Select here to go directly to the document text
11 March 2010  
Parliamentary Business Visit, Learn, Interact MSPs News, Media & Events About the Parliament
LIVE — all today's debates in the Chamber, including First Minister's Questions at midday
First Minister's Questions takes place at noon today when Alex Salmond MSP faces Members' questions in the Chamber.

Holyrood Highlights, our weekly programme looking at recent parliamentary business, is broadcast at 12.30pm, directly after FMQs.

Click on the picture to watch First Minister's Questions then Holyrood Highlights.
The video may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient.
Watch First Minister's Questions and Holyrood Highlights
Committee visits Fife as part of Housing Bill scrutiny
Council housing. Picture: David Hills/iStockphoto Fife was on the agenda for the Local Government and Communities Committee this week as it met with Fife Council and local tenants at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, to inform its scrutiny of the new Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Deputy Committee Convener Alasdair Allan MSP, said: “The meeting in Glenrothes was most constructive and we would like to thank everyone who attended for their valuable contributions, including Fife Council and representatives from the various tenants and housing associations.

"Tenants’ views on the right to buy and regulations for private and social landlords were particularly helpful.”
Find out more: News release on committee's visit to Glenrothes
Pupils put Parliament in spotlight
Craigmount pupils interviewing committee clerk Fergus Cochrane
Pupils from Craigmount High School in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, will be putting Holyrood in the media spotlight today with the broadcast online of a report about how young people engage with Parliament.

The initiative is part of the BBC News Schools Report project, which will see reports from hundreds of schools throughout the UK published on the BBC schools website.

In February six Craigmount pupils spoke to a range of people who work at Holyrood, including Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP and Margaret Smith MSP, their local constituency Member.
Find out more: BBC News School Report | Education Service
Today in the Chamber
Close-up of policeman's handcuffs
Business in the Chamber today includes:
• Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business on Management of Schools
General Question Time
First Minister’s Question Time
a Scottish Government debate on Serious and Organised Crime
Members’ Business from Des McNulty MSP on retention of continuing care beds at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice

More information on future meetings of parliament is available in the Business Bulletin.
Find out more: Holyrood.tv | The Chamber | Current and future parliamentary business
Parliament marks Commonwealth Day
Consuls general at the Commonwealth Day reception
A special Members’ debate for MSPs and a meeting for the Commonwealth members of the Consular Corp, hosted by the Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP, was held yesterday to mark Commonwealth Day, which took place on Monday.

Members debated current issues affecting the Commonwealth before meeting with Commonwealth representatives from across the world, including Australia, Namibia and Rwanda. Both events were organised by the Scotland Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Commonwealth Day is held annually on the second Monday in March. On that day, as Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty the Queen delivers an address to the Commonwealth, broadcast throughout the world.
Find out more: The Queen's Commonwealth Day message
NHS IT services are failing patients, warns health committee
Doctor takes notes on laptop computer. Picture: Sam Sefton/iStockphoto The Scottish Government must take action now to improve NHS computing systems as patients are missing out on better care and treatment, warns a report from the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee.

The report on the development of computer software in the NHS highlights the major issues the government must address if Scotland is to become the world leader in electronic health.

Issues to be tackled include the safeguarding of patient privacy, timescales and continuity for the national roll out of “telehealth” schemes and tackling resistance from medical staff in using technology.
Find out more: Read the news release on the committee's findings | Report on Clinical portal and telehealth development in NHS Scotland