News

The Scottish Parliament returns from recess this week and will note that while it was on holiday the European Court of Justice delivered a significant ruling on minimum pricing. The ruling was on tobacco but both Government and opposition parties interpreted it for their own ends in reference to Scotland's policy on alcohol consumption. This will add to the debate about the Scottish Government's forthcoming alcohol bill which will dominate debate in the coming weeks. Another hot topic will be the anticipated approval of the Beauly to Denny power line which is expected within weeks.

At UK level while the criticisms of the Government's handling of the Royal Mail crisis continue to flow and Question Time ratings spiral following the controversial appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin, the rest of the ministers are left to debate the state of the economy after the shock revelation in the UK's Gross Domestic Product report. The hope that the figures would reveal an emergence from the recession was unfortunately just false optimism. Gordon Brown will be more than a little embarrassed that Scotland appears to be drawing itself out of the recession marginally quicker than England. The Prime Minister will now have an even heftier task in convincing voters that Labour is still the right party to back, with a recent Downing Street poll suggesting that 72,000 people urge for Brown's resignation.

In Europe, Czech President Vaclav Klaus has welcomed the offer by the Swedish presidency of the EU to add the Czech Republic to a protocol which guarantees that the Charter of Fundamental Rights would not provide any new legal rights which do not already exist in national law. However, the fate of the new European constitution still hangs in the balance with President Klaus refusing to sign the Lisbon Treaty until the Czech constitutional court determines if the Lisbon Treaty is compatible with the Czech Constitution. After the hearing on Tuesday the picture may be a bit clearer as to whether President Klaus will commit pen to paper at the EU leaders' summit on Thursday and Friday of this week. Meanwhile, Tony Blair's candidacy for a European Council presidency which does not yet officially exist rumbles on, and speculation continues over President Blair and whether he may be joined by his protégé David Miliband if his term as Foreign Secretary comes to an end.

Scottish Government News

Scottish Government Annual Budget Revision published
The Scottish Government's 2009-2010 Annual Budget Revision has been published revealing an increase in Scottish Government spending by £1,810.6 million, from £32,900.7 million to £34,711.3 million. The largest element of this increase is due to the presentational change to National Insurance Contributions (£1,724m). The Revision document also includes increases made to other areas including International Financial Reporting Standards, and sets out details of additional funding for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund (£60m), Modern Apprenticeships (£16m) and home insulation (£15m). However, a reduction is made for pension costs following an increase in the Treasury discount rate. (22 October)

Gross Domestic Product figures
The Scottish Government has released the Gross Domestic Product figures which show that between April and June there was a fall of 0.8 per cent which is steeper than the 0.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter drop UK wide. However, there was a sharp deceleration in the Scottish rate of decline in comparison with the first three months of this year. There are signs that "green shoots have now taken root" in Scotland with the latest Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) survey, which covers the period July to September, showing an increase in optimism and performance in the manufacturing industry. CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan believes that that the "worst appears to be over for the manufacturing industry in Scotland", the latest figures released by the CBI demonstrating the strongest performance by manufacturers for 18 months. The CBI's Scottish Industrial Trends Survey clarified that Scottish manufacturers' domestic orders and output grew marginally in the three months to October, and the CBI predicts a stronger increase over the next three months. The SCC has warned that the recovery remains "fragile" and Finance Secretary John Swinney has warned that despite higher employment and economic activity in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, "there is no room for complacency." (21 October)

Second Consultation on Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework: Analysis of Responses
The consultation sought to further develop the strategic aims and objectives of the Adaptation Framework and also outline an Action Programme for 2009-2011 to drive progress towards the objective. It was suggested that actions needed to be made more sector-specific; more relevant to local concerns; and directed more towards protecting the eco-system and preserving bio-diversity. Respondents expressed the view that research needed to be better disseminated and made more accessible to all, most obviously via the SCCIP website. For many respondents, poor leadership from government was the biggest barrier to improvement. (21 October)

Scotland's Climate Change Minister involved in European talks
Stewart Stevenson, Scotland's Climate Change minister and part of the UK delegation to the European Environment Council, met with other environmental ministers to agree the position the EU will take at negotiations at the UN summit in December. Unfortunately the SNP's attempts to allow a Scottish minister to be part of the UK delegation for the UN summit have been unsuccessful, although ministers would be allowed to attend with "observer status". (21 October)

Scottish Government Consultations

UK Equality Bill - Specific Public Sector Duties to Promote Equality, and Socio-economic Duty (Closing 27/10/2009)

Changes to the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2009 (Closing 29/10/2009)

Consultation on Implementation Proposals For EU Requirements Regarding Electronic Identification (EID) Of Sheep And Individual Recording Of Sheep And Goats (Closing 02/11/2009)

Consultation on the review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Closing 06/11/2009)

Repossession of Residential Property: Protection of Tenants (Closing 06/11/2009)

The Scottish Parliament – The Week Ahead

Committees

Tuesday 27 October

Equal Opportunities - Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (in private - draft report); Female offenders in the criminal justice system (in private - draft report).

Justice - Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (in private – draft Stage 1 report); Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (evidence); Subordinate legislation; Legal Services (Scotland) Bill; Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (consideration).

Finance - Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (evidence); Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (consideration).

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change - Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (evidence and consideration); Climate change conference.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments - Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament;Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Bill and other rule changes to Chapter 10; Work programme; Review of Section 2 of the Code of Conduct (in private).

Subordinate Legislation - Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Bill (evidence); Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill; Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill; Draft instruments subject to approval; Instruments subject to annulment; Instruments not laid before the Parliament.

Wednesday 28 October

Economy, Energy and Tourism - Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (evidence); Research paper on the whisky industry.

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture - Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (evidence and consideration).

Local Government and Communities - Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11 (in private); Subordinate legislation (evidence); Subordinate legislation: Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill (evidence); Child Poverty Bill (UK Parliament legislation).

Rural Affairs and Environment - Subordinate legislation; Fisheries Council (evidence and consideration); Work programme; Draft Budget scrutiny 2010-11 (in private).

Health and Sport - Subordinate legislation; Draft Budget Scrutiny 2010-11.

In the Chamber

Wednesday 28 October 2009

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Followed by Ministerial Statement: Student Support
Followed by Scottish Government Debate: Reshaping the Future Care of Older People
Followed by Business Motion
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Followed by Members’ Business –Celebrating the Scottish-Polish Connection (Shirley-Anne Somerville).

Thursday 29 October 2009

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Followed by Stage 1 Debate: Marine (Scotland) Bill
Followed by Financial Resolution: Marine (Scotland) Bill
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time - Education and Lifelong Learning; Europe, External Affairs and Culture
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: The Scottish Economy
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Followed by Members’ Business – New Secondary School for North East Fife (Ted Brocklebank)

Westminster – The Week Ahead

The House of Commons

Monday October 26

2.30pm Home Office oral questions, including topical questions
Followed by Remaining stages (day 1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL].
Followed by Adjournment debate: Territorial Army (Mark Lancaster).

Tuesday October 27

2.30pm Communities and local government questions, including topical questions.
Followed by Ten minute rule motion: Closed Circuit Television (Monitoring and Promotion) Bill (Tom Harris).
Followed by Remaining stages (day 2, conclusion) of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL].
Followed by Opposition day debate (unallotted half-day) on parading in Northern Ireland (on a DUP motion).
Followed by Adjournment debate: Treatment of Fabio Alves-Nunes by the NHS (Crispin Blunt).

Wednesday October 28

11.30am Cabinet Office questions.
12noon Prime minister’s questions.
Followed by Ten minute rule motion: Rentcharges (notification) Bill (Andrew Gwynne).
Followed by Opposition day debates (20th allotted day) on (i) local spending reports and (ii) future of the Territorial Army.
Followed by Adjournment debate: Support for UK inventors (David Heath).

Thursday October 29

10.30am Environment, food and rural affairs questions, including topical questions.
Followed by Topical debate: Subject tba.
Followed by General debate on the social care green paper.
Followed by Adjournment debate: Sales and promotions in the furniture industry (David Taylor).

Friday October 30

The House is not sitting.

Westminster Hall Debates

Tuesday October 27

9.30am Cyprus (Andrew Dismore).
11.00am Military vehicles and aircraft (Ann Winterton).
12.30pm Re-doubling of the Swindon to Kemble railway line (David Drew).
1pm Liability of central London businesses (Mark Field).
1.30pm Family finances in the recession (Sally Keeble).

Wednesday October 28

9.30am Government policy on the global abolition of the death penalty (Alistair Carmichael).
11.00am Pedestrian crossing at Wareham Railway Station (Annette Brooke).
2.30pm Detention of civilians in internally displaced persons camps in Sri Lanka (Joan Ryan).
4.00pm Transport in Pudsey (Paul Truswell).
4.30pm: Employment at Hebrides Range (Angus MacNeil).

Thursday October 29

Debate on the energy and climate change committee report on UK offshore oil and gas.

Thursday November 5

Debate on the Committees on Arms Export Controls report on “Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2009): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2007, Quarterly Reports for 2008, licensing policy and review of export control legislation”.

House of Lords

Monday October 26

2.30pm Oral questions: Lord Anderson of Swansea - what plans they have to modify the system of appeals from certain Commonwealth countries to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; Baroness Sharples - what steps they are taking to raise awareness of tuberculosis in highly affected communities; Lord Haskel - what steps they are taking to create a more balanced economy; Lord Neill of Bladen - following the death by fire of Fiona Pilkington and her handicapped daughter, what steps they have taken to investigate how many families in England and Wales are subjected to bullying of the type inflicted on the Pilkingtons; and what is their assessment of the scale of the problem.
Followed by Motion to approve the following orders and regulations:-

• Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009;
• Government of Wales Act 2006 (Consequential Modifications, Transitional Provisions and Saving) Order 2009;
• Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.

Followed by Report stage (day 2) of the Coroners and Justice Bill.
Followed by Short debate on what steps the government are taking to ensure that those with autism benefit from enhanced social inclusion and are properly protected by disability discrimination legislation (Baroness Prashar).

Tuesday October 27

2.30pm Oral questions: Lord Vinson - what impact the United Kingdom’s net expenditure transfers to the European Union budget for 2010, forecast in the Budget Red Book to be £7.9 billion, will have on infrastructure spending in the United Kingdom; Lord Tyler - whether they have evaluated the improvement in health and safety of the addition of the Quest AirManager system to prevent contamination of cabin air in BAe 146 and Boeing 747 aircraft; Lord Harrison - what steps they are taking to take account of the health impacts of the availability of high alcohol content red wines; Topical question.
Followed by Third reading of the Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Bill.
Followed by Report stage (day 2) of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Followed by Short debate on the government's assessment of the protection of vulnerable migrant workers’ rights (Lord Harries of Pentregarth).

Wednesday October 28

3.00pm Oral questions: Lord Ezra - what are their forecasts for the security and prices of energy supplies during the coming winter; Lord Wallace of Saltaire - what steps they have taken, in cooperation with other European Union member states, to press both sides in the current negotiations for a resolution of the Cyprus dispute; Lord Campbell-Savours to ask the Leader of the House what arrangements exist for discussions on the role of the Lord Speaker between the Leader of the House, the Lord Speaker and backbench members; Topical question.
Followed by Committee stage (day 1) of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill.
Followed by Report stage (day 3) of the Coroners and Justice Bill.
Followed by Lord Rosser to move that this House takes note of the Environmental Noise (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1610).

Thursday October 29

11.00am Oral questions: Lord James of Blackheath - what is the total value of unpaid debts to the Government in the form of benefits overpayments and unrecovered tax; and what action they will take to recover those debts; Lord Hunt of Chesterton - what long-term policies they will develop to deal with water shortages in Africa; Lord Cope of Berkeley - what progress has been made in reducing the delays and complexities affecting investigations and the bringing of suspects to trial in Northern Ireland when witnesses or evidence are in the Republic of Ireland or vice-versa; Topical question.
Followed by Report stage (day 3) of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Followed by Short debate on what steps the government is taking regarding the consistency of decision-making processes between primary care trusts in determining the off-label use of medicines in near-label conditions (Earl Howe).

Grand Committee
2pm Consideration of the following regulations and orders:-

• Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2009;
• Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Public Authorities) Regulations 2009;
• Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2009;
• Provision of Services Regulations 2009.

Friday October 30

The House is not sitting.