Committee News
Issue 13, 14th November 2000
The Committee meets this morning to look at the Executive’s spending plans, consider their forthcoming meeting in Aberdeen, and receive a presentation from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants as part of their inquiry into Resource Accounting and Budgeting.
The Committee meets this afternoon and will consider the response received from the Scottish Executive Health Department to the Committee’s report on the Scottish Ambulance Service. There will also be consideration of the Committee’s draft report on the new Scottish parliament building.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee
Last week the Committee agreed to proceed with its programme of work on the Graduate Endowment Bill, despite its withdrawal. A report, however, will not be drafted until a new Bill has been introduced. This means that the Bill is likely to be passed by the Parliament in time to affect students entering education in 2001, which has always been the priority. In light of this experience, the Committee Convenor is to write to the Procedures Committee regarding the inability to make amendments at Stage 1 of a Bill.
The Committee are also expected to go away together on an awayday, and agreed to support a visit to relevant organisations by the Convener and committee members.
This week, the Committee meets on Tuesday afternoon and will hear evidence on the Graduate Endowment Bill from the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Open University.
The Committee will meet again on Wednesday morning to take more evidence, this time from COSHEP, the Association of Scottish Colleges, and the Scottish Education Funding Councils.
There will then be a private consideration of the Committee’s report following its inquiry into Governance of the SQA.
In their meeting last week the Committee heard evidence on the Salmon Conservation Bill and continued to consider the Executive’s spending plans. Fergus Ewing (SNP) is the new deputy convenor of the Committee.
The Committee meets again this afternoon and returns to Stage 1 of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill, with evidence from the Scottish Campaign against Hunting with Dogs, the Scottish Countryside Alliance and Mike Watson MSP. The Committee will consider their conclusions and the need for fact finding visits in connection with the Bill.
The committee will also consider its draft stage 1 report on the Salmon Conservation Bill in advance of the Stage 1 debate in Parliament on Thursday 23rd.
Transport and the Environment Committee
Last week the Committee continued to consider Stage 2 amendments on the Transport Bill, and agreed to an amendment to remove the parts of the Bill relating to the workplace parking levy.
This week the Committee will meet on Wednesday morning and will consider more amendments to the Transport Bill, for the final (or penultimate at least) time. There will then be a private discussion of draft terms of reference for the Committee’s inquiry into water and the water industry.
A busy meeting last week agreed to submit the following changes to standing orders to Parliament in a forthcoming report:
Donald Gorrie (LibDem) continues his push for amendments rejected on the grounds of inadmissibility to be published nonetheless. Labour members feel that this would be a waste of resources and essentially just a political gesture.
Preparations continue for research into the founding principles of the Consultative Steering Group which discussed the operation of the Parliament before its establishment – essentially, to look at whether their vision has been fulfilled.
Discussion will continue this week on the technical matter of private legislation, and on the report to Parliament on changes to standing orders.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
This week the Committee examines an order modifying schedule 5 of the Scotland Act - that is to say the list of reserved powers and exceptions to them. The key additions are powers for Scottish ministers to direct public bodies in relation to rail strategies, and to allow the Parliament to assist post offices in the supply of non-postal services.
The Committee also considers orders on the welfare of farmed animals, and the National Priorities for education.
Justice & Home Affairs Committee
As always the Committee has heavy agendas but there is not much new of political significance. The original points of interest last week were:
This week there will be private discussion on taking forward the Committee’s Protection from Abuse Bill. And since last week, the Committee has published its views on the criminal provisions in the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill – essentially it sees them as competent and no bar to the Bill’s progress.
The Committee is preparing to publish its report into Community Care. The SNP’s plan to debate the issue in the Chamber on Thursday in advance of the report’s publication has been a source of political tension between members of the committee. (See yesterday’s e-Brief)
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the committee considered its forward work programme, aiming to consider Mike Russell’s (SNP) film industry report, begin taking evidence on the Hampden inquiry and complete their inquiry into SEN, all before Christmas recess. Cathy Peattie (LAB) reported on her attendance at COSLA’s arts and leisure committee, where although the National Cultural Strategy was welcomed, there was concern over the marginalisation of local authorities in the strategy. COSLA felt it should say more about the partners and people involved. Finally, the committee met in private to further consider a paper on themes and issues arising from the SQA inquiry.
Last week the committee took evidence from the Disabled Persons Housing Association on the Executive’s proposals for forthcoming housing legislation. While welcoming the core of the vision laid out in Better Homes for Scotland’s Communities, the DPHA had concerns over private sector tenancies and argued for equality of housing opportunity with the following recommendations:
For further details of the committee discussion click here.
Last week the committee agreed proposals for consideration at Stage 1 of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Bill. The Local Government Committee's interest in the Bill focuses on the section relating to the proposed changes to council tax legislation. In its next meeting on Tuesday, the Committee will begin taking evidence at Stage 1 of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Bill from NUS, COSLA, Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Executive.
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee
The Committee considered petition PE242 by Action of Churches Together in Scotland, the Scottish Refugee Council and Amnesty International calling for the Scottish Parliament to give asylum seekers rights of access to various support services and to amend legislation to restore the entitlement of asylum seekers to accommodation and cash based support. The Social Inclusion committee moved to undertake an inquiry into asylum seekers, and agreed to liase with Equal Opportunities and Local Government. With the clerk, Deputy Convenor Fiona Hyslop (SNP) will prepare a remit for the inquiry. It is expected that the inquiry will be very tightly focused on devolved matters.
The Committee passed Liberal Democrat, Robert Brown’s Family Homes and Homelessness (Scotland) Bill but with reservations. The bill will now proceed to Stage 2.
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