| Q. What have
been the main legislative achievements of the Scottish Parliament in its
second year?
A. The most anticipated
piece of legislation was the Housing (Scotland) Act which was the result
of several years of public consultation. The Act will change all
aspects of housing, including extending the right to buy, as well as improving
facilities for the homeless. The Graduate Endowment Act also abolished
upfront tuition fees for Scottish students going to college or university.
The Transport (Scotland) Act will give disabled and elderly people free
off-peak travel from October 2002, and introduce measures to relieve congestion
on Scotland’s roads and combat pollution.
Q. Has the Scottish
Parliament changed during its second year?
A. The greatest change
affecting the Parliament was the tragic death of Donald Dewar and the election
of Henry McLeish as First Minister. This took place when the Parliament
was still finding its feet in many ways. Also the leader of the SNP
Alex Salmond resigned his Scottish Parliament seat and was succeeded by
John Swinney as leader. The second year of the Parliament has seen
changes in the leaders of the two largest parties. The death of Donald
Dewar, retirement of Sam Galbraith, and resignation of Tory MSP Nick Johnston
have seen new faces join the ranks of the MSPs in Edinburgh.
Q. Have the
people of Scotland come to see the Parliament as the major political institution
affecting their lives?
A. The low
turnout in the 2001 general election in Scotland may be a sign of a more
general apathy, but it could also be a sign that the electorate is looking
towards the Scottish Parliament as its political focus. Whatever
the result the turnout of voters at the 2003 Scottish Parliament elections
will say a lot about what the people of Scotland think of their Parliament.
Nonetheless, decisions taken at Westminster still have a huge bearing on
the people of Scotland, and I believe that people are beginning to see
each institution having equally important roles to play.
Q. How do you
think the Parliament is viewed by the Scottish public?
A. Much of the media
coverage of the Parliament has focused on negative issues. A lot
of the work done by the committees, the legislation passed, and the debates
conducted in the chamber are not brought to the attention of the public.
As new laws come into force which benefit the people of Scotland people
will learn firsthand the work of the Parliament.
Q. What does the
Parliament intend to do next year?
A. The First Minister
Henry McLeish has just announced the new legislative programme for the
coming parliamentary year. In total 18 new bills were announced,
the main ones being the Land Reform Bill, Freedom of Information Bills,
and a bill to introduce free personal care for Scotland’s elderly people.
Q. Other than the
bills passed, what has the Parliament focussed on?
A. Other than legislation,
the Parliament has looked closely at the impact of, and handling of the
foot and mouth crisis, and the future of Scotland’s fishing industry.
The Health Committee has also conducted an in depth inquiry into the safety
of the MMR vaccine after much concern was raised by the public and in the press.
The Scottish Executive also responded to an inquiry by the Transport and the
Environment committee into telecommunications masts by introducing stricter
rules for the placement of new mobile phone masts. |
