Report to the People

Happy New Millennium

Happy New Year!

At this time of year, it seems appropriate to reflect on the first 6 months of the Scottish Parliament’s life. It has hardly been easy. It was almost like starting a new school, where the teachers and headmaster are also brand new. In common with many of my colleagues, I have been on an extremely steep learning curve.

The Parliament has, however, begun its work and we have had a very busy session.

• The first piece of legislation came about in unfortunate circumstances. It was an Emergency Bill to plug the legal loophole which emerged as a result of the release of convicted murderer, Noel Ruddle. Although it was not how we would have wished to embark on our legislative programme, it proved a point. As my colleague, Gordon Jackson, the MSP for Govan, remarked, "It shows that we have a clockwork Parliament. We identified a problem, planned how it was to be solved, and did it. Just as we said. The Westminster system would never have been as responsive."

• 16 Parliamentary Committees have been established to scrutinise the Executive’s plans and facilitate informed debate on the issues. They are, on the whole, doing a great job. The majority have been free from party political point scoring and sniping, preferring to focus on improving the lives of the Scottish people.

• The Adults with Incapacity Bill has formally been introduced in the Parliament and debate on the bill has begun. It is well on the way to reforming the outdated and unfair system which currently causes so much anguish and frustration for incapable adults and their families.

• The Scottish Executive has also published a bold 20-year plan for eradicating poverty and social exclusion. This does not mean we are ignoring the problem for 20 years, but have, for the first time ever, a comprehensive strategy to tackle some of the most serious difficulties Scotland faces. We have published a series of "milestones" against which our progress can be measured.

What, then, can we look forward to in 2000? One thing is clear - it will be another exceedingly demanding parliamentary session.

• The committee on which I sit, the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, will be discussing the vexed issue of Student Finance. Given the strong convictions and emotions on both sides of the argument, I am sure our discussions will be nothing if not lively.

• The ongoing process of land reform will finally abolish the Feudal System in Scotland and radically modernise other aspects of land tenure.

• At some point before March, we will witness the first ever by-election in the Scottish Parliament. Ian Welsh, the Labour MSP for Ayr, has decided to resign the seat he held by a mere 25 votes in the May 1999 elections. With such a slender majority, it is guaranteed that the campaign will be a tremendously exciting one, with all the parties going all-out to take their message to the people.

• Finally, I will continue to represent the people of Greenock and Inverclyde by raising in Parliament the issues which concern us. If you have a matter you would like me to raise, please do not hesitate to contact me on 791696 or attend any of my surgeries.

All the best for 2000.

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