The Scottish
Government’s final programme for this parliament is a modest affair in terms of
legislation, while seeking to address administratively some recent criticisms
of its performance in education, policing and the NHS.
The new bills of most
interest to UNISON members include:
Abusive Behaviour and
Sexual Harm Bill. Creates a new statutory
domestic abuse aggravator and a new offence of sharing private intimate
material. It will also enhance protections for victims of harassment. This
follows similar action in England and Wales on ‘revenge porn’ and should be
welcomed.
Budget Bill. The spending review will be truncated this year as the Scottish
Government decides to await the UK ‘autumn’ statement. While the shorter
consultation has been criticised by some, I think it’s sensible to see the
whole picture, particularly at a time when the UK government are again cutting
spending. It would be helpful if the UK government returned to a genuine autumn
statement, rather than what is now a
winter one.
Burial and Cremation Bill. This will implement the Bonomy Commission recommendations on the cremation
of infants and children with new regulation and inspection arrangements for
crematoria, burial authorities and the funeral industry.
Lobbying Bill. This aims to improve public awareness of lobbying activity and will
introduce a register of lobbying activity. It was Neil Findlay MSP’s members
bill that the government took over. As he said in parliament today, the late
introduction indicates a certain lack of enthusiasm for it.
Private Tenancies Bill. Introduces a Scottish Private Rented Tenancy and removes the
'no-fault' ground for repossession, meaning a landlord can no longer ask a
tenant to leave simply because the fixed-term has ended. There will be some protection
for tenants against excessive rent increases, including the ability to
introduce local rent controls for rent pressure areas. We will need to see the
detail, but it looks as if it will fall short of the calls in the ‘Living Rent’
campaign and elsewhere for stronger action on rent increases.
There will also be a Bill proposing a five-year term for the next
parliament to avoid a clash with UK elections.
Not all government action requires legislation and the programme
includes administrative action. Apart from the usual rhetoric, elements are
clearly aimed at diffusing criticism of the government’s performance.
A National Improvement Framework for Scottish Education is the government’s
response to the education debate on attainment. The key proposal is a new
system of national, standardised assessment of children in P1, P4, P7 and S3,
covering literacy and numeracy. The EIS have welcomed the fact that this is not
the English league table approach and local tests are already in place in most
areas. It is less clear if this really will make much difference in improving
educational attainment that is much more about poverty than school tests. The
government’s wider plans such as work with disadvantaged parents and library
membership, may contribute just as much.
The childcare hours entitlement is to be increased to 1140 hours a year
by 2020. While greater resource is welcome, we really need to think bigger as
set out in the UNISON Scotland childcare charter.
The challenges facing Police Scotland are to be addressed through a
review of national and local police governance. In addition, they will
implement the recommendations of the HMICS review of call handling and
statutory guidance on police stop and search. Cynics might well say that a
review is the Scottish Government’s standard response to difficult issues and
the claim that reform has “made policing in Scotland more accountable both
locally and nationally” is not credible.
As I said last week, the resignation of the Chief Constable and the SPA Chair
is an opportunity for a proper look at Police Scotland. It remains to be seen
if this is a serious review or just a cosmetic exercise. Scottish Labour’s own
review will be helpful in keeping up the pressure.
There will be a new National Clinical Strategy for the NHS following on
from the current ‘national debate’. Again, largely process at this stage and it
remains to be seen if the government is willing to take difficult decisions
about the location of services. Establishing an independent national officer to
review the handling of whistleblowing cases aims to strengthen the
whistleblowing arrangements for NHS Scotland staff. New investment is also to
be targeted on child and adolescent mental health services in response to
recent concerns. The section on social care is really disappointing. It simply
doesn’t set out the radical action needed to deal with crumbling local services.
Local government gets scant mention in the programme. In fairness, big
issues like reform of local taxation await the report of the Commission
established to develop a cross party consensus. Yet another review of planning
to ‘streamline etc’ will be greeted wearily by planning staff.
When further powers are devolved the Government will introduce a Social Security Bill to mitigate the
impact of UK Government welfare cuts and abolish the bedroom tax. There is also
a welcome commitment to abolish Employment Tribunal fees.
While there is nothing specific on the Trade Union Bill, ministers have
said that facility time and check off is the prerogative of Scottish Ministers.
The Scottish Labour leader supported this view and urged the government to
demand a Legislative Consent Motion on these aspects of the Bill. As I said at
the STUC conference last week, this is vital if we are to get these issues
shifted to Holyrood and take practical action. She also made some
strong points about the role of trade unions and the right to strike. This is
an issue that many politicians duck, but she made a clear linkage between that
right and not just better pay and conditions, but better public services. I covered
related issues in my article in today’s Scotsman.
Kezia Dugdale’s response to the programme was measured and avoided the
oppositionalism of her predecessors. She highlighted the weaknesses in the
government’s record, given the length of time they have been in office, but
supported sensible measures. The key message was that we should move on from
complaining about what we can’t do, to being ambitious about what we can do.
Overall, no big surprises in this programme. There is a welcome
consensus on many practical issues and probably a clearer indication of the
battle lines in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
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