(60)  Scottish Parliament’s first legislative programme

The First Minister, Donald Dewar, announced the first legislative programme of the Scottish Parliament on 16 June 1999. There will be eight Bills. Three will deal with land issues: one on rights of access and the community right to buy, one on the abolition of feudalism, and one for national parks and sustainable development. There will also be a Local Government (Ethical Standards) Bill, an Incapable Adults Bill, a Transport Bill (providing for road-charging), a Financial Procedures and Auditing Bill (aimed at the accounting and auditing of the Scottish executive itself), and an Education Bill (designed to raise standards in local authority schools). It appears, however, that there will be no Scottish Freedom of Information Bill in the near future, although such a Bill for England and Wales has been introduced at Westminster.