Scottish Parliament Committee News
Audit Committee
The Committee heard
an update from the Auditor General for
He also noted that
information systems have to be improved in order for the impact of changes on
patient care to be effectively measured.
Rhona Brankin (LAB) raised the issue of how service users might feed
into this process, noting that, as a frequent user of the NHS, she has never
been asked about her experiences.
Communities Committee
The Committee met in private
to consider pre-legislative scrutiny on the forthcoming Charities Bill. Members also discussed guidance which is to be
issued on the Antisocial
Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Committee’s work
programme.
Education Committee
The Committee considered the School
Education (Ministerial Powers and Independent Schools) (Scotland) Bill
at Stage 2
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Evidence on the Water
Services etc (Scotland) Bill continued.
European
and External Relations Committee
Members said their
goodbyes to the outgoing Convener, Richard Lochhead
(SNP) and welcomed new convener, John Swinney (SNP).
Evidence was taken from Minister for Finance and Public Services, Andy Kerr, on
the Scottish Executive’s current Presidency
of the Regions with Legislative Power Group (or REGLEG
for short) – an issue which is likely to return to the fore.
Finance
Committee
Last Tuesday’s meeting took evidence from the Executive on the financial
memoranda for the Fire
(Scotland) Bill and the Water
Services etc (Scotland) Bill. The most recent correspondence from the
Presiding Officer concerning the Holyrood
Project showed that there is no change to the overall cost of £430.5m and
that the external landscaping is on schedule for completion prior to the
official Opening on 9th October.
The Committee
re-appointed Professor Arthur Midwinter, from
The following day, the
Committee’s report on the Scottish Executive’s relocation policy was debated in the Parliament. Generally, the
report was critical of the Executive
Justice 1 Committee
The Committee met
in private to consider a draft stage 1 report on the Emergency
Workers (Scotland) Bill and various changes were agreed. There was also consideration of evidence
taken from the Scottish Prison Service on the Inquiry into the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes
in prison. Evidence was taken from Alec Spencer, the Director of
Rehabilitation Care; Janice Hewitt, Head of Inclusion; and Dr Andrew Fraser,
Head of Health.
Justice 2 Committee
The Committee
continued its consideration of evidence on the Fire
(Scotland) Bill. Evidence was taken from Fire Masters and from the Fire
Brigade Union. Unfortunately, while the FBU were
giving evidence there was a fire alert and the meeting was suspended while the
building was cleared.
Local
Government and Transport Committee
The main issue for the Committee was the inquiry into
the Transport
(Scotland) Act 2001. Members
heard evidence from the Mobility and Access Committee and the Bus Users
Complaint Tribunal. Issues emerging were
the accessibility of public transport and the need for fully accessible public
transport for the benefit of the concessionary fares scheme to be felt. The other major issue raised was the powers,
or lack of thereof, afforded to the Bus Users Complaint Tribunal.
Public Petitions Committee
Of the new petitions being brought before the Committee,
Robbie the Pict
Other new petitions to
note were from the Scottish Accident Council calling for local authorities to
employ Home Safety Officers; and the
Gypsy Traveller’s Association calling for people in mobile homes to have
access to the Warm Deal and Central
Heating Programmes.
With regards to current
petitions, the Committee requested that it be kept updated with regards to the
dispersal of money from the Scottish
Transport Group Pension Funds; it closed a petition on Gulf War Syndrome following a response from the Health Minister;
and also closed a petition on Houses of
Multiple Occupation following satisfactory responses from both local
authorities and universities.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
As usual, there was a packed agenda for the Sub-Leg
Committee, with issues ranging from Environmental
Protection to The Sexual Offences
Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) Amendment Regulations 2004.
There was also some
discussion around The International
Criminal Court (Enforcement of Fines, Forfeiture and Reparation) Orders.
One aspect of this regulation gives Ministers the power to enforce the payment
of fines and forfeiture orders made by the International Criminal Court. This
regulation was put in place on the recommendation of Iain Gray when Justice
Minister and confirmed by Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace. However the
Executive is now seeking to go against this recommendation. The Committee is
seeking clarification from the Executive on the matter.
Other Committee
Homepages:
Enterprise & Culture Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
Health
Committee
Procedures Committee
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