Find activities

211 results

  • Excess deaths in Scotland since the start of the pandemic

    The COVID-19 Recovery Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the cause of excess deaths in Scotland since the start of the pandemic. Figure 1 below highlights the total deaths, excess deaths and average deaths in the previous 5 years in the period April 2020 to October 2021. Source: Scottish Government This shows that deaths in Scotland are 11% above the average for this time of year and have been above the average for the last 26 weeks. What is unclear, is... More
    Opened 9 December 2021
  • Framework for the Resource Spending Review

    The Scottish Government has published a ‘ consultative framework document ’ on its forthcoming Scottish Resource Spending Review. Resource Spending is the spending on day-to-day running costs of government programmes and administration. The purpose of a Resource Spending Review is to set out spending plans for the remainder of the parliamentary term which support the Scottish Government's ambitions (these plans will cover from 2023-24 to 2026-27). The document was published... More
    Opened 13 December 2021
  • Provisional Common Frameworks on Blood Safety and Quality and on Organs, Tissues and Cells

    The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee would like to invite you to respond to its call for views on the provisional Common Framework on Blood Safety and Quality and the provisional Common Framework on Organs, Tissues and Cells (apart from embryos and gametes).   These provisional Common Frameworks have been developed following the UK’s exit from the European Union. The explanatory cover note accompanying these provisional Common Frameworks describes... More
    Opened 21 December 2021
  • Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

    Non-domestic rates, also known as Business Rates, are a form of property tax which help pay for local council services. The amount of tax paid is based on the ‘rateable value’ of the property. The ‘rateable value’ of a property is based on comparable rental values a few years before the valuation is taking place. Rateable values are reviewed every few years at a ‘revaluation’. The next revaluation will take place in 2023 and will be based on rental values in 2022. The Bill... More
    Opened 7 January 2022
  • Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill

    The Committee wants to hear your views on the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill . Non-domestic rates, also known as Business Rates, are a form of property tax for businesses which help pay for local council services. The amount of tax that is paid is based on the rateable value of the property. The rateable value is based on comparable rental values in the years before the valuation takes place. Rateable values are reviewed every few years. ... More
    Opened 12 January 2022
  • The Scottish Attainment Challenge

    The Scottish Attainment Challenge was launched in 2015 and is funded by a number of programmes including Pupil Equity Funding. A total of £750m has been spent in the five years to 2021. The Scottish Government has said it will continue the fund and increase the amount of funding to £1bn over 5five years from 2021 to 2026. The Education, Children and Young People Committee wants to know how well this money has supported children from deprived backgrounds and the impact of the Scottish... More
    Opened 18 January 2022
  • Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/35)

    The Committee wants to hear from you The Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee wants your views on The Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/35). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2022/35/made Please note this call for views was originally seeking views on the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/5) and was due to close on Wednesday 2 February. Following the... More
    Opened 19 January 2022
  • Alternative pathways into primary care (in depth consultation for medical professionals or organisations)

    The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is undertaking an inquiry into how patients access primary care in Scotland. Primary care services provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the ‘front door’ of the NHS . When a person seeks healthcare their first point of contact is usually with a general practitioner (a GP, or family doctor). Our inquiry, however, is focused on other sources of healthcare that exist in the community, which... More
    Opened 20 January 2022
  • Alternative pathways into primary care (survey for members of the public)

    Experiences of alternative pathways in primary care The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is undertaking an inquiry about the different ways patients access healthcare services in Scotland. Primary care services provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the ‘front door’ of the NHS. When a person seeks healthcare their first point of contact is usually with a general practitioner (a GP, or family doctor). Our inquiry, however, is... More
    Opened 21 January 2022
  • New realities of retail and ecommerce in Scotland

    The Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee sought written views to inform its i nquiry on town centres and retail. The remit for the Inquiry is as follows: "Identify the new realities of retail and ecommerce in Scotland and the resulting impact on town centres. What is the subsequent policy response needed to create living and resilient town centres?" The Committee’s i nquiry has three areas of focus. We sought views on these areas and any... More
    Opened 1 February 2022
  • Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

    About the Bill The Bill is split into 6 Parts: Part 1 creates new powers to respond to public health emergencies. The powers are similar to powers that Scottish Ministers already have on a temporary basis to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic. For example, these powers have been used at times to impose “lockdown” restrictions. The new powers will apply to any future public health emergencies. Part 2 also creates new powers to help Scottish Ministers respond to public... More
    Opened 3 February 2022
  • Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill

    The Scottish Government was given temporary, emergency powers to respond to COVID-19. These powers will expire unless new primary legislation is passed. The Scottish Government has introduced this Bill to make some of the temporary powers permanent and to extend others. The provisions in the Bill cover a wide range of policy areas. Scottish Parliament committees are therefore working together to scrutinise the Bill. The COVID-19 Recovery Committee is the lead policy committee... More
    Opened 3 February 2022
  • The draft joint fisheries statement

    The Committee wants to hear from you The Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee wants your views on the draft joint fisheries statement. Read the consultation draft of the Joint Fisheries Statement What does the legislation do? Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the UK Parliament passed the Fisheries Act 2020 which established a new UK-wide legal framework to replace the EU common fisheries policy and set out eight... More
    Opened 3 February 2022
  • Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (Short Survey)

    Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (Short Survey) The Scottish Government was given temporary, emergency powers to respond to COVID-19. These powers will expire unless new primary legislation is passed. The Scottish Government has introduced this Bill to make some of the temporary powers permanent and to extend others. The provisions in the Bill cover a wide range of policy areas. Scottish Parliament committees are therefore working together to scrutinise the Bill. ... More
    Opened 3 February 2022
  • Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (Detailed)

    The Scottish Government was given temporary, emergency powers to respond to COVID-19. These powers will expire unless new primary legislation is passed. The Scottish Government has introduced this Bill to make some of the temporary powers permanent and to extend others. The provisions in the Bill cover a wide range of policy areas. Scottish Parliament committees are therefore working together to scrutinise the Bill. The COVID-19 Recovery Committee is the lead policy committee... More
    Opened 3 February 2022
  • Inquiry into health inequalities

    The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is undertaking an inquiry into health inequalities in Scotland. Public Health Scotland define health inequalities as the “avoidable and unjust differences in people’s health across the population.” Some variations in health may be naturally occurring and unavoidable. However, health inequalities are defined as such when they affect certain groups in a way that is unfair and avoidable. Aims: The aim of this inquiry is... More
    Opened 11 February 2022
  • Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

    About the Bill This Bill would seek to restrict the supply and use of certain kinds of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles. An example of a pyrotechnic article would be a distress flare. The Bill impacts businesses and individuals. It creates a new licensing system which means that: members of the public will need a licence to buy, possess or use certain fireworks businesses supplying fireworks will need to confirm that the people getting the fireworks either have a... More
    Opened 14 February 2022
  • Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill

    This page provides information about submitting a detailed response to the Committee about the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill. If you would like to make brief and general comments about the Bill, join in the conversation on our engagement website. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill The Scottish Government has proposed a new law which would restrict how people can buy and use fireworks and other ‘pyrotechnic items’ – such as flares.... More
    Opened 14 February 2022
  • Low income and debt problems inquiry

    The Social Justice and Social Security Committee want to understand the challenges faced by people with low incomes and debt problems. People on low incomes are more likely to run up debt relating to essential services, such as rent, council tax and fuel bills. They are also more likely to be affected by increased costs of living and the rising price of food and toiletries. The impact of redundancy and furlough during the Coronavirus pandemic may have made the situation worse for some... More
    Opened 15 February 2022
  • National Performance Framework: Ambitions into Action

    In 2007 the Scottish Government introduced the National Performance Framework (NPF). It sets out the government’s ambitions for society and the values that guide its approach. The framework says it aims to get everyone in Scotland to work together. This includes: national and local government businesses voluntary organisations people living in Scotland To help achieve its purpose, the framework sets out National Outcomes - currently 11 in total. The... More
    Opened 28 February 2022
  • Training for new and returning councillors

    Please see the below letter from Ariane Burgess, Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. Please use this online form to respond by 23 March 2022. Training for new and returning councillors The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee has been undertaking work to understand what are the barriers to local elected office. The Committee will now pause this work until after the local government elections. ... More
    Opened 4 March 2022
  • Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

    About the Bill It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It will still be an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. For example, hunting with dogs may be allowed to prevent the spread of disease or to protect other animals if the activity meets the requirements in the Bill about how it is... More
    Opened 7 March 2022
  • College regionalisation

    In February 2012, Scottish Ministers announced changes to the college landscape as part of wider reforms introduced by the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act. This led to the formation of 13 college regions. During this time, college mergers reduced the number of colleges down from 41 in 2011 to 26 currently. The majority of these colleges sit within the 13 regions. Recent reviews by the Scottish Funding Council have recommended more changes to the way colleges in some regions are... More
    Opened 11 March 2022
  • Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

    About the Bill The Bill changes the process to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). A GRC is a certificate that legally recognises that a person’s gender is not the gender that they were assigned at birth, but is their “acquired gender”. The current process for obtaining a GRC is set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This Bill amends that Act to make a new process in Scotland. The Bill sets out: who can apply for a GRC how to make an application... More
    Opened 18 March 2022
  • Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

    The Scottish Government has introduced draft legislation to change the system through which transgender people can gain legal recognition in Scotland. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will amend the existing Gender Recognition Act 2004 to introduce new criteria for applicants who wish to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). When a trans person obtains a GRC, it means they are legally recognised in their acquired gender and can obtain a new birth certificate stating... More
    Opened 21 March 2022
  • Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Short Survey)

    Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill The Scottish Government has introduced draft legislation to change the system through which transgender people can gain legal recognition in Scotland. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will amend the existing Gender Recognition Act 2004 to introduce new criteria for applicants who wish to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). When a trans person obtains a GRC, it means they are legally recognised in their... More
    Opened 21 March 2022
  • Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Detailed)

    We are seeking your views on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. You can either: complete a short survey on the general principles of the Bill share your detailed views, by following the submission link below, on specific provisions of the Bill Please note that we can only accept submissions via the online platform. If you require assistance to share your views via the platform for accessibility reasons, please contact the clerks. We will not accept... More
    Opened 21 March 2022
  • Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill (Detailed)

    We are seeking your views on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill. You can either: complete a short survey on the Bill share your detailed views, by following the submission link below, on specific provisions of the Bill What does the legislation do? It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It... More
    Opened 1 April 2022
  • Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

    This call for views is now closed. You can r ead the submissions by accessing them here . The Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee wants your views on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill. What does the legislation do? It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. This became an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. This Bill replaces the 2002 Act. It will still be an offence to... More
    Opened 1 April 2022
  • Environmental Common Frameworks

    Background During the UK’s membership of the European Union, the UK Government and devolved administrations were required to comply with EU law. This ensured that in many policy areas, including some that are devolved, a broadly consistent approach was developed across all four nations of the United Kingdom. Following its exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020, the UK entered a transition period which ended on 31 December 2020. Throughout the transition period, all parts... More
    Opened 20 April 2022
211 results. Page 3 of 7