Ag/S3/07/11 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU AGENDA FOR MEETING ON TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2007 2.00 pm: Room Q1.03 1. Minutes (a) Draft minutes of 11 September 2007 (b) Matters arising 2. Future Business Programme (PB/S3/07/40) 3. Procedural Motions (a) Approval of instrument (PB/S2/07/41) 4. Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee – request to appoint an adviser (PB/S3/07/42) 5. Local Government and Communities Committee – request to appoint an adviser (PB/S3/07/43) 6. Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee – request to appoint an adviser (PB/S3/07/44) 7. Equal Opportunities Committee – travel request (PB/S3/07/45) 8. Publication scheme – consideration of any exempt papers 9. Date of next meeting – Tuesday 25 September 2007 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU POSSIBLE MOTIONS FOR MEMBERS BUSINESS 1. Bureau Members will be aware that under Rule 5.6.1(c) the Bureau has a duty to ensure that there is a period of time available for Members’ Business following Decision Time. 2. Motions submitted for Members’ Business are shown below. S3M-464# John Lamont: Support for Border News—That the Parliament considers that moves by ITV to merge some of its smaller regional news services should be opposed; believes that these proposals pose a significant threat to the future of Border television and would be damaging to regional news in the region; considers that a merger of Border television news with STV news services would also be a bad move for television in Scotland and would provide a downgraded service for the customer, and believes that local and regional television services provide a valuable role in an increasingly centralised market. Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Alex Johnstone, Elaine Murray, David Stewart, Elizabeth Smith, Nanette Milne, Cathy Peattie, Jamie Stone, Margaret Mitchell, Robin Harper*, Murdo Fraser*, Derek Brownlee*, Mary Scanlon*, Gil Paterson* S3M-459# Mike Rumbles: Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route—That the Parliament notes with concern the pledge given in writing by the First Minister on 15 June 2007 to abide by the findings of the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) and ensure that the project is not financed by PPP/PFI funding; further notes with concern reports that the Scottish Government will make no statement on its intended method of financing the AWPR until after the public inquiry is completed; expresses its concern at the year’s delay for the estimated completion of the project that was announced in June 2007 by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change; recognises the importance of the AWPR to the economy of the north east, and believes that clarification should be given as a matter of urgency on how the project will be financed. Supported by: Robert Brown, Hugh O’Donnell, Richard Baker, Lewis Macdonald, Ross Finnie, Alison McInnes, Jamie Stone S3M-436# Cathy Peattie: Antonine Friendship Link—That the Parliament welcomes the display of the Antonine Friendship Link Scroll; notes that the Antonine Friendship Link was set up to highlight the plight of Palestinians affected by Israel’s construction of a “separation wall” by linking Falkirk and the village of Jayyous which is in close proximity to the Israeli wall; further notes the World Bank report, published in May 2007, which concludes that economic recovery and sustainable growth will require a fundamental reassessment of closure practices and a restoration of the presumption of movement; believes that it is a travesty that the wall has split communities and families and denied people access to water supplies, land and livelihoods, and considers that the removal of the wall and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state should be actively encouraged. Supported by: Elaine Murray, Hugh O’Donnell, Bill Butler, Marlyn Glen, Mary Mulligan, Jackie Baillie, Jamie Hepburn, Patricia Ferguson S3M-434# Duncan McNeil: Unidentified, Unprotected—That the Parliament notes the publication on 13 August 2007 of the letters of assurance correspondence between the Scottish Executive and local authorities, including Inverclyde Council; notes that this reveals that the authorities are unable to identify, far less provide services for, children in their areas living with parental drug misuse; acknowledges that, if authorities do not know who or where these children are, they cannot provide them with the services they need and which the Executive strategy, Hidden Harm – Next Steps: Supporting Children – Working with Parents, states that they should receive at an early stage, and therefore believes that local authorities 1 and agencies should be given every possible assistance to meet the obligations that they are currently not fulfilling before there is another needless and preventable loss of life. Supported by: Michael McMahon, Jackie Baillie*, Robin Harper*, Trish Godman*, Hugh O’Donnell*, Sandra White*, Claire Baker*, Ms Wendy Alexander*, David Whitton*, Andy Kerr*, Elaine Murray*, Mr Frank McAveety*, Marlyn Glen*, Hugh Henry*, Tom McCabe*, Marilyn Livingstone*, Karen Gillon* S3M-433# Cathy Jamieson: The Cruiser Varyag—That the Parliament notes the ceremony attended by senior Russian politicians, navy personnel and veterans to remember and commemorate the famous Russian Cruiser, Varyag, which lies off the coast of Lendalfoot, South Ayrshire; welcomes the many Russian visitors who attended the events to mark this important occasion for the Russian nation, including the officers and crew members of the Russian naval vessel, Severomorsk, which has been moored off the Ayrshire coast as part of the celebration; recognises the significant work locally by individuals and organisations that has helped to develop this event over the last two years, most notably by Girvan Horizons and South Ayrshire Council; thanks the people of Lendalfoot and South Carrick for the warm welcome they have given to the many Russian visitors who come to the Varyag memorial, and hopes that this event will continue to grow in stature and prominence over the coming years and serve to strengthen and develop the links of friendship and comradeship between the people of Scotland and Russia. Supported by: David Stewart, Des McNulty, Patricia Ferguson, Mary Mulligan, Peter Peacock, Bill Butler, Ken Macintosh, Michael McMahon, Rhoda Grant, Andy Kerr, Karen Whitefield, Karen Gillon, Marilyn Livingstone, Tom McCabe* S3M-427# Irene Oldfather: World Alzheimer’s Day - 21 September 2007—That the Parliament expresses support for World Alzheimer’s Day on Friday 21 September 2007 as an occasion when Alzheimer Scotland, alongside Alzheimer’s organisations across the globe, concentrates its efforts in raising awareness of dementia; notes that there are an estimated 24 million people around the world who currently have dementia and around 62,000 people living with dementia in Scotland today; acknowledges that it is important to raise awareness of dementia as an illness and campaign to reduce the misunderstandings and stigma that exist about the condition; recognises the importance of advocacy for this vulnerable group; further acknowledges that maintaining current levels of service provision will not be an option due to the projected increase in the number of people with dementia in Scotland, which is expected to rise by 75% in under 25 years to around 108,000 by 2031, and therefore recognises that improvements to services must be made to promote the highest standards of health and community care. Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Malcolm Chisholm, Elizabeth Smith, Nanette Milne, James Kelly, Brian Adam, Alex Neil, Michael McMahon, David Whitton, Robert Brown, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Murray, Bill Butler, Bill Kidd, Jamie Stone, Des McNulty, David Stewart, Andy Kerr, Marlyn Glen, Margaret Mitchell, Christine Grahame, Karen Whitefield, Iain Gray, Hugh O’Donnell, Joe FitzPatrick, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Bob Doris, Karen Gillon, Claire Baker, Tom McCabe*, Cathie Craigie* S3M-425# Mary Scanlon: Bog Myrtle (Sweet Gale) Industry—That the Parliament recognises the potential for the bog myrtle (sweet gale) industry in the Highlands and Scotland; considers that support should be accelerated for the industry, which sees bog myrtle grow wild and be cultivated on plantations across the Highlands, and is soon to be expanded to other regions including Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Borders; notes that immediate support is necessary to establish development, planting and research study which will ensure that the industry develops quickly and that crofters, farmers and landowners involved in the production of bog myrtle see an immediate effect, and believes that support should be given to the commercial planting programme to help mitigate the risk undertaken by initial growers to establish crops in order to see the production of bog myrtle increase in the Highlands and establish the crop in other parts of Scotland in an effort to meet the anticipated global demand for this plant from the healthcare industry and drinks manufacturers and ensure that the subsequent planting by growers continues on a sustained basis. 2 S3M-424# Hugh O’Donnell: Sale of Freescale Semiconductor Plant at East Kilbride— That the Parliament notes with concern the announcement that, after months of public speculation, the US electronics company, Freescale Semiconductor, is to end production at its East Kilbride plant, where it currently employs about 900 skilled staff; regrets this blow to the electronics sector in central Scotland, and hopes that the engagement of an international real estate consultancy