Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 113, 25th November 2003

 

Communities Committee
Last week, the Committee continued to take evidence on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

 

Education Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and considered a letter from the Minister for Education on reforming child protection in Scotland.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee considered a negative instrument, the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 Amendment Order 2003 (SSI 2003/487), but had no comment to make.  It also continued to take evidence on its Scottish Solutions Inquiry.  Witnesses included the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Lewis Macdonald.  The Committee also considered and agreed a paper on the structure and timetable for its inquiry into renewable energy.  Finally, it considered a paper on newly referred petitions on funding for renewable energy projects in Scotland and planning and environmental procedures for proposed wind farm developments.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee 
The Committee took evidence from various animal welfare and environmental agencies, as well as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Law Society of Scotland on Stage 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill.

The Committee also considered petitions on the impact of predatory birds on waders, songbirds, fish stocks and gamebirds; the control of odour from waste water treatment works; issues relating to the Scottish Agricultural College; fixed fishing quota allocations; and property rights.

 

European and External Relations Committee
The Committee discussed an options paper on the possible use in Scotland of all-postal voting in the next elections to the European Parliament.

It also reviewed the initial written evidence received so far on the Repatriation of European Regional Development Funding Inquiry and on the Promotion of Scotland Worldwide Inquiry.

Richard Lochhead (SNP) gave his convenor’s report and the Committee also welcomed Nora Radcliffe (LIB DEM) as its new member.

 

Finance Committee
The Committee took evidence on the financial memorandum of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and agreed its reports on the financial memoranda for the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill and the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Also at last week’s meeting, the Committee discussed the Scottish Commission for Public Audit’s (SCPA) Report on Audit Scotland’s Budget for 2004-05. The Committee disagreed by division (For 3, Against 5, Abstentions 0) to defer approval of the £1.175m VAT request within Audit Scotland’s budget for two weeks. The Committee agreed by division (For 5, Against 0, Abstentions 2) to a proposal to endorse the SCPA’s £1.175m VAT request; to write to the SCPA to endorse their actions under paras 10 and 13 of their report; and to inform the SCPA that the Finance Committee can undertake further scrutiny on this matter, including taking evidence, if the SCPA wishes.

 

Health Committee
A light meeting last week considered the Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2003, and the Food (Hot Chilli and Hot Chilli Products) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2003.  It had no recommendation to make on either negative instrument.

 

Justice 1 Committee
The Committee took evidence on sentencing and early release from prison.  It also agreed a motion approving the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Amendment (Scotland) Order 2003 and considered and noted the Victim Statements (Prescribed Offences) (Scotland) Amendment Order.  Lastly, The Committee considered whether to proceed with an inquiry into sentencing; agreed to hold an inquiry into the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes in prisons and agreed to seek to appoint an adviser for the inquiry. The Committee also agreed to monitor the progress of the Sentencing Commission and that its next inquiry would be into the resourcing and efficiency of the police.

 

Procedures Committee
The Committee took evidence from Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson, regarding oral questions in the Chamber.  Further to this, it considered the range of issues raised during the inquiry. It agreed to issue a short questionnaire seeking the views of members on options for including a thematic element in Question Time. It was also agreed that the Convener would write to the Executive and the Presiding Officer, seeking their views on the merits of a procedure similar to that available in the National Assembly for Wales where urgent questions may be lodged with less notice than is normally required.

 

Standards Committee
The Committee welcomed Brian Adam (SNP) as the new Convenor.                                             

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee considered the response from the Scottish Executive on the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill and agreed with it.  It also agreed to raise points on the following pieces of subordinate legislation:

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
Justice 2 Committee
Local Government and Transport Committee
Public Petitions Committee

 

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