News

In an attempt to regain moral high ground and to convince voters of the Government's integrity, the Prime Minister announced this weekend plans for constitutional reform, which include measures such as a code of conduct for politicians and institutions that rely on public funds, including the BBC and NHS. Gordon Brown's announcement was however undermined by the news of Labour's worst poll rating in 22 years, putting the party in third place behind the Tories and the LibDems. The Prime Minister also appears to be preparing for a grim awakening on Friday when the local election results will become clear, as he's considering an ambitious reshuffle of his Cabinet. Whether Brown's reshuffle will be the infamous re-arranging of the deckchairs on the Titanic, or a successful rescue operation of his Government, remains to be seen.

In Edinburgh, Alex Salmond faces his own challenges as new criticism has been aired, this time by local authorities, over the lack of funding for new school buildings due to the lack of progress made under the Scottish Futures Trust, the SNP's alternative model to PPP. Meanwhile Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill continues to be under fire over the safety of open prisons as the Government seems to be unable to shift attention and to quieten opposition parties. Undoubtedly Scottish Labour would be happy to continue their line of attack at Question Time this week, but, unfortunately for some, MSPs have decided not to sit on Thursday due to the European elections.

With only a few days to go for the European candidates, it will be interesting to see whether the backlash over expenses will have a different impact on voters' preference in the local or European elections. But the European results won't be known immediately as elections are taking place from Thursday until Sunday across the EU. It'll also take a bit longer before the implications for the other European Institutions become clear. Later in June, EU leaders are expected to discuss election results at an EU summit, and the new Commission won't be set up until the end of the year, after the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. 

Scottish Government News

Hewlett Packard
Finance Secretary John Swinney has met management and staff at Hewlett Packard in Erskine to discuss how the Scottish Government can help the employees in the wake of the company's announcement on manufacturing job losses. Mr Swinney said the talks were aimed at discussing what could be done to mitigate the impact of the decision, both on the local economy and for affected staff. He said that the SDI and Scottish Enterprise would be looking for alternative business opportunities for the effected parts of the site and that HP were to assist in looking for alternative jobs for staff.
                                               
Working towards a low carbon economy
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has agreed to work in partnership to ensure the creation of high quality jobs through Scotland's transition to a low carbon economy. A joint communiqué has been agreed to, which includes a commitment to recognise the potential of the low-carbon economy to deliver quality, secure employment and promote the importance of education, training, skills and workforce development in delivering effective action on climate change. The communiqué was issued at the joint bi-annual meeting of the government and STUC; this is part of the Government/ STUC Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2007

Cabinet meets business leaders
The Scottish Cabinet has met with business leaders as part of the efforts to ensure the Scottish Government is doing all it can to put Scotland firmly on the road to economic recovery. The invited business leaders included David Watt, Director, Institute of Directors; Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive of Scottish Council Development Industry; Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise; Liz Cameron, Director, Scottish Chambers of Commerce; and Andy Willox, Policy Convener, Federation of Small Businesses.

Scottish Government Consultations

The Common Agricultural Policy Health Check in Scotland (closing 15/06/09)

Scottish Court Service Membership Regulations (closing 17/06/09)

Consultation on the Transposition of the Priority Substances Directive 2008/105/E C and the Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC (closing 19/06/09)

The Scottish Parliament - The Week Ahead

Committees

Tuesday 2 June

Equal Opportunities – Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser; Female offenders in the criminal justice system inquiry; Proposed future business

Justice - Declaration of interests; Proposed Damages (Scotland) Bill; Subordinate legislation; Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill; Proposed future business

European and External Relations - Decision on taking business in private; Special Edition of the Brussels Bulletin; Brussels Bulletin; EU’s response to the financial crisis inquiry; Work programme; Proposed future business

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change - Climate Change (Scotland) Bill; Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser; Proposed future business

Finance - Marine (Scotland) Bill; Decision on taking business in private; Strategic budget scrutiny inquiry (in private); Proposed future business

Public Petitions – Consideration of new petitions; Consideration of current petitions; Notification of new petitions; Forthcoming work programme; Inquiry into the public petitions process; Proposed future business

Subordinate Legislation - Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill; Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill; Equality Bill (UK Parliament legislation); Draft instruments subject to approval; Instruments subject to annulment; Annual report; Proposed future business

Wednesday 3 June

Local Government and Communities – Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill; Overview of the Local Authority Audits 2008; Home care services for the elderly; Budget process 2010-11 (Stage 2; Subordinate legislation; Equal Pay in Local Government (in private); Proposed future business

Economy, Energy and Tourism - Work programme; Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser; Arbitration (Scotland) Bill; Proposed future business

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture - Decision on taking business in private; Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill; Annual report; Subordinate legislation; Proposed future business

Health and Sport - Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill; Subordinate legislation; Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services (in private); Proposed future business

Public Audit – Decision on taking business in private; Section 22 report; Scotland’s colleges - financial position 2007/08; Consideration of approach; Section 23 report; Proposed future business

Justice - Subordinate legislation; Proposed future business

In the Chamber

Wednesday 3 June

2.00pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.05pm General Question Time
2.25pm First Minister’s Question Time
2.55 pm Question Time: Rural Affairs and the Environment; Justice and Law Officers
3.35pm Stage 3 Proceedings: Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – Support for Unpaid Carers, Sarah Boyack (Lab)

Thursday 4 June

Parliament will not be sitting due to the European elections

Westminster – The Week Ahead

The House of Commons

Monday 1 June

2.30pm Oral Questions: Defence, including topical questions
followed by Legislation: Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL] – Second reading
followed by Adjournment: Illegal radio broadcasts - James Brokenshire (Con, Hornchurch)

Tuesday 2 June

2.30pm Oral Questions: Communities and Local Government, including Topical Questions
followed by Ten Minute Rule Bill: Bailiffs (Repeals and Amendment) Bill - Karen Buck (Lab, Regent's Park & Kensington North)
followed by Legislation: Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL] – Second reading
followed by Adjournment: Benefits for families with absent teenage fathers - Graham Allen (Lab, Nottingham North)

Wednesday 3 June

11.30am Benefits for families with absent teenage fathers - Graham Allen (Lab, Nottingham North)
followed by Prime Minister's Question Time
followed by Ten Minute Rule Motion: Maximum Wage Bill - Paddy Tipping (Lab, Sherwood)
followed by Debate: Stroke services
followed by Legislation: The Chairman of Ways and Means will name Opposed Private Business for consideration. Second Readings of the Leeds City Council Bill, Nottingham City Council Bill and Reading Borough Council Bill
followed by Adjournment: Government policy on regional and local government powers - Andrew George (Lib Dem, St Ives)

Thursday 4 June

10.30 Oral Questions: Energy and Climate Change including Topical Questions; Leader of the House of Commons and House of Commons Commission
followed by Business Statement: Leader of House
followed by Topical Debate: Subject to be announced
followed by Debate: Defence in the World
followed by Adjournment: Safeguarding children in private schools - Sally Keeble (Lab, Northampton North)

Friday 5 June

No business announced

Westminster Hall

Tuesday 2 June

9.30am Light dues, lightships and lighthouses – Andrew Turner (Con, Isle of Wight)
11.00am Public Analysts Service – Dr Brian Iddon (Lab, Bolton South East)
12.30pm Treatment of small businesses by the Reading office of HBOS – James Paice (Con, South East Cambridgeshire)
1.00pm Support for cancer survivors – Laura Moffatt (Lab, East Lothian)
1.30pm Public transport accessibility for young disabled persons – David Anderson (Lab, Playdon)

Wednesday 3 June

9.30am Rail industry during the recession – John McDonnell (Lab, Hayes & Harlington)
11.00am Stroke services in Ealing and Southall – Virendra Sharma (Lab, Ealing Southall)
2.30pm UK aid for North African countries – Daniel Kawczynski (Con, Shrewsbury & Atcham)
4.00pm Regulation of private car parking companies – Anne McGuire (Lab, Stirling)
4.30pm Cost to the NHS of treating back pain – David Tredinnick (Con, Bosworth)

Thursday 4 June

2.30pm Debate on Road Safety

House of Lords

Monday 1 June

2.30pm Introductions: The Rt Hon. Sir Anthony Clarke
followed by Oral Questions: Depletion of certain fish categories - Lord Dykes (Lib Dem); Walk out by British delegation at Durban Review Conference - Lord Janner of Braunstone (Lab); Uptake of self-care dialysis - Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Con); Prioritisation of women's human rights in areas of conflict - Baroness Prosser (Lab)
3.00pm Legislation: Law Commission Bill - Third reading - Lord Lloyd of Berwick (Crossbench)
followed by Legislation: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL] - Report (day 4) - Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
followed by Short Debate: Government statistics - Lord Hamilton of Epsom/ Lord Brett (Con/Lab)

Tuesday 2 June

2.30pm Oral Questions: Olympic shooting events in 2012 at Bisley instead of Woolwich - Lord Lucas (Con); Ambulance and patient transport services - Baroness Greengross (Crossbench); Freedom of passage to the Houses of Parliament - Earl Ferrers (Con); Images of protestors held by the police - Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Lib Dem)
3.00pm: Legislation: Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification) Bill [HL] - Committee - Baroness Massey of Darwen (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill - Second reading - Baroness Morgan of Drefelin/ Lord Young of Norwood Green (Lab/Lab)

Wednesday 3 June

3.00pm Oral Questions: Shortages of primary school places - Baroness Hamwee (Lib Dem); E2E courses - Baroness Walmsley (Lib Dem); Prevention of violence against disabled people - Lord Ashley of Stoke (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Policing and Crime Bill - Second reading - Lord West of Spithead (Lab)

Thursday 4 June

11.00am Oral Questions: Applicants for school headships - Baroness Perry of Southwark (Con); UK attendance at Holocaust Era Assets Conference - Baroness Deech (Crossbench); Implementation of Sharia Law in UK - Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Other)
11.30am Debate: Contribution of creative industries to UK economy - Lord Bragg/ Lord Davies of Oldham (Lab/Lab)
followed by Debate: Contribution of science, technology and engineering to the UK - Lord Haskel/ Lord Drayson (Lab/Lab)
followed by Debate: Communications Committee report on Public service broadcasting - Lord Fowler/ Lord Davies of Oldham (Con/Lab)