Scottish Parliament Committee News
Audit Committee
The main issue
causing concern at the Committee meeting last week was the lack of data
available from NHS Scotland to
monitor progress. There was general
cross party support for the view that this lack of information was unacceptable
and that it should not be allowed to continue any longer.
Communities Committee
The Committee continued its
deliberations on the Charities
and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill, taking evidence from the
Executive Bill Team. The officials outlined the changes made following
extensive consultation with charity providers and the Committee was pleased
that concerns which had been raised around Charity Stewards had been addressed
(they will now be replaced by Charity Trustees). Also welcomed by the Committee
was the fact that there would be aid relief for Sports Clubs.
Education Committee
The Committee heard further
evidence on the Gaelic
Language (Scotland) Bill. This
week’s evidence came from the Welsh Language Board who strongly support
the Bill and claim that in many ways it is stronger than the equivalent Bill in
Enterprise & Culture Committee
Evidence on the Area Tourist Board Review continued,
with a contribution from VisitScotland. From its perspective, VisitScotland
has been inclusive in its dealings with its stakeholders and has been working
to ensure two way communication in the process of
creating the new tourism network.
However, follow-up evidence submitted by the Scottish Area Tourist Board
network disputes this claim, asserting that communication is not as VisitScotland would have us believe and claiming that the
process is more of a “takeover and not a merger”.
The remainder of the
meeting concentrated on the consideration of draft reports on the Arts in the Community Inquiry and the Further
and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill.
Environment and Rural Development Committee
The Committee dealt
with Stage 2 of the Water
Services etc. (Scotland) Bill, passing the amendments proposed by the
Deputy Environment Minister. It also
heard from the Environment Minister on the December 2004 Agriculture and
Fisheries Council of the EU. The
Minister noted and refuted the recent Royal Commission report. Alistair Morrison (LAB) criticised the
rhetoric of the SNP on fishing, claiming that it serves to work against, rather
than in favour of, the Scottish fishing industry. The Alex Johnston (CON) restated his
party’s position on withdrawing from the CFP, while the SNP complained
about the process of renegotiation every December.
European
and External Relations Committee
The Committee is now
nearing the end of its Promoting
Scotland Worldwide Inquiry into the external relations policy, strategy and
activities of the Scottish Executive and last week took evidence from a number
of Scottish politicians. The first session heard from the Rt
Hon Robin Cook MP and Professor Sir Neil McCormick. There was some interest in
the views expressed by Robin Cook who told the Committee that, when he was
leader of the House of Commons, he had proposed that selected MSPs should be allowed to sit in the new second chamber
(following reform of the House of Lords). He told the Committee that his plan
was for a portion of people to be from the devolved bodies to get a more
democratic second chamber. However, his idea was fiercely opposed by his
The Committee then went
on to discuss the involvement of the Scottish Executive in activities during
the UK Government's Presidency of the
European Union (July to December 2005).
Finance
Committee
As part of its Cross Cutting Review on
Economic Development, the Committee took evidence from the Scotsman’s George Kerevan and the Herald’s
Alf Young, along with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses
Scotland and Lloyds TSB.
The Committee also took
evidence on the Scottish Executive’s efficient
government plan “Building a Better Scotland - Efficient Government
Securing Efficiency, Effectiveness and Productivity” from Tom McCabe,
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, and his officials. The Minister
discussed the £745 million in recurring cash savings and £300 million of
recurring time-releasing savings which have been identified for the period up
to 2007-08. Much of the questioning centred around
whether
The Committee considered
a draft report for its inquiry into the Budget
Process 2005-06 and will consider it again at the next meeting.
The Committee agreed its
report on the Financial Memorandum on the Gaelic
Language (Scotland) Bill. The
report recommends a range of options should be considered which might help to
put in place the financial controls which the Committee believes are essential
for prudent financial management.
Health
Committee
Most of the
meeting was held in private, as the Committee was looking at the draft report
on the major workforce planning inquiry,
which is due to be published in the New Year.
The Committee did, however, briefly question SSP leader for the week
Colin Fox on the consultation of his proposed Abolition of Prescription Charges Bill, agreeing that his
consultation was sufficient.
Justice 1 Committee
The Committee took Stage 1 evidence
on the Protection
of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. Evidence
came from Hugh Dignon and Kirsten Davidson of the
Bill Team; Paul Johnston, a Senior Legal Officer of the Solicitor to the
Scottish Executive; and Lindsey Anderson, Principle Procurator Fiscal Depute.
Nothing controversial was mentioned or discussed in the formal part of the
meeting
Local
Government and Transport Committee
A full agenda included further evidence on the Transport
(Scotland) Bill, with members questioning Edinburgh Council Transport
Spokesperson, Cllr Andrew Burns and a number of other CoSLA
representatives. There was further
discussion on the scope of the Bill and the boundaries for the new regional
transport partnerships.
Procedures Committee
The Committee
took further evidence for its Private
Bills inquiry, questioning
witnesses involved in the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine
Rail Bill. The Committee also
discussed in private its review of oral
questions. With no consensus
emerging on the issue of timing for oral questions and FMQs,
any decision was deferred until the next meeting.
Public
Petitions Committee
A number of health petitions came before the
Committee this week, including ones on the
Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee continued its scrutiny of the delegated
powers in the two
There was some concern
raised by the Committee that the Executive had not responded to its request for
replies to a number of questions it had raised surrounding the Further
and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill. This will mean that the Committee
will need to discuss them at its next meeting, immediately after which it will
make its report available to the lead Committee.
Other issues discussed by
the Committee included the Building
Standards Advisory Committee (
Other Committee
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Equal Opportunities Committee
Justice 2 Committee
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