(415)  SOME PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED ITEMS IN 2004 –  

SOME PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED ITEMS IN 2004 –  

(1) The Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 18 November 2004.  The aim of the bill is to make it an offence to prevent or stop a child under the age of 2 being fed milk in a public place or licensed premises, where the child is otherwise lawfully permitted to be.  The Bill introduces a fine of up to £2,500 for a person who deliberately prevents or stops a person from bottle-feeding or breastfeeding a child in a public place. The Bill also amends the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to impose duties on Ministers to support and encourage mothers to breastfeed their children.  See further –

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsInProgress/breastfeeding.htm.  

(2) The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill was introduced at Holyrood on 16 December 2004 by the Minister of Health, Andy Kerr.  The Bill’s most publicised provision is the prohibition of smoking in certain wholly enclosed places such as pubs and restaurants.  This follows examples already set in New York and Ireland in an attempt to improve public health and amenity.  The Bill will also amend the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 to allow persons other than the registered medical practitioner primarily responsible for the treatment of an adult to authorise medical treatment; to include ‘healthcare professionals’ (dentists, ophthalmic opticians and registered nurses) who will, however, only be allowed to certify for treatment in respect of their own specialist area.  See further http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsInProgress/smokehealthcare.htm.

(3 The proposed buyout of the Glenelg-Kyle Rhea ferry by the Glenelg community remains undetermined so far as Scots Law News is aware.  The bid failed to gain support from the Land Fund, and talks with Highland Council about possible funding have yet to produce any conclusion.  The Council welcomed the abolition of the Skye Bridge toll, but in its press release drew attention to the importance of marketing the Mallaig-Armadale ferry for tourism in the Gaelic Ring of Sleat