Ag/S3/08/33 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU AGENDA FOR MEETING ON TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2008 2.00pm: Room Q1.03 1. Minutes (a) Draft minutes of 11 November 2008 (attached) (b) Matters arising 2. Future Business Programme (PB/S3/08/127) 3. Procedural motions (a) Scottish Statutory Instruments (PB/S3/08/128) Legislation 4. (a) Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill – Stage 2 timetable (PB/S3/08/129) (b) Proposed Regulation of Bus Services Bill – referral of draft proposal (PB/S3/08/130) 5. Christmas Recess Issues (PB/S3/08/131) 6. Scotland Week 2009 (PB/S3/08/132) 7. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman – selection panel (PB/S3/08/133) 8. Publication scheme – consideration of any exempt papers 9. Date of next meeting – Tuesday 25 November 2008 PB/S3/08/127 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-2873# Sandra White: Successful Mercy Mission to Gaza—That the Parliament congratulates the success of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and the Free Gaza Movement on their successful mission to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver much needed medical supplies and equipment to the people of Gaza; notes that alongside politicians from around Europe, such as Claire Short MP and Lord Nazir Ahmed, the successful delegation included Sandra White MSP, Pauline McNeill MSP and Hugh O’Donnell MSP; further notes that, after the refusal of the Egyptian authorities to provide safe passage, the group successfully sailed from Cyprus to Gaza despite the close attention of the Israeli navy; hopes that these actions will give hope to the many Palestinians throughout the world, including Glasgow, that the blockade will be ended, and believes that only by all parties working together can we resolve this issue, which is causing untold suffering to the ordinary people of Gaza. Supported by: Bill Kidd, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper, Marlyn Glen, Christina McKelvie, Bob Doris*, Gil Paterson*, Bill Wilson*, Rob Gibson*, Joe FitzPatrick*, Aileen Campbell*, Pauline McNeill*, Keith Brown*, Jamie Hepburn*, Alex Neil*, Hugh O’Donnell*, Bashir Ahmad* S3M-2842# Bill Butler: The Hospital Broadcasting Service—That the Parliament recognises the work of the Hospital Broadcasting Service (HBS), which broadcasts to a number of hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area; commends its commitment to providing a regular and varied selection of programmes to patients; praises the recent revamp of the service at Drumchapel Hospital through the relaunch of the request programme; salutes the efforts and hard work of HBS volunteers, who provide a vital link with and ongoing point of contact for patients through regular hospital visits; further recognises that HBS provides high quality training and encouragement to its members as well as the role that it has played in the development of the careers of several distinguished Scottish broadcasters, and wishes HBS continued success in the years ahead. Supported by: Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Bashir Ahmad, Jamie McGrigor, Iain Gray, Cathy Peattie, John Park, Cathy Jamieson, Jackson Carlaw, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper, Dr Richard Simpson, James Kelly, Ross Finnie, David Whitton, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Andy Kerr, Jamie Hepburn, Karen Whitefield, Ken Macintosh, Sarah Boyack, Cathie Craigie, Jack McConnell, David Stewart, Patricia Ferguson, Pauline McNeill*, Mr Frank McAveety* S3M-2817# Marlyn Glen: World AIDS Day 2008—That the Parliament recognises the importance of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2008 and its aim of highlighting the challenges and consequences of the HIV epidemic around the world; acknowledges that there are 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and that countries face a myriad challenges in halting the spread of the virus and improving the lives and experiences of people affected; recognises that HIV diagnoses in Scotland have been increasing in recent years with 2007 seeing the highest annual number on record; acknowledges that it is estimated that there are 5,500 people now living with HIV in Scotland; regrets that a recent poll found that people in Scotland had comparatively poorer rates of HIV knowledge than in other areas of the United Kingdom; considers that this lack of public understanding about the virus and how it is transmitted compounds and exacerbates the stigma and prejudice experienced by many people living with HIV in Scotland, and therefore supports this year’s theme of Respect and Protect, which highlights the responsibility of everyone to transform attitudes to HIV and encourage actions that stop its spread. Supported by: Mary Mulligan, Ms Wendy Alexander, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Sarah Boyack, PB/S3/08/127 Alasdair Allan, Hugh O’Donnell, David Stewart, Elaine Murray, Liam McArthur, Jamie Hepburn, Trish Godman, Sandra White, Christine Grahame, James Kelly, Rob Gibson, Karen Whitefield, Dr Richard Simpson, Claire Baker, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Butler, Rhona Brankin, Christina McKelvie, Hugh Henry, Nanette Milne, Jack McConnell, Cathy Peattie, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Gil Paterson* S3M-2808# Stuart McMillan: 65 Years of Piping Excellence—That the Parliament congratulates the College of Piping in Glasgow on its 65th anniversary year in 2009; acknowledges the importance of the college in teaching people of all ages and from all backgrounds since 27 October 1944; notes that it also welcomes students from around the world, and further congratulates the college for being the oldest piping educational establishment in Scotland. Supported by: Bob Doris, Jamie Hepburn, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Mary Scanlon, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Bill Wilson, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Robin Harper, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Paul Martin, Mike Pringle, Roseanna Cunningham, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Alex Neil, Dave Thompson, Cathy Peattie, Bill Aitken, Jack McConnell, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson, Willie Coffey S3M-2805# Cathy Jamieson: Carers’ Rights Day—That the Parliament welcomes Carers’ Rights Day 2008 on Friday 5 December, aimed at increasing awareness of the invaluable role of carers across Scotland in looking after a disabled or vulnerable loved one, as well as the advice and support available to them; notes with concern research by Carers Scotland that nearly three quarters of the estimated 666,000 carers in Scotland are financially worse-off as a result of caring, with many living in poverty; is further concerned that many carers do not realise the range of financial help and advice that they are entitled to; therefore congratulates Carers Scotland on its work to improve the uptake of available assistance through the publication of its booklet Looking after someone: a guide to carers’ rights and benefits and its website www.carerscotland.org, which also includes details of over 1,000 outreach events in conjunction with similar organisations across the United Kingdom, and further notes the role that MSPs of all parties can play in the Parliament and in their constituencies or regions to help ensure that carers receive the support that they richly deserve. Supported by: Trish Godman, John Scott, Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Sarah Boyack, David Stewart, Rhoda Grant, Karen Whitefield S3M-2794# Nanette Milne: Seabirds—That the Parliament notes with concern recent data from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland highlighting another terrible season for Scotland’s breeding seabirds, notably Arctic skuas, Arctic terns and kittiwakes; is alarmed that many of our internationally important species have now suffered successive poor breeding seasons over a period of years, with evidence suggesting that the Scottish populations of these species are experiencing substantial declines; notes that Scotland is an internationally important breeding ground for seabirds, with spectacular coastal seabird colonies in areas such as north-east Scotland and the Northern Isles containing 45% of the European Union’s breeding populations; further notes that seabird populations are a key health indicator for the marine environment as a whole, and considers that the forthcoming Scottish marine bill offers an opportunity to examine what can be done to address the catastrophic decline of our seabird populations. Supported by: John Scott, Jackson Carlaw, Elizabeth Smith, Roseanna Cunningham, John Lamont, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Aitken, Elaine Murray, Jamie McGrigor, Ms Wendy Alexander, Murdo Fraser, Hugh O’Donnell, Liam McArthur, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Alex Johnstone, John Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Ted Brocklebank, Jack McConnell, Jamie Hepburn, Annabel Goldie, Cathy Jamieson, Cathy Peattie S3M-2768# Alex Neil: Lloyds TSB Takeover of HBOS—That the Parliament gives a general welcome to the measures taken by the UK and other governments to tackle the current banking crisis; considers, however, that the recapitalisation plans announced by HM Treasury in October 2008 have fundamentally changed the landscape under which competition rules were waived to enable a merger between Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS); further considers