Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 114,
2nd December 2003

 

Audit Committee
The Committee considered a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) on his report on hospital catering.  It agreed its approach and decided not to undertake an inquiry at this stage.  It also reported on the outcome of its meeting with the convenors of the finance and procedures Committee regarding the AGS report into the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs into mainstream schools.  On this issue it agreed to proceed with an inquiry on the basis outlined in the report and to consider an initial paper on research options at a future meeting.

The Committee also considered a draft report on Individual Learning Accounts in Scotland and Supporting Prescribing in General Practice.

 

Education Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill from various disability organisations.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The meeting focussed on questions to Scottish Enterprise on the progress in developing the Institutes for Intermediary Technology (ITIs).  The Executive outlined how the ITIs would turn research into commercial advantages for Scottish companies. They reported that they are still looking for a Chief Executive for the Energy ITI based in Aberdeen. Then, in private, the Committee considered its draft report on its Scottish Solutions Inquiry.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee 
The Committee took evidence from Scottish Natural Heritage on the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill and considered various items of subordinate legislation.

 

Finance Committee
The Committee discussed the Economic Development Crosscutting Review.  They also discussed the draft budget and Holyrood.

 

Health Committee
The Committee heard evidence from Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Tom McCabe, on the draft regulations for the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill.

 

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee took oral evidence in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill from various officials. The Committee also agreed to write to the Justice Minister and Scottish Criminal Records Office regarding the recommendations arsing from the Mackie case concerning fingerprint evidence in criminal cases.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee took evidence from the Strategic Rail authority on the rail industry in
Scotland.  The Committee also continued looking at the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill taking evidence from local authority officials from Stirling, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils as well as officials from the Scottish Children’s Reporters and from the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.

 

Public Petitions Committee
The Committee considered 8 new Petitions on topics ranging from the safety of shop workers, to the preservation of listed buildings, to the childhood vaccination programme, to bullying in schools.  It also gave further consideration to seven current petitions. 

However, the petition which generated most controversy was one from two prisoners at Peterhead Prison about its conditions.  Although a unified view resulted from the Committee meeting, there was concern about the actions of opposition justice spokespersons, Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) and Margaret Mitchell (CON), who had discussed the issue at length in the media prior to the meeting. 

 

Standards Committee
The Standards Committee agreed to establish a Cross Party Group (CPG) on Sexual Health and to review the remit of the CPG on Drugs Misuse. The Committee also considered a report from the board of the Scottish Parliament Business Exchange and considered two complaints in private.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee considered responses from the Scottish Executive on:

The Committee also considered a number of other instruments including the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, (Brazil Nuts) Emergency Control.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Communities Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Justice 1 Committee
Procedures Committee

 

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