Committee News
Issue 7, 19th September 2000
Rural Affairs Committee
Last week, the Committee agreed to the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Amendment (Scotland) Bill (Tavish Scott’s (Lib Dem) scallop protection measures) without amendment. The Bill now heads for its Stage 3 debate in the chamber.
The Committee will press on with its consideration of written evidence of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill. It is expected that Mike Rumbles (Lib Dem) will again propose that the Committee drops the Bill immediately without completing Stage 1.
Not letting the grass grow under their feet, the Committee will then be moving straight onto pre-legislative evidence from Scottish Executive officials on the Executive’s proposed Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill. The Bill was announced in Thursday’s statement on the legislative programme.
There will also be consideration of the much-publicised Petition PE96 on the environmental effects of sea cage fish farming, supported by environmental groups.
European Committee
This week sees the start of the Committee’s inquiry into football transfer fees, with evidence taken from an assortment of luminaries in the Scottish football establishment.
There will also be a report on the effect of fish diseases on aquaculture.
Subordinate legislation Committee
The only issue of possible interest this week concerns fishing with multiple trawls.
Health & Community Care Committee
For such a major topic, business on the health committee remains very quiet. The marathon inquiry into community care is finally coming to the end of evidence taking.
Audit Committee
Today at 1.45pm the Committee received copies of the Auditor General for Scotland’s report, "The New Scottish Parliament Building - an examination of the management of the Holyrood Project". Half an hour later, they began to hear evidence from the Auditor himself. This latest report on the building project covers the selection of sites and designs and the subsequent project control.
Local Government Committee
Business is fairly low key this week as the committee considers an update on progress of the covenant between local government and the Scottish Parliament. They will also examine several petitions, including one from Irvine Pensioners action group. Initially referred to the Social Inclusion committee, the petition calls for an inquiry into North Ayrshire’s sheltered housing. The SNP, and Mike Russell in particular, called for a committee review and assessment of the warden service on a national basis. By division, the Social Inclusion committee agreed to return the petition to Public Petitions.
Now appearing at the Local Government committee, the clerk advises that it would not be appropriate for the committee to become involved in an issue which is the responsibility of the local authority. However, the SNP may pursue this issue.
Transport and Environment Committee
The Committee will be hearing evidence from environmentalists on genetically modified organisms. There will also be consideration of Petition PE96 on the environmental effects of sea cage fish farming.
Justice & Home Affairs Committee
As always, Justice is dealing with a plethora of issues.
Last week’s evidence from the Chief Inspector of Prisons did not answer issues around potential ECHR challenges to prison conditions. Slopping out is an obvious concern but there are other rights issues such as distance to families. All such factors may come into play with any future new build establishments.
Evidence taking on the Leasehold Casualties Bill was straightforward. As anticipated, the issue of compensation for leaseholders was raised. It was stressed that the anticipated level of compensation is not high, and that it will ensure that there is no ECHR challenge.
This week sees an interesting move from Phil Gallie (Con), an attempt to annul the statutory instrument closing three prisons and young offenders’ institutions.
However, even if the committee supported him, he has made two errors. Firstly, Parliament must annul an instrument within 40 days and that period would be up before Parliament had time to debate it, so his victory would be pyrrhic. Secondly, at least one of the institutions has already closed.
On this week’s agenda are:
Wild Mammals Bill – the committee will be considering the bill narrowly, only examining the competence of the provisions which would create a new criminal offence. However, this is important since many of those opposing the general principles of the bill regard the drafting of these clauses as a fatal flaw.
Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill – the committee considers the bill at stage 2 this week. On the issue of commencement dates, the Executive remains committed to bringing forward alternative forms of diligence by December 2002.
Domestic Violence Bill - Discussions have taken place with the minister as to whether all breaches of interdict should be criminal offences. Committee members prefer a closer definition of which relationships and circumstances should be included.
Legal Aid Inquiry – the committee considers an adviser this week. One issue for the inquiry will be the reasons for the reduction in applications for civil legal aid.
Procedures Committee
Last week’s huge agenda produced a number of significant issues.
Remit of the subordinate legislation committee - Kenny MacAskill (SNP) is seeking to widen this. There is a case to be made, but concerns have been raised that this may lead to unnecessary delays to Executive legislation.
Convenors liaison group – this now has formal powers and can make decisions on issues such as the allocation of resources. However, it can only proceed by consensus not votes.
Committee procedure – a number of issues are being discussed including substitutes.
Non-executive bills – a unit has been set up to assist members. But with staffing limited, a decision will be required as to who prioritises the work.
Amendments to general principles – the committee disagreed with Tricia Marwick. (SNP) Amendments which are effectively a direct negative of a bill will still be regarded as reasonable at stage 1.
Video evidence – this will be allowed but video-conferencing will be favoured to allow for interaction.
SPCB and Bureau minutes – Lloyd Quinan (SNP) is seeking the publication of more or less verbatim reports, but this seems unlikely to happen.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
Last week the Committee agreed the remit of its inquiry into the Governance of the SQA, which will look at the current governance arrangements at SQA, whether these lead to current difficulties, and possible better models.
This week the Committee will begin its inquiry into the governance of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, hearing evidence from a number of Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Officials.
Education, Culture and Sport Committee
Currently receiving written evidence for their school exam results inquiry, this week the committee are concentrating on the National Cultural Strategy by taking evidence from Rhona Brankin. (Lab, Dep Min for Culture & Sport) Also, as Karen Gillon (Lab) and Lewis Macdonald (Lab) are otherwise occupied, the committee welcome two new members, Johann Lamont (Lab) and Cathy Jamieson (Lab), and elect a Deputy Convenor from the Labour Party.
Equal Opportunities Committee
At last week’s brief meeting, the committee agreed to defer a discussion on the issue of single sex schools, in particular Notre Dame, until Johann Lamont (Lab), committee reporter on gender issues, was present. The issue would be put on the agenda for the next meeting. The committee also considered their input into forthcoming and progressing legislation.
Social Inclusion, Housing & Voluntary Sector Committee
The Social Inclusion committee is taking evidence from Cathy Craigie (Lab), the Law Society and the Edinburgh in Court Advice Project on the Mortgage Rights Bill, Family Homes and Homelessness Bill, and the Executive’s Housing Bill proposals. The committee will also consider a draft report of their inquiry into Drug Abuse and Deprived Communities, now expected towards the end of October.
Finance Committee
Last week the Committee looked at the financial implications of the Transport Bill. Complaints were made by members about the lack of information in the Bill’s Financial Memorandum but in spite of this they approved the Bill’s Financial Provisions.
This week the Committee will spend some time on its inquiry into European Structural Funds, and will consider a paper on the autumn review of the 2001/02 Budget Process.
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