Scottish Parliament Committee News
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee
met to discuss the reports from the Auditor General, Commissioning Care Services for
Older People and The Management of Community Equipment.
On the former, the
Auditor General noted that better planning is required between councils and
their health partners in order that the demand for such services and the
shortage of carers he reports can be dealt with. The AGS also recommended in his report that
there needs to be better monitoring of the implementation of policies such as
free personal care to assess its impact and future costs.
In terms of community
adaptations and equipment, the AGS noted that more has to be done to improve
the delivery of these services as waiting times vary and the organisation of
such services is fragmented. He
recognised, however, the value that people place on these services and the
positive experiences reported from dealing with individuals charged with
delivering them.
Communities Committee
Members heard from Mary
Mulligan, then Deputy Minister for Communities, who moved a motion regarding subordinate
legislation on Draft Housing Grants.
The motion was agreed and the Committee will report its decision to the
Parliament.
The Committee then went
on to consider a number of petitions. The
first of these was the reconsideration of a petition prompted by concern that
projects being run by the Clydebank
Health Alliance have broken down as a result of the strategic policies of
the statutory agencies. The Committee
might write to the petitioner suggesting that he engage at an early stage with
the Community Regeneration Fund process to ensure that his views on the value
of local projects can be considered. The
second petition related to Terrestrial Trunked Radio Communication Masts (TETRA). The petitioner was calling for TETRA masts
installation to be delayed until the health risks had been properly
investigated. The Committee had received
the Executive
Education Committee
In relation to its child protection inquiry, the Committee
discussed at length issues around the work of Disclosure Scotland. Although the issues of waiting times for
clearance has now been resolved, the Committee had concerns about the operation
of Disclosure Scotland and whether it facilitated or hindered the process of
recruitment to children’s services.
There was also a discussion
on the Executive’s position on school closures, which was raised in a
petition presented to the Committee. The
Committee remains satisfied with the Executive’s decision not to
intervene and, along with the issues from the child protection inquiry, the Committee
intent to revisit this within the year.
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Evidence continued on
the Water
Services etc (Scotland) Bill, with contributions from the Water
Industry Commissioner; OFWAT; the Competition
Commission; and the Coal Authority.
The most controversial
part of the agenda however, was the item relating to the regulations on the restriction on the use of lead shot. The Scottish Executive has
drafted regulations which would ban the use of lead shot over Scottish
wetlands. RSPB
Scotland, in particular, welcomed this attempt to reduce the “unnecessary
damage caused by this dangerous pollutant”, which is often accidentally
consumed by waterbirds and kills around 8000 wild
mallards in
European
and External Relations Committee
The Committee welcomed
John Swinney (SNP) to his first meeting as the new
Committee Convener. Members then went on to take evidence from members of
The Committee also reviewed
the Scottish Executive European Office
Annual Report. It was decided to ask the office to send a representative to
the Committee to discuss the forward strategy of the
Finance
Committee
Alastair Morgan (SNP) has replaced Fergus Ewing (SNP)
on the Finance Committee; and was elected Deputy Convener. The Committee took
evidence from the Minister and officials on the Water
Services etc (Scotland) Bill and other water-related issues. Members
were particularly concerned at slippage in Scottish Water
The Committee also agreed
the contents of its reports on the Financial Memoranda for this Bill and the Fire
(Scotland) Bill.
Health
Committee
The main item of
business was Stewart Maxwell’s (SNP) Prohibition
of Smoking in Regulated Areas (Scotland) Bill. The Committee agreed to seek an extension to
the deadline for completion of the bill at Stage 1 until
The Committee also looked
at a number of petitions, agreeing to a short inquiry into a petition on the
treatment of eating disorders. A general
call for written evidence will be issued shortly and the Committee expects to
take oral evidence in the New Year. The
Committee also closed a petition on
Justice 1 Committee
Among the items of
business on last week’s full agenda was the continuation of evidence for
the Rehabilitation of Prisoners Inquiry.
A wide number of issues were raised by
the submissions, including education; health; physical fitness; the
relationships between agency workers and prison staff; and the types of
programmes being considered or already in place. The point was made that a
number of prisoner officers considered their jobs had changed radically over
the years and that some prisoners considered some rehabilitation programmes as
merely jumping through hoops in order to get better parole reports. The Committee is still at the early stages of
evidence taking on this issue and is assessing what rehabilitation programmes exist
in prisons.
Justice 2 Committee
The Committee
continued to take evidence on the Fire
(Scotland) Bill, last week saw Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, before
the Committee. The Minister responded to some of the issues raised by the FBU and said that the National Framework Document would be
published very soon.
Local
Government and Transport Committee
Issues raised by the public during a participation event in
Procedures Committee
The Committee
continued its inquiry into the Timescale
and Stages of Bills. Its report was
considered in private and is expected to be published at the next Committee
meeting
Public
Petitions Committee
Evidence was
given by Education Minister, Peter Peacock, regarding a petition on abuse of children in religious care homes. After hearing evidence for the Minister, the
Committee agreed to bid for time in the Chamber to allow a Committee debate on
this issue. Of the other petitions which
came before the Committee, the most notable came from the FBU
Tayside Branch. John Swinney
(SNP) spoke in favour of the petition, which called for the retention of the
current 8 fire control rooms in
The Committee had a private and informal meeting with the Commissioner for Standards.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
A busy agenda included issues regarding Education,
Water Services, Fireworks Regulations, Building Regulations and the Criminal
Procedures Act.
The Committee continued looking
at the delegated powers in the School
Education (Ministerial Powers and Independent Schools) Scotland Bill.
The Committee centred on the part which states "Scottish Ministers must be
satisfied that the proprietor and any proposed teacher are proper
persons". The Committee expressed
concerns that the power could be used for purposes which might be regarded as
controversial. It considered that, while the use of delegated powers is
acceptable in principle, the power to extend the description of those persons
who are not considered suitable to be a proprietor or teacher in an independent
school is a substantial power which should be subject to affirmative procedure,
rather that annulment procedure as provided in the Bill as drafted.
Other Committee
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Enterprise & Culture Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
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