Salmond unveils bill programme
5 Sep 07
Total of 11 bills shows "legislative restraint"
First Minister Alex Salmond today set out his government's legislative programme for the coming year, while asking the public "never to confuse that legislative activity - important as it is - with the totality of what government can achieve".
Of particular interest to the legal profession will be the Interest on Debt and Damages (Scotland) Bill, which follows recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission, the Judiciary (Scotland) Bill, which could see a debate on whether it is necessary to legislate for judicial independence, and the Rape and Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, which will redefine these offences and address the low conviction rate in rape cases.
Mr Salmond said: "In truth, most people already believe there is too much legislation and yearn for a more considered and more restricted approach. I embrace that sense of legislative restraint.
"It is not the purpose of government to legislate - rather it is for government and parliament to legislate with a purpose."
Mr Salmond said the three objectives of his government were to win and retain the trust of the people, by showing competence and direction in the day to day business of government; to be a government based on principle but able to move with mainstream opinion to build consensus in the public interest; and to provide the vision to restore belief in the power of democratically elected Government to effect change.
The full list of proposed bills is:
Abolition of Tolled Bridges (Scotland) Bill
Public Health (Scotland) Bill
Graduate Endowment (Abolition) (Scotland) Bill
Interest on Debt and Damages (Scotland) Bill
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bill
Budget (Scotland) Bill
Judiciary (Scotland) Bill
Local Healthcare (Scotland) Bill
Creative Scotland Bill
Rape and Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill
Flooding Prevention (Scotland Bill)
Ministers will also consider what support they can offer to the two members' bills being proposed by Jamie McGrigor and Ken McIntosh, on creating a register of tartans and restricting sunbed use respectively.