Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 117,
13th January 2004

 

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee met last week to discuss various reports from the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) including An Overview of the NHS in Scotland, Supporting Prescribing in General Practice and The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body’s Accounts.

The report on the NHS was presented by Robert Black, the Auditor General who noted, among other things, his concerns for the financial health of 4 Health Boards.

The Auditor General then proceeded to present his findings on the corporate body’s accounts.  There were various shortcomings found and his general conclusion was that there is a need for more effective leadership in the SPCB’s finance department.

 

Communities Committee
The Committee continued to take Stage 1 evidence on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill. This week, two panels of witnesses gave their views.  Panel 1 consisted of members of the Gael Og Mentoring Project, NCH Scotland, CHOSI (Challenging Offending through Support and Intervention) and Barnardo’s Scotland. Panel two consisted of representatives from YouthLink Scotland; Children in Scotland and Glasgow Children’s Panel.

The Committee then considered its approach to the Bill at Stage 1 in private.

 

Education Committee
The Committee considered the Pupils' Educational Records (Scotland) Regulations 2003 under negative procedures and took evidence from representatives from the Scottish Executive on the measure.  The Committee agreed to make no recommendation to Parliament on the instrument.

The Committee also considered a summary of evidence and key themes on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee took evidence from the Institute for Energy Systems and Scottish Enterprise on its Inquiry into Renewable Energy.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee 
The Committee considered a negative instrument relating to the regulation of establishments keeping laying hens.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Committee agreed that it had no recommendation to make on the Race Relations Act 1976 Amendment Order 2003.  It also considered a draft report on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill in private.

 

European and External Relations Committee
Last week, members heard evidence from Dennis McShane MP, Minister for Europe.

The Committee Convener also updated the Committee on the letter received from the Scottish Executive on its policy toward the use of tripartite contracts and agreements between the EC, member states and local authorities.

 

Health Committee
The Health Committee met on Tuesday in Committee Room 1 where members took more Stage 1 evidence on the National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill.  Video evidence came from representatives of NHS Orkney. Evidence at Committee was taken on behalf of a number of Health Professions’ organisations, including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and also from Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Health and Community Care; Lorna Clark, the Bill Team Leader; and Iain Dewar, a Scottish Executive who is a member of the Bill Team.

The Committee also considered the Honey (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (Transitional Provisions and Revocation ) Order 2003.

 

Justice 1 Committee
Stage 1 evidence on the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill continues.  Last week’s meeting heard from, among others, the Faculty of Advocates, Victim Support Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal Society.

 

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill from offenders’ organisation, SACRO, Children’s organisations, the Centre for Law and Society at the University of Edinburgh, senior police officers and the Scottish Police Federation.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
Investigations into the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill continued with evidence from the Local Government Association, the Improvement and Development Agency, CoSLA, South Lanarkshire Council, the Councillors Remuneration progress Group and the Widening Access to Council Membership Progress Group.

 

Public Petitions Committee
New petitions considered at the last meeting covered topics including: the treatment by the justice system of those charged with rape or other sexual offences; affordable, accessible local transport available to disabled people; protection of school children when travelling on school trips at home or abroad; and prevention of attacks by seagulls in urban areas.  The Committee also gave further consideration to a number of current petitions.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee met last Tuesday and considered the response from the Scottish Executive on the Delegated Powers Scrutiny of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill.

The Committee also considered the following Draft Instruments subject to approval: The National Health Service (Distribution of Endowment Income Scheme)(Scotland) Regulations 2004, the Scottish Hospital Trust (Transfer of Property) Regulations and the Solvent Emissions (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Finance Committee
Procedures Committee
Standards Committee

 

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