Committee News
Issue 103,
Audit
Committee
Last week’s meeting
heard from the Auditor General on two issues.
The first was Individual Learning Accounts, where the Auditor General concluded that a number of measures could have been taken by public bodies to reduce the risk of fraud. Discussion included the failure to require accreditation of learning providers. A revised form of ILAs are set to be introduced in the next couple of years.
The second report, on mainstreaming of Special Needs Education, suggested that preparations are patchy across the country and that Scottish Parliament Committees may not have robust financial information on amendments to bills. Members had points to make regarding the educational aspects of the policy, but the Auditor suggested that these were not germane to his remit.
Environment and
Rural Development Committee
Evidence this week from all the parties concerned with the proposal of the Scottish Agricultural College to reduce
the number of its campuses.
European and
External Relations Committee
This week the Committee returns to the vexed issue of food supplements: the Executive has responded to the previous
Committee’s report pointing to the various derogations secured by the
The Committee will also
need to decide whether to respond to Chancellor Gordon Brown’s proposals
on regional policy. The
Treasury is suggesting that our response to the eastward flow of structural
funds after enlargement should be to return many state aids to the
Richard Lochhead (SNP) as Convenor is proposing a work programme that includes the constitutional convention, MEP numbers, and the Euro.
Finance Committee
There was great interest last week as the Committee heard from key players in
the Holyrood Project: Paul Grice,
Project Director Sarah Davidson, Robert Brown (LIB DEM) for the SPCB and John Home Robertson (LAB) for the Progress
Group. Fergus Ewing (SNP) first demanded commercially confidential
details of individual contracts, then pressed on whether Sir David Steel had
any knowledge of the latest cost increase during the election campaign.
Finally, he moved an amendment to subordinate legislation on the Budget trying
to tie in Holyrood, but won support only from John Swinburne
(SSCUP).
Health
Committee
There was further subordinate legislation on Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning last week. However, the meeting
began with a complaint from Carolyn Leckie (SSP), who demanded to be sent the Committee’s papers
in perpetuity, despite not being a member and the papers being freely available
on the Parliament’s website. As regards the topic itself, Conservative members were
opposed. There was no clear line from the SNP, with Christine Grahame
(SNP) voting in favour of the measure and Shona
Robison (SNP) abstaining.
This week the main topic
is the regulations implementing the Food Standards Directive. A campaigner and
Deputy Health Minister, Tom McCabe, give evidence. There will also be
more on hepatitis C compensation.
Justice 2 Committee
This week the
Committee will prepare for the Vulnerable
Witnesses Bill, published on Tuesday.
Public Petitions
Committee
The usual long list of issues this week, the highlights of which could include:
New petitions: independent appeals against the High Court; Historic Scotland grants; health hazards caused by seagulls; a single equality body; and prescription charges for asthma sufferers. There will also be a presentation from Falkirk FC supporters.
Existing petitions: compulsory blood testing of criminal suspects and a
presentation on the
Standards Committee
Last week the Committee discussed Cross-Party
Groups. There is ongoing research into CPGs,
but the immediate issue is with the current rules, which state that a CPG must have five members, but also that all parties with
seats on the Bureau must be represented – with the Greens and the SSP, this number is now six.
The Committee’s suggested holding position is that CPGs must have support from the four main parties plus one other, either a minor party or an independent. In these circumstances they are minded to waive the rule on recognition.
This week sees the outcome of a complaint against Kenny MacAskill (SNP) and Tricia Marwick (SNP).
Other Committee Homepages:
Communities Committee
Education
Committee
Enterprise &
Culture Committee
Equal Opportunities
Committee
Justice 1
Committee
Local Government and
Transport Committee
Procedures
Committee
Subordinate
Legislation Committee
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