The Scottish Parliament- your questions answered

HOW WILL SCOTLAND GET ITS OWN PARLIAMENT?
For the first time in nearly 300 years Scotland will have its own law making Parliament. The Scotland Bill was published in December 1997 and is due to receive Royal Assent by Summer 1998. The first Scottish General Election will take place on 6 May 1999 with the Scottish Parliament fully operational by the year 2000.

WHAT IS THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING'S RESPONSE?
The RCN is the voice of Scottish nursing representing over 31,000 registered nurses in Scotland. It broadly welcomes the proposals on health contained in the Scotland Bill. The RCN believes the Scottish Parliament can reflect the different health needs and priorities of the Scottish people. The Scottish Parliament will create significant opportunities for nurses to influence the development of distinctive Scottish health policies which can deliver better patient care.

WHAT POWERS WILL THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT HAVE?
The Scottish Parliament will have the power to pass laws on:
health, education, training, local government, social work, housing, economic development, many aspects of transport, the law and home affairs, the environment, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, sports and the arts.

WHAT POWERS WILL BE RESERVED AT WESTMINSTER?
The Scotland Bill lists all powers which will be reserved at the UK Parliament in Westminster. They include: constitution, defence, foreign policy, employment, social security, common markets for UK goods and services, regulation of certain professions, transport safety, gambling and the National Lottery, data protection, and equality legislation.

WHAT POWERS WILL THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT HAVE IN RELATION TO HEALTH?
The Scottish Parliament will have responsibility for the NHS in Scotland (NHSiS), including public and mental health, the education and training of health professionals and the terms and conditions of service of NHS staff and general practitioners.

WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL THAT MAKE?
The Scottish Parliament will have a big impact. As well as being able to pass laws in relation to the NHSiS, it will also be able to decide on the most appropriate health management structures, lead the public debate about health issues in Scotland and hold the Scottish Office Department of Health and the NHS Management Executive to account. It is likely there will be a separate Scottish health select committee. The Scottish Health Minister will have nursing advice from the Scottish Chief Nursing Officer.

HOW  WILL IT AFFECT MY NURSE REGISTRATION?
As a qualified nurse registered with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) you will be subject to the one UK-wide system of registration and regulation. This is in line with the provisions for other health professions such as doctors and dentists. The RCN has welcomed this as patients are entitled to expect the same high standards of care from nurses, wherever in the UK they are receiving that care.

ARE THERE ANY HEALTH RELATED MATTERS RESERVED AT WESTMINSTER?
Yes. The control and safety of medicines - as well as abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, and genetics - will be matters for UK-wide regulation.

HOW WILL THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BE FUNDED?
As happens with the Scottish Office at present, the Scottish Parliament will receive a block grant from the UK Treasury. The block grant will continue to be determined by the population based "Barnett" formula. This ensures that any changes in Scottish public spending are in line with any changes to comparable English spending programmes. In other words, if the English health budget increases by a certain amount there will be a proportionate increase for the Scottish health budget. There will be a Scottish Consolidated Fund (SCF) into which the UK government will make payments.

HOW WILL THE TAX VARYING POWERS WORK?
The Scottish Parliament will be able to vary income tax by up to 3p in the £. By increasing income tax to the maximum allowed it would be possible to raise approximately £450 million in the current financial year. Any decision on whether to use the power and how to spend any additional resources would rest with the Scottish Parliament.

HOW WILL THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BE ELECTED?
There will be 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected by a system of PR using the Additional Member system. 73 will be directly elected using the existing Parliamentary constituencies (with one extra seat to give both Orkney and Shetland their own MSP). In addition, there will be 56 members seven from each of the eight European Parliamentary constituencies. This system is designed to ensure that the number of MSPs each party has reflects more accurately the votes received. If a party receives 20% of the votes they should receive approximately 20% of the MSPs.

HOW WILL THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WORK?
There will be a First Minister and Scottish Executive known as the Scottish Ministers, akin to the UK Prime Minister and Cabinet. The First Minister will make such appointments subject  to the agreement of the Parliament. There will be a Presiding Officer, akin to the Speaker of the House of Commons. It will be for the Scottish Parliament  to decide its own standing orders and procedures. A consultative steering group, with representatives of each of the political parties and drawn from the public, voluntary and private sectors and under the chairmanship of the Devolution Minister, Henry McLeish is currently examining what these might be.

WHAT IS THE RCN DOING?
The RCN Scottish Board has a Parliamentary and Media Office, based in Edinburgh to meet the opportunities and challenges which the Scottish Parliament will bring. The RCN is attending each of the 1998 Scottish Political Party Conferences where there will be an RCN fringe meeting with the RCN Scottish Board Secretary and the party health spokespeople. There's also an exhibition stand for delegates to visit. Later in the year the RCN will be publishing its own Scottish Health Manifesto. In addition the RCN will be encouraging nurses to play their full part in the democratic process up to and beyond polling day for the Scottish Parliament.

WHAT CAN I DO?

• You can write to prospective MSPs
• You can initiate a local debate or question time with prospective MSPs
• You can consider standing for the Scottish Parliament
• You can request more information and receive advice on how to lobby

Contact:
Jim Eadie,
Parliamentary & Media Officer,
RCN Scottish Board,
42 South Oswald Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 2HH.