-on-staff assaults have been reported in each prison in each of the last five years. S4W Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-scale responses have been required at HMP Addiewell since it opened and what the cause was in each case. S4W Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-scale responses have been required at prisons other than HMP Addiewell in the last five years. S4W Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W by John Swinney on 7 December 2011, for what reason no record of relocation of jobs is held centrally; whether information is held centrally on the relocation of public bodies, and, if so, how many have been relocated since January 2008 and to where. S4W Mark McDonald: To ask the Scottish Executive when it last reviewed the procedures for testing people for dementia. S4W Mark McDonald: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the procedures for testing people for dementia. S4W Mark McDonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what training is offered to health professionals to help them identify the signs of dementia. S4W Mark McDonald: To ask the Scottish Executive what emphasis the Curriculum for Excellence places on the importance of play in the early years. S4W Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive when it abandoned the target set in 2006 to stabilise road traffic volumes at 2001 levels by S4W Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the consequences of its road building programme for road traffic levels by S4W Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of road traffic levels in 2021 compared with S4W Malcolm Chisholm: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the estimated change in road traffic levels between 2001 and 2021 will have on climate change emissions. 15

16 S4W Nanette Milne: To ask the Scottish Executive how many independent patient treatment requests for medicines licensed for use in the UK in the last five years have been (a) made to NHS boards and (b) approved. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have had breast implants (a) on the NHS and (b) privately where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it is providing to women who have had breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether corrective surgery is required for women with breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have had ruptured breast implants since S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with private health providers about breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for corrective surgery for breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP. S4W Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether the NHS should undertake corrective surgery for breast implants where these have been manufactured by PIP, or if the private sector should do so at no cost to the patient. S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken, beyond funding provided for in the draft budget, to ensure delivery of the 508 million required to reduce emissions from transport in 2012 as set out in Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets , The Report on Proposals and Policies. S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken, beyond funding provided for in the draft budget, to ensure delivery of the 296 million required for cycling and walking infrastructure investment in 2012 as set out in Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets , The Report on Proposals and Policies. 16

17 S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage private sector investment in low carbon transport measures for (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage private sector investment in walking and cycling measures for (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and c) S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates private sector investment in measures to promote low carbon transport will be for (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates private sector investment in measures to promote walking and cycling will be for (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) S4W Claudia Beamish: To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out on the appropriate balance between public and private sector finance to ensure delivery of the (a) 508 million and (b) 1,281 million required to reduce emissions from transport in 2012 and the period respectively, as set out in Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets , The Report on Proposals and Policies. S4W Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive whether in calculating household income to determine if a household is in fuel poverty, income in the form of feed-in tariff or renewable heating incentive payments is included. S4W Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive whether repayments of Green Deal Finance are included as a deduction from household income when determining whether a household is fuel poor. 17

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19 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section F Motions and Amendments Motions and amendments are normally printed the day after they are lodged. If an amendment is lodged to a motion then the original motion will appear alongside the amendment, along with any support lodged that day, in this section. Each Monday, this section also contains all motions and amendments lodged the previous week that are still live and any motions and amendments that have been lodged for debate in the coming week. A motion or amendment is live if it has not been debated, withdrawn or otherwise deleted from the list. Where a motion or amendment has been withdrawn, it is indicated in this section the day after it has been withdrawn. Support for motions and amendments received after they are lodged is shown at the end of this section the day after such support is received. Motions and amendments can be published with various symbols: Asterisks before the motion or amendment number indicate a motion or amendment published for the first time; Asterisks also identify alterations to the text of a motion or amendment made since it was first published; A hash symbol identifies motions eligible for debate at Members Business; A diamond symbol identifies motions lodged for Members Business that have not yet attracted the required cross-party support; An "R", identifies motions or amendments in which the Member who lodged it has a registrable interest. The Parliamentary Bureau periodically deletes motions or amendments not scheduled for debate and which are over six weeks old. A search facility is also available on the Scottish Parliament web site at Any questions in relation to this section should be directed to the Chamber Desk, for which contact details are provided at the end of the Bulletin. 19

20 New and altered motions and amendments *S4M Jamie McGrigor: 2012, Year of Scotland s Islands That the Parliament notes that the year of Scotland s Islands runs until April 2012; understands that, by then, more than 500 events, exhibitions and activities will have taken place on Scotland s numerous inhabited islands; welcomes the partnership working on this initiative between Argyll and Bute, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney Islands, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Shetland Islands Councils; encourages those living in Scotland and visitors from further afield to visit Scotland s islands in 2012 and take part in the varied events planned there, details of which can be found at believes that all visitors will find a very warm welcome from Scotland s islanders amongst what it considers some of the world s most stunning scenery, and considers that Scotland s islands are an intrinsically important part of Scotland s economy, environment, history and culture. Supported by: Bill Kidd*, Nanette Milne*, Margaret Burgess*, Liam McArthur*, Liz Smith* *S4M John Pentland: Big Energy Week That the Parliament supports Big Energy Week, which runs from 16 to 21 January 2012 and is designed to help consumers to save money on their energy bills; believes that recent rises in energy prices are a serious worry for constituents who are looking for ways to cut their household bills; congratulates Citizens Advice Scotland on coordinating the week; recognises the contribution of the many other consumer organisations, energy suppliers, switching sites and government agencies who are working together to organise events around the country and to make information, advice and assistance available to energy consumers on all aspects of saving money on fuel bills; trusts that all Members will want to get involved in locally planned activities, thereby directly helping their struggling constituents and, in what it considers these difficult times, calls on the Scottish Government and other bodies to do all they can to help people save money on their energy bills. *S4M Liam McArthur: Westray s Well in the Warm Heart of Africa That the Parliament commends the efforts of Westray Community School in Orkney in raising the necessary funds to build a new well at its partner school, Chitengu, in the village of Njeresa, southern Malawi; recognises that the 6,000 raised has paid for a 45-metre borehole capped with a manual pump to be sunk in the grounds of Chitengu School; welcomes the provision of clean, fresh water for the school and local community; understands that, prior to the sinking of the well, the nearest source of water for the school was over a kilometre away; congratulates the pupils, staff, parents and wider community in Westray, an island of around 600 people, on what it considers their formidable efforts in raising such a total; acknowledges in particular Helen Lumsden, principal teacher at the Westray school, and Ruben Mlongoti, partnership link teacher in Chitengu, on their work in both schools to maintain a strong link between the two communities, and considers the school-led effort by the Westray community to be a wonderful example of the good that comes from these partnerships. 20

21 Supported by: Hanzala Malik*, Paul Wheelhouse*, Alex Fergusson*, Rob Gibson*, Bill Kidd*, Mike MacKenzie*, Jamie McGrigor*, Claudia Beamish*, Mary Scanlon*, Kenneth Gibson*, Patricia Ferguson*, Jean Urquhart*, Margaret Burgess*, Fiona McLeod*, David Torrance* *S4M Elaine Smith: Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative s 2012 Calendar That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative s 2012 Calendar; notes that this is the first time that it has produced a calendar, which features a different mother breastfeeding her child every month; recognises that breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby and that breast-fed babies have less likelihood of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes and other illnesses later in life; is concerned that there has been little difference in Lanarkshire in the number of women who continue to breastfeed until their baby is six to eight weeks; believes that the calendar is an excellent way of spreading the positive message about the benefits of breastfeeding; hopes that the calendar will help remove some of the stigma that is still associated with breastfeeding, and wishes the Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative every success. Supported by: Bill Kidd*, Jackie Baillie*, Gil Paterson*, David Torrance*, Hanzala Malik*, Anne McTaggart*, Mike MacKenzie*, Joe FitzPatrick*, Kenneth Gibson*, Rob Gibson*, Michael McMahon*, Richard Simpson*, Claudia Beamish*, Margaret Burgess*, Fiona McLeod* *S4M Richard Simpson: Independent Scottish Accountancy Firm Wins Award That the Parliament congratulates Macfarlane Grey, based in Stirling, on winning what it considers the major British Accountancy Award of Independent Firm of the Year, Scotland for practice excellence in 2011 and notes the judging panel s comments that "Macfarlane has achieved success driven by constant innovation and won with the development of client-focused programmes, which allows it to provide bespoke and targeted service. It is clear that its success over many years has been based on its motto, "growth through quality."" *S4M Hanzala Malik: US Military Action in Pakistan That the Parliament notes the admission by the US Department of Defense that it bears significant responsibility for the airstrike in Mohmand in Pakistan on 26 November 2011, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers; welcomes its expression of deep regret; however, considers that the government of Pakistan and the families of those who lost their lives deserve a full apology, and believes that such incursions into an ally s sovereign territory without prior notice or cooperation is counter-productive and that such incidents only serve to undermine the fight being waged against militants in the region. Supported by: Willie Coffey*, Bill Kidd*, Anne McTaggart*, Mike MacKenzie*, Christina McKelvie*, Kevin Stewart*, Humza Yousaf*, Marco Biagi* *S4M Linda Fabiani: Assistance Dogs are Working Dogs Too That the Parliament notes that, under current VAT legislation, food for assistance dogs is not VAT exempt but that food for other working dogs, such as sheepdogs and greyhounds, is; notes that working dogs food is exempt as they require a highprotein diet but that such a diet is not appropriate for assistance dogs as they work in 21

22 a different manner; considers that, where a charitable organisation was to supply food for assistance dogs from donations, an exemption from VAT would result in significant savings, which could be used to assist their client group, and believes that this issue could be easily resolved to the benefit of relevant charitable organisations and individual owners who feed their own assistance dogs. Supported by: Dennis Robertson*, Paul Wheelhouse*, Humza Yousaf*, David Torrance*, Margaret Burgess*, Rob Gibson*, Christina McKelvie*, Mark McDonald*, Kenneth Gibson*, James Dornan*, Joan McAlpine*, Claudia Beamish*, Jean Urquhart*, Christine Grahame* S4M Margaret Burgess: High-interest Payday Loans That the Parliament notes with concern the recent report from R3, the trade body for insolvency professionals, regarding high-interest payday loans; understands that the report suggests that there is a likelihood that many people have turned to such loans as a last resort in the run-up to the Christmas period; highlights that the report also claims that the interest rates on such loans can be up to 5,000% per year and that the payday loan sector is worth 2 billion; notes that the UK Government could introduce stronger crisis loan regulation to protect consumers, especially vulnerable people, and that it could tackle the issue of dishonest and irresponsible lending; further notes that that those in need of assistance can seek advice from National Debt Line Scotland or their local citizens advice bureau or money advice centre before taking out such loans, and welcomes the development of credit unions such as the Kilwinning-based 1st Alliance, which, it understands, offers affordable credit and encourages saving. Supported by: Maureen Watt*, Joe FitzPatrick* S4M Annabel Goldie: Volunteer Centre East Dunbartonshire That the Parliament congratulates the Kirkintilloch-based Volunteer Centre East Dunbartonshire; understands that the centre provides a central point for volunteering throughout East Dunbartonshire and that it aims to encourage and support local people who wish to offer their services to help others in their community; recognises the Volunteer Champions Project, a school-based initiative that promotes volunteering to teenagers; believes that, by volunteering, local young people are showing dedication and clearly have a social conscience; applauds the befriending service, which pairs a volunteer with an isolated adult, providing what it considers to be a vital source of friendship, assistance and company that reflects an admirable model of being a good neighbour, and commends what it sees as the excellent contribution that this organisation and the voluntary sector make to the community. Motions and amendments which have attracted additional support S4M Perth City Status 2012 (lodged on 22 December 2011) Jamie McGrigor*, Liz Smith*, Nanette Milne* S4M Dunfermline, Ancient Capital of Scotland (lodged on 22 December 2011) Bill Walker* 22

23 S4M Protecting Access to Justice across Scotland (lodged on 22 December 2011) Richard Simpson*, Sarah Boyack*, Michael McMahon*, Elaine Smith*, Claudia Beamish*, Rhoda Grant* S4M Closure of the Christie Ward (lodged on 22 December 2011) Richard Simpson* S4M Sensational Play (lodged on 22 December 2011) Gil Paterson*, Roderick Campbell*, Stuart McMillan* S4M National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (lodged on 22 December 2011) Linda Fabiani* S4M Mid Deeside Limited (lodged on 22 December 2011) James Dornan*, Gil Paterson*, Stuart McMillan* S4M Grid Charges Fairness (lodged on 21 December 2011) Linda Fabiani* S4M Drum Brae Library and Community Hub Project (lodged on 21 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M BBC Responsibility to Provide In-depth Analysis of News and Current Affairs (lodged on 21 December 2011) Linda Fabiani*, Gil Paterson*, Dave Thompson*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Aberdeen, the UK s Fastest Growing Airport (lodged on 21 December 2011) Roderick Campbell* S4M Australian Government s Legislation on Plain Tobacco Packaging - (lodged on 21 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse*, Gil Paterson* S4M Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust (lodged on 20 December 2011) Elaine Smith*, Roderick Campbell*, Anne McTaggart*, Hugh Henry* S4M Official Opening of Maryhill Housing Association s Maryhill Primary School Development (lodged on 20 December 2011) Hugh Henry* S4M Scottish Premier League Decision to Allow Terracing (lodged on 21 December 2011) Dave Thompson*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Young Entrepreneur of the Year (lodged on 20 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Death of Václav Havel (lodged on 20 December 2011) Maureen Watt*, Linda Fabiani*, Margaret Mitchell*, Hugh Henry*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Honour Bestowed on Flight Lieutenant Duncan McCuaig DFC - (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Paul Wheelhouse* 23

24 S4M Quality Scotland s 20th Anniversary (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Citizens Advice Scotland Highlights Unfair Delivery Charges (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Dave Thompson* S4M Lightburn Hospital to Remain Open (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd* S4M Spirit of Unity (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M East Kilbride Men Trek for Charity (lodged on 19 December 2011) Joe FitzPatrick*, Bill Kidd* S4M East Kilbride Residents Take the Cheap Way Round (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd* S4M St Vincent s Primary School, Flying the Eco-flag in East Kilbride - (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Congratulations to St Ninian s High School (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Specimen Dissection at Crosshouse Hospital (lodged on 19 December 2011) Bill Kidd* S4M Wing Commander Alison Moodie (lodged on 16 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Congratulations to Ben and Rosemary Scrimgeour (lodged on 16 December 2011) Maureen Watt*, Joe FitzPatrick* S4M Congratulations to Lucy Tuck (lodged on 16 December 2011) Maureen Watt*, Joe FitzPatrick* S4M Access to an Employment Tribunal (lodged on 16 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Support for Occupy (lodged on 15 December 2011) Humza Yousaf* S4M Royal Yachting Association Annual Awards (lodged on 15 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M SEStran Thistle Assistance Card (lodged on 15 December 2011) Gordon MacDonald* S4M RSBi in Springburn Wins Gold (lodged on 15 December 2011) Richard Simpson* 24

25 S4M th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - (lodged on 15 December 2011) Richard Simpson*, Joe FitzPatrick*, Paul Wheelhouse*, Claudia Beamish* S4M Gartocharn Green Flag (lodged on 14 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Public Health Leaders Call to Introduce Minimum Pricing (lodged on 14 December 2011) Fiona McLeod* S4M Glasgow Subway Celebrates its 115th Anniversary (lodged on 14 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M Changing the January Pay Date (lodged on 14 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M UK Veto is Damaging for Scotland (lodged on 14 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Edinburgh Domestic Abuse Court Pilot (lodged on 13 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse*, Claudia Beamish* S4M Keenan Recycling Success at VIBES Awards (lodged on 13 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Remember Cunninghame Graham (lodged on 13 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Outstanding Achievement of Pelamis Pioneer (lodged on 13 December 2011) Maureen Watt*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Rachel Appolinari Memorial Fund (lodged on 12 December 2011) Maureen Watt*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Scottish Women s European Curling Champions (lodged on 12 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M ScotRail Modern Apprenticeship Award (lodged on 12 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Social Enterprise Scotland (lodged on 12 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M Jennefer Tobin, Dumfries and Galloway s Person of the Year (lodged on 12 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M Scotland Shows Resilience in the Storm (lodged on 09 December 2011) Maureen Watt* 25

26 S4M The Work of Citizens Advice Scotland (lodged on 09 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M Women s Aid Awarded for Art Activities (lodged on 07 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M George Osborne s Attack on Wildlife (lodged on 07 December 2011) Claudia Beamish* S4M Cupar, Best Adopted Station 2011 (lodged on 06 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M No Place for Hate, LGBT Hate Crime in Education (lodged on 06 December 2011) Richard Simpson*, Paul Wheelhouse*, Claudia Beamish* S4M A Democratic Future for Gaza (lodged on 06 December 2011) Elaine Smith* S4M World Pipe Band Championships (lodged on 05 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Golden Twits for Orkney Library and Archive (lodged on 05 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M Colin Robertson, Chief Executive of Alexander Dennis Receives Entrepreneur of the Year Award (lodged on 05 December 2011) Maureen Watt* S4M British Sign Language (lodged on 05 December 2011) Richard Simpson*, Paul Wheelhouse*, Claudia Beamish* S4M Environmental Research Award (lodged on 05 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Green Energy Award for Udny (lodged on 05 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (lodged on 05 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Happy 40th Anniversary to NUS Scotland (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Social Justice for Disability Campaigners (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Carers Rights Day (lodged on 01 December 2011) Joe FitzPatrick* S4M Falkirk Environment Trust (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* 26

27 S4M th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M rd Annual World AIDS Day (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M ABCUL Scottish Conference, Sharing the Secret (lodged on 01 December 2011) Richard Simpson*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Centenary of Whithorn Library (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Launch of PNH Scotland (lodged on 01 December 2011) Joe FitzPatrick*, Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Fear Rules in Gambia (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Haven Recycle (lodged on 01 December 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Glasgow s International Financial District (lodged on 30 November 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Loch Arthur Community BBC Food Producer of the Year (lodged on 30 November 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M Increasing Understanding of Radiotherapy (lodged on 29 November 2011) Joe FitzPatrick* S4M NHS Fife Launches a New Smoking Prevention Initiative (lodged on 29 November 2011) Joe FitzPatrick* S4M Dyslexia and Us (lodged on 23 November 2011) Claudia Beamish* S4M Excessive Top Pay is Deeply Damaging to the UK (lodged on 22 November 2011) Claudia Beamish* S4M Human Trafficking in Scotland (lodged on 21 November 2011) Claudia Beamish* S4M New Chair for Scottish CND (lodged on 18 November 2011) Elaine Smith*, Claudia Beamish* S4M Harry Benson, New York New York (lodged on 16 November 2011) Paul Wheelhouse* S4M All Babies Count (lodged on 09 November 2011) Richard Simpson* S4M Save Introducing in Scotland (lodged on 21 December 2011) Linda Fabiani*, John Mason* 27

28 S4M Barnardo s Scotland, Cut Them Free, Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation in Scotland (lodged on 29 June 2011) Margaret Mitchell* 28

29 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section H New Documents Committee Reports For further information on accessing committee reports, please contact either the relevant clerk or webpage (see end of Bulletin for contact details or access general committee webpage) 29

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31 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section I Petitions The following Petition was lodged with the Parliament on 4 January 2012 PE1413 Petition by Amy King calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to make no changes to the current definition of marriage, as being a union between one man and one woman, regardless of what happens in Westminster. A full list of petitions can be viewed on the Scottish Parliament website at aspx 31

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33 Business Bulletin: Monday 9 January 2012 Section J Progress of Legislation For further information on the progress of Bills and subordinate legislation, contact either the relevant clerk or webpage (see end of Bulletin for details). Bills in Progress A list of all bills in progress can be accessed by the Scottish Parliament website at: For each Bill, the date of the next (or most recent) event in the Bill s passage is given. Other relevant information, e.g. about lodging amendments, is given in italics. As soon as a Public Bill (i.e. an Executive, Committee or Member s Bill) has completed Stage 1, amendments for consideration at Stage 2 may be lodged; and as soon as Stage 2 is completed, amendments for Stage 3 consideration may be lodged. The last lodging day for amendments at Stage 2 is three sitting days before the meeting at which those amendments will be considered (e.g. Thursday for a meeting on Tuesday); at Stage 3 it is four days before. Amendments may be lodged until 4.30 pm on any sitting day, except on the last lodging day for Stage 2, when the deadline is 12 noon. A Hybrid Bill is subject to the same rules except in the case of Stage 2 where amendments for consideration may be lodged no earlier than the completion of any consideration of evidence at Stage 2. Amendments to Private Bills are subject to different deadlines. These are set out in Rule 9A.12 of Standing Orders. Members are advised to lodge amendments in good time before the beginning of a Stage and as early as possible during the day. (Ex) = Executive Bill; (M) = Member s Bill; (C) = Committee Bill; (P) = Private Bill; (H) = Hybrid Bill. Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (Ex) Stage 1 (evidence, lead committee (Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment) Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill (Ex) Stage 1 (evidence, lead committee (Health and Sport)) 11 January 10 January 33