| 07 - 11 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Supporting People "Supporting People" is the policy and funding framework for housing related support services. Introduced in 2003, it aims to assists vulnerable people over the age of 16 to move into, or remain in, their own homes. This briefing outlines the key features of the programme and considers the impact it has made |
26 - 10 - 07: Public Health etc. (Scotland) BillBill (as introduced) Explanatory Notes and other accompanying documents Policy Memorandum Delegated Powers Memorandum |
| 13 - 09 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Equal Opportunities Subject Profile This subject profile provides an overview of Equal Opportunities at EU, UK and Scottish levels. Although Equal Opportunities is reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament can ‘encourage and promote’ equal opportunities. |
12 - 09 - 07: Audit Committee Official Report 12 September 2007Includes discussion on: - Managing long-term conditions - Primary care out-of-hours services - Dealing with offending by young people - Community planning: an initial review |
| 09 - 08 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Children's Services This briefing provides an overview of children’s services looking at some key statistics, the legislative framework, main types of services provided and structures for integrated working. | 03 - 08 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Mental Health Services in Scotland This briefing provides background information on the statutory framework underpinning mental health in Scotland. It goes on to outline the main policy developments that have taken place since devolution. This is followed by a discussion of the organisation of mental health services, including data on a range of services and workforce statistics. Finally, the briefing considers the funding of mental health services. |
| 13 - 06 - 07: SPICe Briefing - The National Health Service in ScotlandThe paper provides an overview of the National Health Service in Scotland, and covers the following: a history of recent policy reforms; structural organisation of the NHS in Scotland; public health & levels of health care provision; governance and accountability; standards of care - regulation, inspection, complaints and enforcement; financing of the NHS in Scotland; policy divergence in the UK | 04 - 06 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Community Care in Scotland This briefing provides background information on the statutory framework underpinning community care, the development of policy for community care generally and for specific client groups, and the organisation and funding of community care services. |
| 08 - 05 - 07: SPICe Briefing - Election 2007 The paper provides an analysis of the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. In particular it covers the Scottish Parliament electoral system, the election campaign, electoral behaviour and the polls, turnout, spoilt ballots, the impact of the result upon the political parties, the regional vote and the new composition of the Parliament. | 09 - 03 - 07: Audit Committee Report: Community Planning: an initial reviewThe Scottish Executive must fundamentally change its way of working if community planning partnerships are to become significantly more effective, according to the Scottish Parliament’s Audit Committee. |
| 02 - 03 - 07: Adult Training and Skills - Subject ProfileThis briefing provides a general introduction to lifelong learning in Scotland and focuses specifically on skills and adult learning. It provides information on the importance of skills and identifies trends in skill requirements. It outlines skills policy in Europe, the UK and Scotland and identifies the main organisations and initiatives contributing towards the development of adults in Scotland. | 28 - 02 - 07: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill: Parliamentary Consideration Prior to Stage 3 This briefing summarises the legislative and non-legislative recommendations made by the Education Committee (2006) in its Stage 1 Report and describes the actions which have been taken in the run up to and during Stage 2 proceedings. |
| 16 - 02 - 07: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill (as passed)Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill (as passed) |
14 - 02 - 07: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill - Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 |
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13 - 02 - 07: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill - Marshalled List of Amendments selected for Stage 3Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill Marshalled List of Amendments selected for Stage 3 |
12 - 02 - 07: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill - Revised Explanatory NotesAdult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill (as amended at Stage 2) Revised Explanatory Notes |
| 26 - 01 - 07: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill: Parliamentary Consideration prior to stage 3 This briefing outlines the changes that have been made to the Bill since it was first introduced. These changes are the result of: recommendations made by the Health Committee at Stage 1 (and accepted by the Deputy Minister); and other amendments introduced at Stage 2 by Committee Members or the Deputy Minister. | 10 - 01 - 07: 1st Report 2007: Stage 1 Health Board Elections (Scotland) BillWeb version | PDF Version |
| 28 - 11 - 06: Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities. Equal Opportunities Committee Report | 28 - 11 - 06: Letter from the Minister for Health and Community Care This letter responds to questions from the Health Committee convener on the costs of postal ballots in the Direct Elections to Health Boards Bill. |
| 23 - 11 - 06: Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill Parliamentary Consideration Prior to Stage 3 - SPICe Briefing This briefing summarises the legislative and non-legislative recommendations made by the Education Committee in its Stage 1 Report and the Executive’s response to the Report. It also summarises the key amendments passed at Stage 2 and considers the key areas of debate where no amendments were passed. |
10 - 11 - 06: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill - SPICe Briefing In 2004 Sir Michael Bichard headed an urgent inquiry into the child protection procedures, as instructed by David Blunkett, the then Home Secretary. His report was published in June 2004. The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill is the Scottish Executive’s response to recommendation 19 of the Bichard Report. Background and main proposals | Key issues |
| 07 - 11 - 06: Population Ageing SPICe Briefing There has been much discussion lately around the implications of population ageing in a Scottish, UK and global context. This paper will present some facts and figures on population ageing at home and abroad, and outline some of its potential positive and negative social and economic effects. |
26 - 10 - 06: Equal Opportunities Scottish Executive Policy Overview SPICe Briefing This briefing gives an overview of Scottish Executive equality policy. There are separate briefings on each of the six “equality strands” of age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief and sexual orientation and gender identity below: Age | Disability | Race | Religion | Sexual Orientation | Gender |
| 20 - 10 - 06: Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill - SPICe Briefing The Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament by Bill Butler MSP on 31 March 2006. The aim of the Bill is to allow for the majority of members on each of the 14 area NHS Boards to be democratically elected by the public. This is in response to a perceived democratic deficit in the governance of the NHS in Scotland. This briefing outlines the main provisions of the Bill, the current system of accountability and governance, the main arguments for and against the Bill and recent experience of elections in other health systems. | 05 - 10 - 06: Draft budget 2007 - 08: Health and Community Care SPICe Briefing This briefing has been prepared to assist the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee in scrutinising the Draft Budget 2007-08. It provides general information on the Draft Budget 2007-08 and specific information on Health and Community Care. |
| 03 - 10 - 06: Education (School Meals etc.) (Scotland) Bill. SPICe briefing This briefing looks at this Bill, the Parliamentary scrutiny of a previous Bill proposing free school meals and compares the provisions to the Executive’s Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill. | 28 - 09 - 06 : Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill. SPICe briefing A Member’s Bill proposed by Alex Neil MSP to establish a Commissioner for Older People in Scotland was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 20 September 2006. This paper provides an overview of the proposals to create a statutory body, accountable to the Parliament, with responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the rights of people aged 60 and over. |
| 28 - 09 - 06: Draft Budget 2007-08 – Communities Committee. SPICe briefingThis briefing has been prepared to assist the Scottish Parliament’s Communities Committee in looking at Draft Budget 2007-08. It presents trends in the budget, outlines the objectives and targets in the Communities portfolio and considers the latest developments in the Scottish Executive’s efficient government initiative. | 26 - 09 - 06: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill |
| 11 - 09 - 06: Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill | 31 - 08 - 06 : Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill: Summary of Written Evidence The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 30 March 2006 by Andy Kerr MSP. The Health Committee is the Lead Committee for the consideration of the Bill. On 12 May 2006 it issued a call for evidence on the Bill, which ended on 18 August 2006. This briefing provides a summary of the written evidence received by the Committee. |
| 14 - 08 - 06 : Housing Stock Transfers. SPICe briefing This briefing outlines the background to stock transfers in Scotland, the community ownership programme, some of the key issues that have been raised and evidence about the impact of transfers. |
02 - 06 - 06: Tackling Deprivation This paper provides an overview of the Executive’s framework for tackling deprivation in Scotland. Closing the Opportunity Gap is the overall strategy for tacking poverty and deprivation. Community Planning Partnerships are a key means for delivering community regeneration. The findings of the recent Finance Committee inquiry into deprivation expenditure are also summarised. |
| 20 - 04 - 06: Equal Opportunities Subject Profile This subject profile provides an overview of Equal Opportunities at EU, UK and Scottish levels. Although Equal Opportunities is reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament can ‘encourage and promote’ equal opportunities. | |
| 22 - 02 - 06: Joint Inspection of Children's Services and Inspection of Social Work Services (Scotland) Act 2006 | 22 - 11 - 05: Joint Inspection of Children’s Services and Inspection of Social Work Services (Scotland) Bill. SPICe briefing The Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 28 October 2005. It will enable certain statutory bodies to collaborate on a joint inspection of the effectiveness of children's services and allow Scottish Ministers to appoint social work inspectors. |
| 10 - 11 - 05: Draft Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises Regulations. SPICe briefing This briefing has been written to support the Health Committee in its evidence session with the Deputy Minister for Health, Lewis Macdonald MSP, on 15 November 2005, in connection with the proposed smoking regulations, following the passing of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005. | 24 - 10 - 05: The National Framework for Service Change in the NHS in Scotland: The Kerr Report. SPICe briefing On the 27th October 2006, the Parliament will hold an Executive debate entitled "Delivering for health". 'Building a Health Service Fit for the Future' (the Kerr Report), the report of the National Framework for Service Change in the NHS in Scotland Advisory Group, was published in May 2005, and this briefing looks at some of the highlights of the report including the key proposals and recommendations, some of the rationale behind them and reactions so far. |
| 24 - 10 - 05: Homelessness (updated). SPICe briefing This briefing provides a summary of the current legislation relevant to homelessness. Both the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 have changed, and will change, statutory duties towards the homeless. The implementation of these changes is also briefly considered. The briefing updates SPICe Briefing 04/24. | 20 - 10 - 05: Draft Budget 2006 / 2007 - Communities Committee. SPICe briefing This briefing has been prepared to assist the Scottish Parliament's Communities Committee in looking at Draft Budget 2006-07. It focuses on trends in the budget and projected efficiency savings under the Scottish Executive's efficient government initiative. |
| 11 - 08 - 05: Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 |
July 2005: Community Care Providers Scotland response to Health Committee CARE INQUIRY: Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 CCPS gave written and oral evidence to the Health and Community Care Committee during the passage of both these pieces of legislation. Our members continue to work within the framework set by these Acts and have a continuing and significant interest in them. In this short paper, we set out the key areas to which we believe the Health Committee might wish to have regard in reviewing these Acts. |
| 21 - 07 - 05: Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 | 17 - 06 - 05: Abolition of NHS Prescription Charges (Scotland) Bill. SPICe briefing The Abolition of Prescription Charges (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 19 January 2005 by Colin Fox MSP. The Bill seeks to abolish charges for all Scottish NHS prescriptions. This briefing outlines the main arguments for and against prescription charges, as well as potential cost implications should the Bill be passed. |
| 25 - 04 - 05: Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity - Children and Young People: A Comparative Paper - Strategies. SPICe briefing In August 2003 the Health Committee decided to examine public health issues. In particular, it decided to look at three public health issues and how they affect children and young people, namely obesity and physical exercise, smoking and alcohol. The Committee also expressed a wish to ascertain what lessons, if any, could be learnt in Scotland from how other countries tackle these issues. Members were particularly interested in the Nordic countries ie Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This briefing concentrates on the area of obesity and physical exercise in children and young people under 16 years of age, and outlines public health strategies that have been employed in Scotland, England, Wales and the Nordic countries. | 25 - 04 - 05: Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity - Children and Young People: A Comparative Paper - Key Data. SPICe briefingIn August 2003 the Health Committee decided to examine public health issues. In particular, it decided to look at three public health issues and how they affect children and young people, namely obesity and physical exercise, smoking and alcohol. The Committee expressed a wish to ascertain what lessons, if any, could be learnt in Scotland from how other countries tackle these issues. Members were particularly interested in the Nordic countries ie Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This briefing concentrates on the area of obesity and physical exercise in children and young people under 16 years of age, and outlines key comparative data for Scotland, England, Wales and the Nordic countries. |
| 25 - 04 - 05: Smoking in Children and Young People - A Comparative Paper. SPICe briefing In August 2003 the Health Committee decided to examine public health issues. In particular, it decided to look at three public health issues and how they affect children and young people, namely obesity and physical exercise, smoking and alcohol. The Committee also expressed a wish to ascertain what lessons, if any, could be learnt in Scotland from how other countries tackle these issues. Members were particularly interested in the Nordic countries ie Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This briefing concentrates on the area of smoking in children and young people and outlines public health strategies that have been employed in Scotland, England, Wales and the Nordic countries. | 25 - 04 - 05: Alcohol use in Children and Young People - A Comparative Paper. SPICe briefing In August 2003 the Health Committee decided to examine public health issues. In particular, it decided to look at three public health issues and how they affect children and young people, namely obesity and physical exercise, smoking and alcohol. The Committee also expressed a wish to ascertain what lessons, if any, could be learnt in Scotland from how other countries tackle these issues. Members were particularly interested in the Nordic countries ie Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This briefing concentrates on the area of alcohol use in children and young people and outlines public health strategies that have been employed in Scotland, England, Wales and the Nordic countries. |
| 07 - 01 - 05 : The Disability Discrimination Bill - Sewel Motion. SPICe briefing | 21 - 01 - 05: Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill: Regulation and governance issues. SPICe briefing The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 15 November 2004. This briefing explores the proposed regulatory regime, the governance of charities and the fundraising procedures. This is the last of a series of 3 SPICe briefings on the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill. The other two briefings gave an overview of the Bill (SPICe briefing 04/84) and looked at issues around the proposed “charity test” (SPICe briefing 05/01) The briefings have been published to coincide with evidence taking at the Communities Committee’s Stage 1 consideration of the Bill. |
| 07 - 01 - 05 : The Disability Discrimination Bill - Sewel Motion. SPICe briefing The Disability Discrimination Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on the 24 November 2004. The Bill proposes amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. These include a new duty on public authorities, requiring them to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination against and harassment of disabled people, and to promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and non-disabled people. The Scottish Executive proposes that the provisions for the creation of a public sector duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people should extend to Scotland, by virtue of a Sewel Motion. This paper focuses solely on the Sewel Motion. | 06 - 01 - 05: The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill. SPICe briefing The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 15 November 2004. This briefing is the second in a series introduced by SPICe briefing 04/84. It gives some background on the definition of charity in the UK; the policy background to the introduction of a new charity test; a brief look at 3 international models; the Executive’s proposals themselves; and a brief look at the arguments concerning independent schools and hospitals. |
| 16 - 06 - 04: National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004 | 20 - 03 - 03: Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill |
| 20 - 03 - 03: Protection of Children (Scotland) Bill | 20 - 03 - 03: Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill |
| 12 - 03 - 02: Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill | 05 - 03 - 03: Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Bill |
| 05 - 07 - 01: Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill | 09 - 05 - 00: Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Bill |
The Scottish Parliament Publications
This page provides a selection of the Scottish Parliament publications.