Scottish Parliament Committee News
Audit Committee
The former Head of NHS Scotland, Trevor Jones, appeared before the Committee
to give evidence on the finances of Argyll and Clyde Health Board. Concerns remain as to why Argyll and
Communities Committee
The
Committee continued its evidence on the Charities
and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill, hearing from two
panels. The first panel consisted of representatives from the Independent
Schools Sector and
Education Committee
The
Committee met to discuss its stage 1 report on the Gaelic
Language (Scotland) Bill.
Environment and Rural Development Committee
This week, the new freedom of information regulations and their
impact on farming was discussed. The
regulations, which came into effect at the turn of the year, will lead to more
transparency of farmers’ earnings in relation to government
subsidies. Labour members of the Committee
also questioned the Minister on the reform of the CAP and single farm
payments. The Committee also sought a
definition of waste from the Minister, given that Scottish Power is now
prevented under new regulations from using sewerage sludge in the generation of
electricity. The Minister agreed to look
at this issue in more depth.
Equal Opportunities Committee
The
Committee continued taking evidence on the Prevention
of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Bill,
hearing from Councillor Irene Graham from Glasgow City Council on how the
proposed legislation might affect communities in the city, especially asylum
seekers.
Finance
Committee
Only one agenda last week. This concerned a 6 month report from the
Executive on its relocation policy. The Committee was happy with the
report, which was in line with many of the Committee’s recommendations
surrounding more transparency.
Health
Committee
The Health Committee heard from a vast array of Executive officials who
outlined the various aspects of the Smoking,
Health & Social Care (Scotland) Bill. Surprisingly, smoking did not dominate the
agenda with very few questions raised on the proposed ban. Issues surrounding
the Hepatitis C payments and the need for the Bill to amend the Regulation
of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Adults
with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 were however highlighted, with issues over
continuity of treatment and the package of care for incapable adults being
raised.
Justice 1 Committee
The Committee considered a statement by the proposer
(Karen Whitefield (LAB)) on the Proposed Bill on Christmas Day and New
Year's Trading in Scotland. The statement centred on reasons for not
consulting for a period of 12 weeks from the date of lodging the draft proposal,
which is for Bill to prohibit large retail premises from trading on Christmas day
and New Year's Day. The Committee agreed
that the reasons given for not consulting on the draft proposal complied with
Standing Orders.
Members
then proceeded to take evidence on the Protection
of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill from Robert Ovens, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland;
Douglas Kiel, of the Scottish Police Federation; and Tom Buchan, from the Association
of Scottish Police Superintendents.
Justice 2 Committee
Evidence on the Youth Justice Inquiry continued, with the
Committee hearing from Tam Baillie, of Barnardo's
Scotland; David Turnbull and Paul Carberry, of NCH
Scotland; Keith Simpson and Billy Nicol of SACRO; and
Olive Arens of Includem.
The Committee is expected to prepare its draft report imminently. There was
also consideration of a draft report on the Constitutional Reform Bill,
which is currently before the UK Parliament.
Local
Government and Transport Committee
The main item at last week’s meeting was a
discussion of the Audit Scotland Report on Maintaining Scotland’s
Roads, with the Committee hearing from both Audit Scotland and
representatives from the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in
Scotland (SCOTS). A significant amount
of evidence was received with the headline figure, the estimated £1.7 billion
backlog for local roads funding, receiving great attention. The disparity between investment in local
roads and trunk roads was also raised.
The differing approach to investment in local roads by local authorities
was also highlighted and it is worth noting that, while some Councils
spend up to twice of allocated GAE on roads, others invest only half of their
allocation.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
The first meeting of the new session
looked at issues relating to the Transport
(Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
There were no contentious issues raised and the meeting closed after a short
discussion.
Other Committee
Homepages:
Enterprise & Culture Committee
European
and External Relations Committee
Procedures Committee
Public
Petitions Committee
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