Report to the People
22nd November 2004
Braving the Elements
How
many MSPs does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They’re all, for one
reason or another, in handcuffs. (Or
so it would seem, if you believe certain sections of the press.)
The
recent spate of accusations about politicians misbehaving – and, it has to be
said, their vehement denial – have certainly made for a feverish few weeks in
the Holyrood village. But, no
matter how much these stories brighten up your Sunday breakfast table, they
don’t put any food on it.
It
was right, then, that the Parliament quietly got on with more fundamental
matters. And what could be more
fundamental than the so-called ancient elements of fire and water?
Both,
by coincidence, are the subject of Bills currently making their way through the
Parliament and both had their first Chamber outing last week.
The
Water Bill seeks to improve the accountability and transparency of the water
regulator. With the number of
complaints I receive about Scottish Water – from small businesses’ big bills
to the way it carries out works – change can’t come soon enough.
The
wide-ranging Fire Bill is
aimed at updating the existing legislation – now over half a century old –
and covers all areas of the fire
service. Controversy around the
number of control rooms, however, has led the Executive to postpone any final
decision until concerns can be addressed.
So
that’s fire and water. All we
need now is earth and air – and Thursday’s Green Party debate should see to
that.
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