Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 119, 27th January 2004

 

Audit Committee
The Committee last week considered arrangements for its forthcoming Inquiry into parliamentary scrutiny of the financial consequences of proposed legislation.

The Committee also took evidence in private from the senior management of Scottish Enterprise on the AGS Report on Scottish Enterprise.  It then agreed to write to Scottish Enterprise seeking further clarification on a number of issues and to consider a draft report at a future meeting.

Also in private, the Committee considered a draft report on its Inquiry into the AGS report entitled Supporting Prescribing in General Practice: A Progress Report and arrangements for its publication.  Finally, the Committee considered arrangements for its Inquiry into the report by the AGS entitled Overview of the National Health Service in Scotland and agreed to invite Accountable Officers from Borders and Ayrshire and Arran Health Boards to give evidence on the report, following the evidence session with Lothian Health Board.

 

Communities Committee
The Communities Committee looked likely to be lively last week, with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation giving evidence on the powers of dispersal in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.  Both stated their position against the policy of giving police more powers with the former claiming that the increased bureaucracy which would accompany these powers would make them ineffective.

Shop-workers’ union, USDAW, however, came out in strong support of the legislation.  In written evidence submitted to the Committee the union highlighted a number of appalling incidents where shop workers had been threatened and even attacked by gangs of people hanging around outside shops.  USDAW also maintained that many of their members feel that the police had insufficient powers to deal with people congregating outside shops perpetrating antisocial behaviour.

 

Education Committee
Last week’s meeting saw consideration of a draft stage one report on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and agreed its general principles.

It also took evidence on the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (Principal Teachers) Order 2003.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
Members met in Campbeltown where they continued their Inquiry into Renewable Energy.

 

European and External Relations Committee
The Committee heard evidence last week on the Repatriation of European Regional Development Funds and the UK Government's Proposals: An Inquiry into the Impact in Scotland. Evidence was taken from Frank Gaskell of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, among others.  There was also an update on the progress of the Inter-governmental Conference and a report from the Convener.

 

Finance Committee
The Committee took evidence on the financial memoranda of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill and the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill. A draft report on the investigation into Scottish Water was taken in private.

 

Health Committee
At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Health Committee considered a Sewel Motion on the UK Health Protection Agency Bill (currently under consideration in the House of Lords) and took evidence from Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Tom McCabe, thereon.  The motion will come to the Parliament in the next few weeks. 

 

Justice 1 Committee
The main item at last week’s meeting was a private discussion of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

 

Justice 2 Committee
Members considered petitions on a number of issues, including couping and resourcing for young people.  They also considered their approach to their report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee took evidence from Network Rail on the rail industry in
Scotland. The Committee also considered the draft of its report to the Communities Committee on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

 

Public Petitions Committee
The Petitions Committee met on Wednesday to consider six new petitions, including one from a group of school students from Dunfermline West who had collected signatures regarding the lenient sentencing of those accused of assaults on young people. Sarah Ner, Raylene Ford and Keith Thomas (all teenagers) gave a well received presentation on their petition.

Representatives from USDAW presented a petition in support of Karen Whitefield's (LAB) “Closure of shops on Christmas and New Years Day Bill”.

There was also a petition on funding for talented athletes in minority sports, which was led by a group of archers.

The Committee also gave further consideration to 6 current petitions.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Committee scrutinised delegated powers in the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill. They also considered a number of Instruments subject to annulment as well as a draft letter to the convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee on mainstreaming equality in the work of the Parliament's Committees.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
Procedures Committee
Standards Committee  

 

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