The Scottish Government has announced its legislative programme for parliamentary session 2012 - 2013. The Scottish Government plans to introduce 15 new bills to the Scottish Parliament. The proposed Bills are (in alphabetical order):
| Bill | Proposed Content |
1.
| Adult Health and Social Care Integration Bill
| To reform planning and provision of adult health and social care services. The Bill will seek to improve integration between delivery partners such as health boards and local authorities in delivering nationally agreed outcomes for services, as well as improving the commissioning and planning of adult services. |
2.
| Bankruptcy Bill
| To modernise Scottish personal bankruptcy law, in particular the processes of debt relief and debt management. |
3.
| Better Regulation Bill
| The Bill will contain a range of measures to improve regulation, including introduction of national regulation systems and standards, and a range of specific reforms to areas such as the planning and environmental regulation regimes.
Further information can be found in our Alert:
Scottish Government Consultation on Proposals for a Better Regulation Bill
Scottish Government Consultation on Planning Fees and the Extension of a Statutory Appeal Mechanism |
4.
| Budget Bill
| The annual Budget Bill sets out the Scottish Government's spending plans for the approval of the Scottish Parliament. |
5.
| Children and Young People Bill
| The Bill reform the legislative basis for provision of services to children and young people. It will also seek to improve transparency and accountability in the public sector's approach to children's' rights and provide for a minimum of 600 hours of free early learning and childcare provision. |
6.
| Criminal Justice Bill
| To reform and modernise the system of investigation and prosecution of crime, following on from the findings of expert reviews of criminal procedure and sheriff and jury procedures. |
7.
| Forth Estuary Transport Authority Bill | The Bill will set out a coordinated and cost-effective approach to management and maintenance of the existing Forth Road Bridge and the new Forth Crossing. |
8.
| Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Bill
| Following the devolution of Stamp Duty Land Tax powers in the Scotland Act 2012 the Bill will set out the proposed Scottish replacement tax and how this will operate.
Further information can be found in our Alert:
Scotland Act 2012 receives Royal Assent
Scotland Act 2012 |
9.
| Landfill Tax Bill
| Following the devolution of Landfill Tax powers in the Scotland Act 2012 the Bill will set out the proposed replacement Scottish Landfill Tax and how it will operate.
Further information can be found in our Alert:
Scotland Act 2012 receives Royal Assent
Scotland Act 2012 |
10.
| Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill | The Bill will allow same-sex couples to marry and civil partnerships to be registered through a religious ceremony, while permitting religious bodies to opt out of same-sex ceremonies. |
11.
| Post-16 Education Reform Bill
| To introduce reforms to post-16 education provision in Scotland, including measures on the structure and provision of higher education establishments, college regionalisation and widening access to higher education. |
12.
| Procurement Reform Bill
| The Bill will provide for wide-ranging reforms to public procurement procedures in Scotland.
Further information can be found in our Alert:
Scottish Government publishes its consultation on the Procurement Reform Bill |
13.
| Referendum Bill
| The Bill will make provision for holding a referendum on Scottish independence. The Bill will set out matters such as the referendum date, electoral franchise and oversight procedures.
Further information can be found in our Alerts:
Consultations on Scotland's constitutional future
UK Government summary of consultation responses on Scotland's constitutional future |
14.
| Tribunals Bill
| To establish a new legislative framework for tribunals which determine matters within devolved competence, including provisions to reform tribunal structures and appeals. |
15.
| Victims and Witnesses Bill | The Bill will set out measures to improve support for victims of crime and witnesses, including better access to measures such as use of CCTV in court. |
Comment
This is a wide-ranging legislative programme which will, if and when the proposed Bills are enacted and their provisions implemented, introduce substantial reforms to many public sector areas. The Scottish Government has already consulted on measures proposed to be included in several of the Bills and further consultations will follow. Certain of the Bills, notably the Referendum Bill, will of course be very high profile and others will be controversial. But also of note for the public sector are the proposed reforms to areas such as procurement, regulation by public authorities, landfill and land taxes.
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