Scottish Parliament debates
Thursday, 14 February 2002

• Introduction (0 speeches)
  Scottish Parliament Thursday 14 February 2002 [THE DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:30]
• Parliamentary Bureau Motion (1 speech)
  Good morning. The first item of business is consideration of a Parliamentary Bureau motion. I ask Patricia Ferguson to move business motion S1M-2746, which is a timetabling motion on the Water...
• Water Industry (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (3 speeches)
  We come to stage 3 proceedings on the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill. I do not intend to make the usual long preamble. I simply remind members that they should have with the bill, as amended at...
  • Section 1 — Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland (15 speeches)
    We come to the first group of amendments to the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill. Amendment 2, in the name of the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, is grouped with amendments 3 to 8.
  • Section 2 — Water Customer Consultation Panels (12 speeches)
    Amendments 3 to 5 moved—[Ross Finnie].
  • Section 3 — Functions of the Commissioner (8 speeches)
    Amendments 6 and 7 moved—[Ross Finnie].
  • Section 5 — Annual reports by, and information from, the Commissioner (0 speeches)
    Amendment 8 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 20 — Scottish Water (15 speeches)
    Amendment 85, in the name of Bruce Crawford, is grouped with amendment 96.
  • Section 21 — Transfer of functions from new water and sewerage authorities (5 speeches)
    Amendment 9 is grouped with amendments 10, 11, 40 to 48, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61 to 71, 74, 76 to 79, 83 and 84.
  • Section 25 — General powers (0 speeches)
    Amendments 10 and 11 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 26 — Code of practice (6 speeches)
    We now progress to the fourth group of amendments, on Scottish Water customer standards and a consultation code. Amendment 12 is grouped with amendments 13 through 24.
  • Section 27 — Approval of code of practice (0 speeches)
    Amendments 20 to 23 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • After section 27 (0 speeches)
    Amendment 24 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 28 — Charges for goods and services (23 speeches)
    We move to the fifth group of amendments, entitled "Charges schemes—general". We are about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The next amendment for debate is amendment 97, in the name of Tommy...
  • After section 30 (4 speeches)
    Amendment 98 moved—[Tommy Sheridan].
  • Section 31 — Approval of charges schemes (24 speeches)
    Amendment 87 is grouped with amendments 88, 99, 89 and 100.
  • Section 32 — Commissioner's advice on charges (4 speeches)
    Amendment 89 not moved. Amendment 100 moved—[John Scott].
  • Section 35 — Collection of charges by local authority (0 speeches)
    Amendment 101 not moved.
  • Section 36 — Primacy of duty to maintain domestic water supply etc (0 speeches)
    Amendment 26 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 37 — Reduced charges (37 speeches)
    Amendment 27 is grouped with amendments 1, 90 and 102. We have slipped slightly behind our timetable, so I ask speakers to be as brief as possible.
  • After section 37 (13 speeches)
    I probably should not do this, but since I have everybody here I advise members that they are requested to take their places by 1.45 at the latest this afternoon, for the address by the...
  • Section 46 — Interests of customers (11 speeches)
    Amendment 103 is grouped with amendments 28, 30, 29, 31, 32 and 33. I will have to be tight on time with this group.
  • After section 46 (0 speeches)
    Amendments 28, 30 and 29 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 47 — Environmental matters (0 speeches)
    Amendments 31 and 32 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Section 49 — Directions (15 speeches)
    Amendment 104 is grouped with amendment 111.
  • Section 50 — Information and reports (0 speeches)
    Amendment 33 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • After section 55 (10 speeches)
    Amendment 34, in the name of the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, is grouped with amendments 72, 73, 80 and 82.
  • Schedule 1 — Water Industry Commissioner and Customer Panels: Further Provision (28 speeches)
    Amendment 92 is grouped with amendments 106, 107, 36, 93, 108 and 95. If amendment 106 is agreed to, amendments 107, 36 and 93 are pre-empted. If amendment 107 is agreed to, amendments 36 and 93...
• Business Motion (1 speech)
  The next item is business motion S1M-2741, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, which sets out a business programme. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees the following programme of...
• Question Time — Scottish Executive (0 speeches)
  • MMR Vaccine (10 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the current measles, mumps and rubella vaccine programme. (S1O-4666)
  • Audiology Services (10 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that individual national health service boards adhere to the good practice guidance issued to them in March 2001 on digital...
  • Enterprise (Female Representation) (4 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address any under-representation of women in business following the report by the Industrial Society, "Unequal Entrepreneurs: Why Female...
  • Scottish Ambulance Service (8 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Ambulance Service will complete the introduction of a paramedic technician into every ambulance. (S1O-4709)
  • Schools (Sport) (6 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what recent action it has taken to promote sport in schools. (S1O-4695)
  • Landfill Sites (12 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the licensing and operation of landfill sites. (S1O-4678)
  • Engineering (Female Participation) (4 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote female participation in engineering. (S1O-4657)
  • West of Scotland Water (Dumfries and Galloway) (8 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of investment decisions by West of Scotland Water authority on development in Dumfries and Galloway. (S1O-4670)
  • Scottish Borders Council (6 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive when it last contacted Scottish Borders Council and what issues were discussed. (S1O-4671)
  • Academic Links (6 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to strengthen Scotland's academic links with the United States of America. (S1O-4702)
  • Ayr United Football Club (6 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now grant planning consent in line with the decision of South Ayrshire Council on 30 June 1999 for a new stadium for Ayr United Football Club with...
  • Writs (Electronic Servicing) (4 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to provide for the electronic servicing of writs by claimants, similar to the scheme launched by the Lord Chancellor in December 2001 in England...
  • Teachers (Probation) (4 speeches)
    To ask the Scottish Executive whether the terms of the McCrone settlement, which guaranteed new teachers a probationary year's work in the classroom, will be implemented in full from summer 2002....
• First Minister's Question Time — Scottish Executive (0 speeches)
  • Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings) (8 speeches)
    To ask the First Minister what issues he intends to raise at his next meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland. (S1F-1678)
  • Cabinet (Meetings) (6 speeches)
    To ask the right honourable First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish Executive's Cabinet. (S1F-1663)
  • Criminal Justice (Rape Convictions) (10 speeches)
    To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to improve the conviction rate in rape cases. (S1F-1670)
  • Surveillance Operations (6 speeches)
    To ask the First Minister what information is currently available on the level of surveillance operations in Scotland. (S1F-1681)
• Water Industry (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (1 speech)
  Resumed debate.
  • Schedule 3 — Scottish Water: Status, Constitution, Proceedings etc (16 speeches)
    Amendment 94 is grouped with amendments 109, 37, 37A, 38 and 39. If amendment 94 is agreed to, amendment 109 is pre-empted. I remind members that they only have 19 minutes left for the debate.
  • Schedule 5 — Modifications of Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 (2 speeches)
    Amendments 40 to 48 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Schedule 6 — Modifications of Water (Scotland) Act 1980 (9 speeches)
    Amendment 59 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Schedule 7 — Modifications of Other Enactments (0 speeches)
    Amendments 81 to 84 moved—[Ross Finnie]—and agreed to.
  • Long Title (5 speeches)
    Amendment 96 moved—[Bruce Crawford].
• Water Industry (Scotland) Bill (18 speeches)
  The next item of business is the continuation of stage 3 proceedings on the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill. We will now consider motion S1M-2675, in the name of Ross Finnie.
• Budget (Scotland) (No 3) Bill: Stage 3 (55 speeches)
  The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Budget (Scotland) (No 3) Bill. As there are no amendments to be considered, we move straight to the debate on motion S1M-2674, in the name...
• Parliamentary Bureau Motions (1 speech)
  The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Euan Robson to move motions S1M-2743 and S1M-2747, on membership of committees, and motion S1M-2748, on rule...
• Decision Time (11 speeches)
  There are five questions to be put as a result of today's business. The first question is, that motion S1M-2675, in the name of Ross Finnie, which seeks agreement that the Water Industry...
• Cairngorms (World Heritage Site Status) (20 speeches)
  The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S1M-2669, in the name of Elaine Thomson, on world heritage site status for the Cairngorms. The debate will be concluded without...