Scottish Parliament Committee News
 Issue 120, 3rd February 2004

 

Communities Committee
The Committee took evidence from tenants’ associations from Dundee and Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.  These groups are in favour of the legislation but have some concerns as to the minor details.  In particular, both groups have raised the issue of the cost of ASBOs and the Dundee group raised a concern that the Bill did not go far enough, calling for a zero tolerance approach to ASB.   The Committee also considered its approach to the Bill at stage 1.

 

Education Committee
The Committee began its Inquiry into child protection by taking evidence from Children 1st; the Executive; Strathclyde Police; NHS Tayside and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.  The Committee also considered two pieces of subordinate legislation.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
Last week, the Committee discussed the forthcoming Sewel Motion on the UK Energy Bill.  There were some concerns from the Greens and the SNP that members have not been given enough time to consider the Bill.  There were further concerns from opposition members that the Scottish Executive would not have enough influence in the decision making process proposed by the Bill.  The point, however, was made that the Bill makes adequate provision to include the Executive in matters which are devolved.  In matters which are reserved, the Executive, understandably, does not have as much influence. 

The Committee also discussed the new Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) and heard from the Minister that the new Mark 2 ILAs will have a specifically Scottish theme.  Before implementation, the Minister stressed that consultations would take place with learning providers and intermediary organisations to inform the development of the new scheme.  The main target group will be people in work who are on lower incomes and there will be a staged implementation, from July 2005, in order that the target group benefit first.  The Minister stressed that lessons had been learned from the first experience of ILAs, the most important of these being the need to ensure quality assurance and close scrutiny and management of the scheme.

The Committee continued with a discussion on the Higher Education Bill which is the before the Westminster Parliament.  There will be a Sewel motion before the Scottish Parliament on 12th February on this legislation.  This Sewel is not about imposing top up fees on Scotland.  Rather the only aspect of this Bill which applies to Scotland is part 1 which enables the existing UK Arts and Humanities Research Board to be replaced by a UK-wide Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The meeting concluded after a discussion of the Committee’s Broadband Access Inquiry.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Consideration of Stage 2 amendments to the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill began last week.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Committee noted the positive approach being taken by other Committees in relation to mainstreaming equality and agreed that the Clerks should bring forward an approach paper on the Committee’s future role in supporting, promoting and monitoring the implementation of the mainstreaming process.

Members also agreed to take evidence on the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill at its meetings on 3rd and 10th February.

 

Finance Committee
Last Tuesday’s meeting took the monthly report on the Scottish Parliament Building Project from the Presiding Officer, George Reid.  Mr Reid told the Committee that the estimated final bill remains at £401.1 million, but he warned that the contingency fund of £4.6 million (for unallocated risks) might have to be reviewed before the next monthly report. He also said that there was a need to speed up the work in order to meet the completion date of July 2004. The Committee also agreed that it will question the Parliament’s Corporate Body team in charge of the Holyrood complex. Committee Convener, Des McNulty said "We will make it clear to the SPCB that we're expecting this information and witnesses at the time of the next report".

The Committee also took evidence as part of its investigation into Scottish Water and considered a draft protocol between the Public Services Ombudsman / Scottish Information Commissioner and the Finance Committee.

 

Health Committee
The Committee took a number of items in private at last week’s meeting. Members also considered a draft Stage 1 report on the National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill.

 

Justice 1 Committee
Members took evidence on the UK Gender Recognition Bill from Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry and considered a draft report into the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

 

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee considered its draft stage 1 report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

 

Procedures Committee
The Committee took evidence on Non-Executive Bills from Mike Watson (the Labour member who introduced the Member’s Bill which banned fox hunting) and from the League Against Cruel Sports. The Committee also received evidence from Robin Harper (GRN), Tommy Sheridan (SSP) and Alasdair Morgan (SNP).  There was also consideration of the limits in the Scotland Act on the suspension of standing orders of the Scottish Parliament and draft reports into Oral Questions and Emergency Bills.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
Tuesday’s meeting considered secondary legislation provisions relating to the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill and the Scottish Executive’s response to points raised on the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill. Members also considered Scottish Executive responses to points raised on: the Shetland Islands Regulated Fishery (Scotland) Variation Order; the Shetland Scallops Several Fishery Order; the Meat Products (Scotland) Regulations; the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Amendment (Scotland) Regulations; and the Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby foods for Infant and Young Children (Scotland) Regulations.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Local Government and Transport Committee
Public Petitions Committee
Standards Committee  

 

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