Committee News

Issue 3, 4^th July 2000

Finance

Finance Committee discussed the issue of Partnerships UK, the subject of a Sewell motion last Thursday. SNP members of the Committee raised issues and queries at some length, for example on where the money is coming from, why the Scottish Executive is taking a stake, and why this issue has been introduced at this point in the year.

Jack McConnell appeared before the Committee for the eighth time this year.

Rural Affairs

Last week, the committee heard from John Home Robertson, and discussed the outcome of public consultation on the draft Forestry Strategy for Scotland. The committee considered a report by Elaine Murray and agreed to adopt the report as the response from the Committee to the Digital Scotland Taskforce Report.

This week the committee will further consider the Friends of the Earth petition on GM crops and are expected to hear from the Minister for rural affairs on this issue. In private, they will consider the objectives of a proposed fisheries inquiry.

Transport and Environment

The Committee has now taken evidence from a large number of organisations at Stage 1 of the Transport Bill.

They are also considering the terms of what will be a wide-ranging inquiry into the water industry – resources, environmental protection, and pricing are all on the agenda.

Evidence is also being taken on an inquiry into concessionary fares.

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning

Last week, the committee agreed a work programme for their inquiry ‘Impact of the New Economy’ which would include a meeting of the Committee in the premises of a private business; (IBM in Greenock) and hosting an e-business seminar bringing together around 20 young e-business entrepreneurs to discuss current and future issues.

The committee also considered progress on its investigations on fuel prices, and agreed—

• that the Convener would write to the Scottish Executive, seeking details of work it has undertaken in relation to these issues, and contacts it has made;
• that the sub-group, previously set up to meet with the oil companies, should meet with the remaining oil companies and the Petrol Retailers Association and report back to the Committee;
• that the Clerk should provide a note for consideration on the Office of Fair Trading’s Report due to be published soon; and
• to consider the issue further in the Autumn.

European

An exemption for the UK has now been agreed on the European Water Framework Directive, as requested by the committee.

This is seen as good news for the whisky industry, who had argued that they extract most water for cooling purposes and return it to the environment.

The private sessions on Structural Funds are still continuing.

Local Government

Last week, the committee took extensive evidence from trade unions on issues affecting trade unions and local authorities. The committee also agreed a number of changes to Stage 1 of the Transport Bill, which they will convey to the Transport and Environment committee.

This week, the committee is taking evidence from Richard Kerley on the Renewing Local Democracy report issued last week.

Social Inclusion, Housing and THE Voluntary Sector

Last week, the committee continued drafting their report into housing stock transfer. The report is now provisionally due in the next couple of weeks. The report is expected to include a minority position from members of the SNP.

This week, the committee will hear a report from Robert Brown on the Family Homes and Homelessness Bill which he has introduced.

Equal Opportunities

Last week, the committee was satisfied with the evidence they took from Jim Wallace on ‘Towards a Just Conclusion’. This week, the committee will hear evidence from Jackie Baillie on a report on responses to the consultation paper Towards an Equality Strategy. The report identifies a broad endorsement of the proposed Equality Strategy, with general agreement on the aims and objectives. The report does highlight areas for debate and development, such as the need for clear action planning, targets and objectives and monitoring of progress; the importance attached to training, development and promotion and; adequate resources, all issues likely to arise in today’s committee discussion. The report can be read by clicking on: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc16/tesr-00.asp

The committee will also take evidence on the Scottish Homes Race Equality Consultation.

Education, Culture and Sport

At last week’s meeting the committee considered correspondence from various sport organisations on the appropriate representation of disabled Scottish athletics at UK level, particularly in relation to funding bodies. The committee agreed to raise these concerns with Rhona Brankin.

The committee considered a report from Cathy Peattie on petition 175 about school closures in Argyll and Bute. This has been a highly sensitive political issue in Argyll and Bute, and it has been helpful to have a Labour MSP as reporter on this issue. Cathy’s report drew attention to the inadequacies in the consultation process conducted by Argyll and Bute council on the proposed school closures, and it was agreed to write to the council on these issues as a matter of urgency. The committee also noted the issue of Special Island Needs Allowance (SINA) for Argyll and Bute which the authority is pursuing with the Executive, temporarily suspending any school closures. It was agreed that the recommendations in Cathy Peattie’s report should be taken into account in any wider consideration of issues facing rural schools.

Karen Gillon’s report on sport in schools will be on the agenda of the first committee after recess.

Justice and Home Affairs

Stage 2 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill continues. This bill will return to the Chamber at the start of the Autumn session.

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