Media Briefing - Nov 3, 2004
Morning
The First Minister's Official Spokesperson opened the
briefing by informing journalists the Deputy First
Minister, Jim Wallace, had updated Cabinet today on his
trade trip to the United States last week, which he said
had been extremely busy and also very successful.
The FMOS said Mr Wallace had told colleagues that he had
met with a number of companies who already have a presence
in Scotland, as well as others who he would like to
encourage to consider Scotland as a place to do
business.
He added that he had been pleased to learn that there
had been a strong view that Scotland is a good place to do
business.
The FMOS said this was followed by extensive discussions
around Cabinet on a number of areas where progress was
being made on delivery of the Partnership Agreement.
She said that Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, updated
colleagues on developments on a policy paper on crime,
while the Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, outlined his
plans to refresh the Smart, Successful Scotland document,
both of which are expected to be published before
Christmas.
She also advised that Cabinet had decided not to submit
an Executive amendment to the SNP's debate tomorrow on
Pensions. She said it was agreed that parties would submit
their own amendments.
Asked why was a policy paper on crime discussed, the
FMOS said the First Minister at the start of this session
had said a lot of work had been done on developing policy
over the last few sessions, but that he wanted a quickening
of pace on the actual delivery this session.
She said the First Minister had outlined the four key
areas that he wanted to see policy papers coming forward on
- Education, Crime, Health, and Smart Successful
Scotland.
Asked if this would include a draft Police Bill,
including proposals for laws on knife crime and violent
crime, the FMOS said that she couldn't go into details at
present. Asked if she could confirm whether it would look
at sentence remission, the FMOS said again she could not
discuss details, but she did advise that sentencing and
bail issues were being looked at by the Sentencing
Commission at present.
When asked if the policy paper would address the
proposal for a single agency, the FMOS said that there had
been in the Partnership Agreement a promise to consult on
the issue of a single agency.
She said this had then been widened when Ms Jamieson
announced that the consultation on re-offending would not
be limited to just proposals for a single agency, but on
the whole issue of integration of services.
Asked on timescale for publication of the policy papers,
the FMOS said as yet she could give no definite dates, but
that they would be published before Christmas.
When asked if the fact that there was no Executive
position n the SNP debate meant there was no agreement
between the coalition partners, the FMOS said that Cabinet
had agreed today there would not be an Executive position;
it would be for the individual parties to respond to the
SNP motion. She reminded journalists that the issue of
pensions was reserved and that the coalition partners may
have different views on the subject.
Smoking
When asked if Cabinet next week would be given an
'options' paper to discuss on smoking ban proposals, the
FMOS said that there would be a paper put before Cabinet
for debate next week.
She said it would be wrong for her to pre-empt what
would be included in that paper, although the paper would
probably include analysis of the consultation responses
which had prompted a record number of responses.
Asked if it were likely that one of the options would be
the proposal being looked at down south to look at a
licensing system for pubs and clubs, the FMOS said she
could no rule this out.
However she said she though it likely that there would
be other options put to Cabinet She also confirmed that the
First Minister still hoped to be in a position to make any
announcement on Wednesday after Cabinet if a decision had
been reached.
When asked if the scope of the ban was likely to include
the issue of exemptions from any ban, the FMOS said this
type of issue would be a matter for Cabinet.
Asked what legislative processes may be necessary to
introduce any ban; the FMOS said that would depend on what
Cabinet agreed as the way forward.
Asked what the likely timescale for implementation was,
the FMOS said we had already confirmed possible
introduction by March 2006.
Asked whether a Public Health Bill would be the likely
way forward, the FMOS said that Minister's were considering
the appropriate legislative processes to take forward
whatever Cabinet decides.
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