Scottish Parliament Committee News

Issue 106, 16th September 2003

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee did not meet last week.

At today’s meeting, the Committee will discuss its inquiries into the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the AGS Report into Individual Learning Accounts and GP Prescribing.

 

Communities Committee
At its last meeting, the Committee agreed its approach to pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Executive Bill on anti-social behaviour and agreed to make a bid to the Conveners’ group for funding for a number of fact-finding visits across Scotland.  It also agreed its approach to the Executive’s consultation on draft subordinate legislation.

 

Education Committee
Last week’s evidence on the Additional Support for Learning Bill came from academics from Glasgow, Strathclyde and Stirling Universities. There was also consideration of a document on the provision of therapy services in schools and an initial discussion about the budget.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee took evidence from Andrew Cubie on the Scottish Solutions Inquiry.  He stated his concerns that, if top up fees go ahead in England and Wales, there is a danger that staff will be poached by more affluent universities.  He noted the importance of stakeholders and their contributions e.g. businesses, universities and graduates.

The Committee also decided the Inquiries it intends to hold: Renewable Energy and Entrepreneurship & Business Growth.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee 
In a development which raised a few eyebrows, Green MSP, Eleanor Scott, last week voted against a statutory instrument to conserve Scotland’s scallops stocks. Fellow Committee member, Alasdair Morrison (LAB), was somewhat surprised by her decision, averring that when Green Party members found out they would be “burlin’ in their sandals”.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Committee has agreed its approach to the European Year of Disabled People.  It also last week agreed to take evidence on civil partnership registration legislation and in the first instance to write to the Minister for Justice to clarify the Executive’s proposals.

 

European and External Relations Committee
The Committee heard evidence from Minister for Finance and Public Services, Andy Kerr, on the EU’s forthcoming agenda, the priorities of the Scottish Executive and the external relations strategy.

It also discussed proposals for an ongoing review of the debate on the development of a new framework for regional development and the future of European structural funds.

 

Finance Committee
Last week saw evidence on the Financial Memorandum relating to the Vulnerable Witnesses Bill.  The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and Scottish Court Service were invited to comment on the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s submission before the next meeting of the Committee (today).

The Committee also agreed to meet outside Edinburgh on 10th November 2003 to hear evidence for stage two of the budget process 2004-05.

 

Health Committee
The Committee invited Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, to its last meeting.  Members questioned the Minister on the Primary Medical Services Bill and the concerns which had been raised with them on the lack of Public Consultation. The Minister also confirmed that compensation payments for Hepatitis C sufferers would be backdated to 29th August.  The Committee also took evidence from the Association of Local Health Councils.

 

Procedures Committee
Last week members debated the previous Committee’s Inquiry into the Constitutional Steering Group’s founding principles. They also discussed the leak of the draft report on the proposals to change the time of FMQs.

 

Standards Committee

As was reported in the media, the Committee took oral evidence last week from SNP MSPs Kenny MacAskill and Trisha Marwick, as well as former MSPs John McAllion and Dorothy Grace Elder.  The evidence related to a complaint made by Ms Grace Elder about a file of papers which Ms Marwick and Mr MacAskill refused to return to her.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee

The Committee considered the delegated powers provision of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.  Most discussion was about section 271N (1) which confers powers on the Scottish Ministers to extend by statutory instrument the special measures provisions in sections 271 to 271 M to proceedings in the district court.  It was agreed to ask the executive why district courts are being dealt with differently to the High Court.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Justice 1 Committee

Justice 2 Committee

Local Government and Transport Committee

Public Petitions Committee

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