Thursday, 11 May 2006
Scottish Parliament Thursday 11 May 2006 [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:15]
Good morning. The first item of business today is a debate on motion S2M-4363, in the name of John Swinney, on council tax and pensioner poverty.
We come to the next item of business still some distance behind the clock. I have taken the opportunity of inviting one member to stand down from the debate. It may be necessary to reduce...
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist students of the University of Aberdeen to graduate with the awards to which they are entitled. (S2O-9764)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual emissions of carbon dioxide are from electricity generating stations in Scotland. (S2O-9790)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can give a further update on when the examination of the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing tolls from the Tay...
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns in respect of the provision of out-of-hours health care services in the highland Perthshire area. (S2O-9765)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with the European Union about osteoporosis. (S2O-9786)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water in respect of the connection of properties in the Highlands and Islands. (S2O-9743)
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the extension of the national entitlement card to local and national concessionary rail travel and what discussions it has had...
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the conclusions and recommendations of Scottish Water's draft national sludge strategy. (S2O-9741)
It is good to be back in the chamber. To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish Executive's Cabinet. (S2F-2280)
I am apprehensive that many eardrums will have been burst and that no one will be able to listen to me. To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister and what issues they...
To ask the First Minister what effect the Scottish Executive considers that the Prime Minister's Cabinet reshuffle will have on Scotland. (S2F-2294)
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive monitors the number of children in individual foster families and what plans it has to limit the number of children being placed with any one...
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to help first-time home buyers. (S2F-2290)
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive considers the current funding settlement for Scottish universities to be sufficient. (S2F-2293)
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what new duties the United Kingdom Electoral Administration Bill will place on electoral registration officers and to what extent the cost...
To ask the Scottish Executive what the overall impact on local authority budgets, council tax levels and local services will be of implementing free personal care. (S2O-9761)
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it believes are delivered by requiring all local authorities to advertise planning applications in the Edinburgh Gazette . (S2O-9812)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to allocate the Barnett consequentials of HM Treasury's budget 2006. (S2O-9772)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from local authorities and private landlords regarding difficulties associated with the Executive's scheme for the registration...
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are contained in the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill to protect local small businesses. (S2O-9794)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent budget review group, which was established last autumn, will publish its report. (S2O-9745)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for rent in the public sector were built in Penicuik and the Scottish Borders in 2005. (S2O-9770)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue programmes to increase the recruitment of social care workers. (S2O-9776)
To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are in place for small tourist establishments to register their businesses with VisitScotland. (S2O-9750)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to angling. (S2O-9802)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of how many children's charities, anti-poverty groups and health organisations support the proposed school meals and snacks (Scotland) bill....
To ask the Scottish Executive what recreational and tourism opportunities are being encouraged in Scotland's forests. (S2O-9784)
To ask the Scottish Executive how VisitScotland ensures that it is providing a good service for the Highlands and Islands. (S2O-9771)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of providing full-size indoor football facilities. (S2O-9760)
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-4370, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, on drugs and hidden harm.
There are 11 questions to be put as a result of today's business. In relation to this morning's debate on council tax and pensioner poverty, if amendment S2M-4363.4, in the name of George Lyon,...
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-4171, in the name of Jim Mather, on ensuring the independence of Scottish national statistics. The debate will be concluded...
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.
