Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 124, 9^th March 2004

 

Audit Committee
The Committee took evidence from the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body and received a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) on his report, Performance Management in Historic Scotland.

Members also considered the report by the AGS on Performance Management in Historic Scotland. Given that the evidence indicates that Historic Scotland is generally achieving the performance targets and objectives set by Ministers, the Committee agreed to note the report and to take no further action.

In addition, the Committee considered key issues emerging from the evidence taken on the report on Scottish Enterprise and also considered a draft report on its inquiry into the report on the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).

 

Communities Committee
Last week’s meeting saw consideration in private of the Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill.

 

Education Committee
Stage 2 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill continued.

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
Members continued taking evidence on the renewable energy inquiry.

 

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Richard Lochhead (SNP) failed in his attempt to overturn the Statutory Instrument limiting Scottish fishermen’s days at sea.  The Committee also continued with the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 and took evidence from Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister, Allan Wilson, on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

 

European and External Relations Committee
Last week’s meeting heard a wide range of views on promoting Scotland worldwide – an examination of the external relations policy, strategy and activities of the Scottish Executive.

The Convener’s report updated the Committee on the invitation to UK Ministers to give evidence to the Committee as part of its repatriation of European regional Development Funds.

The Committee also considered proposals from the Scottish Executive to implement EC legislation using section 57 of the Scotland Act, specifically the revision or abolition of the 1991 regulations on Fertilisers.

 

Finance Committee
Last Tuesday’s meeting considered a Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) paper on the Inquiry into Relocation of Public Sector Jobs.  The Committee also considered the Budget Process 2005-06.

 

Health Committee
Evidence on the draft regulations for the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 came from Deputy Health Minister, Tom McCabe and a number of his officials.

 

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee took evidence from the EU Justice and Home Affairs Action team (Scottish Executive) on issues surrounding Justice in Europe and agreed to scrutinise related papers from the European Commission.  The Committee also considered correspondence from the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) on fingerprint evidence; examined a petition on the shoeing of horses; agreed its approach on the UK Constitutional Reform Bill; and agreed or noted several pieces of subordinate legislation.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, gave evidence on the Prostitution Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill, as did representatives from Glasgow City Council; Greater Glasgow Health Board; and the Greater Glasgow Drug Action team. The Committee also considered a draft report on the Local Governance (Scotland) Bill and possible advisors for the budget process.

 

Public Petitions Committee
Petitions discussed at Wednesday’s meeting covered topics including the roll-out of broadband and prostitution tolerance zones.  (A Community Group from Leith had brought a petition of concern. The Committee referred the petition to the Local Government Committee, which is examining the member’s bill on the subject.)

The petition on Dungavel, on which the Committee had received legal advice clearly stating it was a reserved matter, was voted upon. The vote was 5 to 2 in favour of the Committee’s position and the matter is now closed.

The Palestinian Legislative Council brought forward a petition on how the Scottish Parliament could assist the Council. This petition had been overtaken by events and the Council had received a letter from the Presiding Officer, which made it clear that the Parliament had already started to assist the Council.

 

Procedures Committee
The Committee continued its consideration of Non-Executive Bills with evidence from Glasgow University and the Scottish Civic Forum. It also began discussing how it will evaluate the changes to question time.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
Members examined a Delegated Powers in the Tenements (Scotland) Bill and the Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill.

The Committee also considered the response from the Scottish Executive to points raised in relation to the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment Regulations and the Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage and Guide Dogs) Act 2002.

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Equal Opportunities Committee
Justice 1 Committee
Standards Committee

 

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