Committee News
Issue 101, 25th March 2003
Audit Committee
Last week the Committee received a briefing from the Auditor
General for Scotland on the report "Individual Learning
Accounts in Scotland" and considered its approach to the
report. The report reviews possible cases of irregular claims
under the last scheme and says the Executive should consider how
to safeguard the intended new scheme from fraud and improper
activity.
The Committee considered further responses from the Scottish Executive on "Overview of the 2001/02 Water Authority Audits", the "Measuring Up" follow up report on SEPA, and "How Government Works in Scotland." On water authority audits, the Executive says Scottish water intends to improve collection rates through Service Level Agreements with local authorities. On SEPA, the Executive agrees with the Committee that methods of verification on performance results must be improved.
Finally, in private, it considered a draft report on its Inquiry into Dealing with Offending by Young People.
Education, Culture & Sport
Committee
The Committee met last week to take further evidence on the Gaelic
Language Bill, prior to its consideration at Stage 2.
Following the decision of the Bureau that there would not be time
to complete the bill at Stage 3 this session it has now been
shelved.
This week the Committee moves on to consider three separate items. Firstly, the Executive’s response to its report on School Closures – it has met with CoSLA, decided to wait until the publication of the School Estates Strategy before making any further decisions and will meet again shortly. Secondly members will look at a report on Early Years Education from Ian Jenkins (LIB DEM), and lastly they will report on the launch of Sport 21.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
Last week the Committee received a briefing on entrepreneurship
for young people from pupils from Cumbernauld as well as
from Schools Enterprise. The papers include details of the
schools enterprise programme.
The Committee also heard from entrepreneurs, including Tom Hunter, on improving entrepreneurial opportunities. In a submission he urged MSPs to back the Executive’s review of enterprise in education.
The Committee also took evidence from Future Skills Scotland. Finally, it heard from the Institute of System Level Integration on the House of Lords Select Committee on the Science and Technology Report - "Chips for Everything". They want to see the achievements of their Alba Centre in Livingston highlighted in the government’s response to the report and advocate the Centre to take a leading role in taking forward the report’s recommendations in developing UK wide initiatives in the computing / electronics industry. The Committee agreed to write to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt and Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell highlighting its concerns about the impact of the Select Committee's recommendations on the work of the ISLI and recommending that serious consideration be given to establishing a UK wide national research institute in system-on-chip design based at the ISLI. It also agreed to write to Scottish Enterprise seeking information on the consultation process which took place between Scottish Enterprise and ISLI prior to its written submission to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry.
European Committee
The Committee now rejoices in the title of "European &
External Affairs".
Amidst this week’s routine papers it is worth noting that a response may be made to the UK review of regional policy recently launched by Chancellor, Gordon Brown.
The Committee will also consider in private its report on corporate social responsibility and a report from Helen Eadie (LAB) on the directive on food supplements and herbal medicines.
Health & Community Care Committee
Last week the Committee considered the Executive's response
to petitions on consultations by NHS boards on acute services
reviews. The Committee agreed to take no further action with
regard to them.
In private, the Committee considered possible future action on Hepatitis C, and a draft response to the current consultation on the OFT report on retail pharmacies.
This week, the Committee will consider a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions on Hepatitis C and further consider possible future action.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week the Committee considered:
This week’s meeting begins with subordinate legislation: one instrument gives police boards a 6% funding increase, another concerns new regulations on civil legal aid.
Correspondence from Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, sets out his view that meeting the concerns of the Carbeth Hutters would be contrary to the principles of Scots property law.
The Committee’s legacy paper argues that there should only be one large Justice Committee in the second term – 15 members are mentioned.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s meeting took evidence from Deputy Justice
Minister, Hugh Henry, on the UK Sexual Offences Bill,
the subject of a Sewel motion last Thursday. The provisions
relevant to Scotland concern the re-enactment and extension of
registration, notification, and restriction requirements on sex
offenders.
Local Government Committee
The Committee meet last week to consider subordinate
legislation.
Public Petitions Committee
The Committee heard last week from the James Connolly society
on the need for a Scottish Human Rights Commission –
the society's proposals differ from the Executive’s in that
they feel that the Scottish Human Rights Commission should have
the right to take up cases in its name. The Committee will write
to the Executive on this point. The next petition, lodged by
members of "British Victims of Abortion" was concerned
with the information given to women considering an abortion and
argued that not enough information was provided on the
possibility of emotional trauma. The Committee agreed to write to
the Executive requesting information on the written material and
counselling available to those considering abortion.
The next petition, from the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum, asked for a Public Inquiry to be established into the contaminated blood case. The Committee agreed to refer this to the Health & Community Care Committee with its strong recommendation that there should be a Public Inquiry. A petition on the OFT report on Pharmacies was also sent to that Committee.
Current petitions of interest included those on the Scottish Transport Group Pension Fund – it was agreed to ask Deputy Transport Minister, Lewis Macdonald, to meet representatives of the pensioners and interested MSPs; three petitions on autistic spectrum disorder - which are to be referred to the Health & Community Care Committee; and a petition on the accessibility of taxis to disabled people which it was agreed to refer to the Transport & Environment Committee.
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm
Committee
The Consideration Stage
(aka Stage 2) continues this week.
Rural Development Committee
The Committee has a range of subordinate legislation this
week and takes evidence on the Scottish Agricultural College.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
No Official Report for last week’s meeting, which began
with a group of petitions challenging Scottish Natural
Heritage’s procedures for designating sites. The
petitions outline complaints from communities in the islands that
socio-economic factors are being overridden by concern for rare
birds (specifically hen harriers and raingeese). However, the
Executive pointed out that European law requires that only
ecological factors be taken into account. The Committee noted
that these matters can be considered in the context of the
forthcoming Nature Conservation Bill.
A petition complaining about the proposed water treatment works near Milngavie was set aside.
Deputy Transport Minister, Lewis Macdonald, spoke to the UK Railways & Transport Safety Bill, subject of a Sewel motion last Thursday. The devolved matters are drug and alcohol testing of mariners.
This week’s meeting deals with subordinate legislation.
Other Committee Homepages:
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
Finance Committee
National Galleries of Scotland Bill Committee
Procedures Committee
Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) Bill Committee
Social Justice Committee
Standards Committee
Subordinate Legislation Committee
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