Thursday, 24 June 1999
Scottish Parliament Thursday 24 June 1999 [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:30]
The first item of business this morning is a debate on motion S1M-67, in the name of Mr Alex Salmond, on the privatisation of public services. This debate will conclude at around 12.20 pm.
The next item of business is consideration of the business motion from the Parliamentary Bureau, which sets out the business programme. As there is no amendment to the motion, the debate is...
The first item of business this afternoon is question time. I remind members that, during the closed question period, the member asking the question should do so without departing from the terms...
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring forward proposals for a review of the structure and function of the Scottish Arts Council. (S1O-82)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce measures to assist smaller business premises in relation to the impact of the non-domestic rates revaluation to take effect from 1...
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen its relationship with the voluntary sector in Scotland. (S1O-108) In relation to that question, I would like to register an interest...
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the funding of area tourist boards operates on a sustainable basis for the next financial year. (S1O-72)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on devolving responsibilities to schools as part of an overall drive to push up school standards. (S1O-103)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on how it intends to improve the standard of early-years provision in Scotland. (S1O-110)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to assist people with disabilities living in existing public sector housing. (S1O-78)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to introduce a distinct scheme to promote safety improvements in the Scottish fleet in view of the termination of the Fishing Vessel (Safety...
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fulfil its commitment to develop a national cultural strategy. (S1O-113)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote sport and other physical activities in schools. (S1O-100)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle the level of teenage pregnancies in Scotland. (S1O-74)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the commitment in respect of the Skye bridge to freeze tolls at their current level to other bridges and transport infrastructure...
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the current method of target setting in schools. (S1O-80)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish figures regarding the number of Scottish students who are exempt from the payment of any tuition fees. (S1O-117)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to establish a power of general competence for local government in Scotland. (S1O-68)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to implement to alleviate fuel poverty among people with disabilities. (S1O-96)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to reduce dental decay in children under the age of 14. (S1O-111)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the operational boundaries of Dumfries and Galloway police force or Dumfries and Galloway fire brigade. (S1O-89)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has within the Scottish criminal justice system to address the issue of domestic violence. (S1O-98)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the criteria used for distributing Government grants to local authorities in Scotland. (S1O-101)
We now move to open question time. Members who wish to ask supplementaries should be ready to press their buttons as the questions come up.
To ask the Scottish Executive to outline its plans for economic development and employment creation in Scotland. (S1O-91)
To ask the Scottish Executive what failures of educational provision by local authorities the creation of a statutory duty on them to raise standards in the proposed education bill is intended to...
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give an indicative timetable for the completion of the Scottish strategic roads review and for reporting its findings to the Parliament. (S1O-93)
We now move to the next item, which is a ministerial statement on financial issues. There will be no interventions during this statement because the minister will take questions at the end.
The next item of business is an Executive debate on motion S1M-68 in the name of Henry McLeish, on the economy of Scotland, and on amendments to that motion. I intend to take amendments S1M-68.1...
I remind members that they cannot vote unless their cards are in the console. In light of yesterday's experience, I will not put the questions too quickly. Will members note, however, that the...
The Scottish Parliament is the national legislature of Scotland, located in Edinburgh. The Parliament consists of 129 members known as MSPs, elected for four-year terms; 73 represent individual geographical constituencies, and 56 are regional representatives.