Scottish Parliament Committee News
 Issue 122, 17th February 2004

 

Communities Committee
Last week, the Committee met in private to discuss its approach to the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

 

Education Committee
The Committee met last week to agree the terms of reference for its Child Protection Inquiry. It also began its consideration of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee continued its Inquiry on Renewable Energy by taking evidence from Dr Chris Antastasi, senior environmental advisor at British Energy.  In his evidence, Dr Antastasi highlighted that British Energy is keen to see that renewables play a role in the future, but noted that the current targets are “a little too high” and “difficult to attain without undue cost”.

The Committee also considered the Budget process 2005-06 and the issue of mainstreaming equality.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee
The Committee entered into day 3 of its consideration of Stage 2 amendments of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill.

It also considered its approach to the Budget Process and dealt with an item of subordinate legislation.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week’s meeting heard evidence on the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill from the Scottish Civic Forum, the Forum on Discrimination/Scottish Civic Forum, the Scottish Youth Parliament, 50/50 Campaign, Engender, the Scottish Disability Equality Forum, Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland and Multi Ethnic Aberdeen Limited.

Members also discussed a petition on the lack of care homes for young physically disabled people in Scotland.  They agreed that the Convener should write to the Executive seeking a response to the issues raised in correspondence from Capability Scotland, with particular reference to the Executive’s undertaking to conduct research into the needs of younger disabled people and the range and quantity of care services which are provided for them.

 

Finance Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday to seek further information on the Budget (Scotland) Bill from Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, Tavish Scott, and some of his officials. It also considered a paper from the Budget Adviser on Government Expenditure and Revenue.  

As part of its evidence on the Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill, the Committee heard from David Bookbinder of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Alistair McDonald from Bield Housing.

 

Health Committee
Tuesday’s meeting saw Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, moving to pass subordinate legislation on the subject of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.  The motion was agreed to after a division, with 6 members voting in favour and only David Davidson (CON) voting against. Christine Grahame (SNP) and Shona Robison (SNP) abstained.

After a discussion on a paper regarding dental research and Committee event bids, members considered the Committee’s work programme in private.

 

Justice 1 Committee
Last week saw continued consideration of the Committee’s draft Stage 1 report on the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
Here, members also considered a draft Stage 1 report - this time on the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill.  They also looked at paper on the 2005-06 Budget process.

 

Procedures Committee
Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson, gave evidence on Non-Executive Bills and Parliament officials gave evidence on the private Bill procedure. The Committee also considered and agreed a draft remit for its Inquiry into the timescales and stages of bills. Finally, a draft report on the Suspension of Standing Orders was agreed.

 

Standards Committee
The Committee last week agreed to establish Cross Party Groups on Waste Management and on Tibet. The Committee also considered correspondence from the National Assembly for Wales which is reviewing its standards framework.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last Tuesday’s meeting agreed to raise further points with the Scottish Executive with respect to the delegated powers in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

It also agreed to draw the attention of the Parliament to the National Health Service (Transfer of Property between Health Boards) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the National Health Service (Borrowing and Loans from Endowments) (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

There was also the usual host of instruments subject to annulment on almost every conceivable topic.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Justice 2 Committee
Public Petitions Committee

 

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