Committee News
Issue 15, 28th November 2000
This week the Committee will consider in private an amended report on the New Scottish Parliament Building.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week the Committee met to consider the drafting of the Committee report on the School Exams Inquiry, and will meet on today and tomorrow to continue the consideration. The report will be published in advance to the Parliamentary debate on the SQA, to be held on Wednesday 13 December.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence on the Graduate Endowment Bill, and has made several requests for information from the Minister Nicol Stephen. This Bill has now been re-submitted to the presiding officer for approval. It was agreed that one member from each of the political parties on the Committee would meet to consider the outline of the Bill’s stage 1 report.
Additionally, the Committee has agreed to make a bid to commission research into the current arrangements for the provision of lifelong learning in Scotland.
The Committee has now agreed its final report on the inquiry into governance of the SQA, and this will be published on Thursday 30 November at 10.30am. The debate on this report and that of the Education Committee will be held in Parliament on Wednesday 13 December.
Last week the Committee heard from disability rights organisation Visualise on the Executive’s Proposals for the Housing Bill. Elaine Smith’s (LAB) report on gender issues was discussed and the key issues facing women in relation to transport were noted. The Committee also continued to consider its response to Learning and Teaching Scotland’s consultation ‘Sex Education in Scotland’s Schools’. The committee meets again next week on 5th December.
The Committee has received correspondence from Ministers concerning Section 57 of the Scotland Act. This allows UK Ministers to implement European legislation even in devolved areas. The Convenor reports that the ministerial response to a request for a formal procedure is encouraging.
Also this week, the Committee will:
The Committee meets this morning to consider an issues paper for the report on Stage 2 of the budget process and a paper from a Reporter on the budget process. There will also be consideration of the structure of the Committee’s inquiry into Resource Accounting and Budgeting, and from whom it should take evidence.
No meeting this week.
Justice & Home Affairs Committee
Last week the meeting was dominated by an extensive evidence session on restorative justice, with a range of organisations coming together to call for a move away from the overuse of prisons. Two particularly interesting sections covered:
The Committee also agreed its letter to ministers on conditions at Barlinnie prison, flagging up in particular remand prisoners, and the perceived effect of the estates review on Prison Service morale.
This week sees consideration of a range of European Union initiatives in the justice field, following a discussion about the scope of the Committee’s powers in this regard. New issues include judicial co-operation, and the mutual recognition of decisions. There will also be a report on a visit by Michael Matheson (SNP) and Pauline McNeill (LAB) to the Glasgow courts.
Two committee reports have been issued in the last week: the criminal provisions of the Wild Mammals Bill have already reported in this brief, where problems are identified but "the majority of the Committee is of the view that these problems are not sufficiently serious to compromise the workability of the Bill as a whole."
The other report is, at long last, the proposal for a committee bill on Protection from Abuse. In essence the problem is that the Matrimonial Homes Act 1981 only offers protection to current spouses, and many more people (such as former partners) are at risk of domestic violence. Having considered various options, the Committee’s solution is to allow any person who has taken a common law interdict against a harasser to ask for a power of arrest to be attached to it.
This week the Committee will consider holding an inquiry into aspects of the report of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group (aka Kerley).
A public petition calling for the Parliament to set up an Allotments Working Party has been referred to the Committee, and one member has asked for it to be discussed at length.
The Committeee will also look at its draft report on the Graduate Endowment Bill, probably in private. The pertinent issue is student liability for council tax, as was reported last week.
Last week’s meeting agreed proposals on parliamentary questions and the withdrawal of amendments as outlined in last week’s Committee News. The Committee has agreed to return at a future date to the topic of a Question Time to the Corporate Body.
Last week’s new petitions were largely about local planning issues, particularly in East Lothian. They have been referred on as appropriate.
Last week the Committee took evidence on the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill. It agreed to view video evidence of hare coursing and to request certain additional information. The Committee meets today and will consider pieces of subordinate legislation, including the renewing of legislation to ensure that mink are kept in secure conditions and do not escape into the wild. There will also be further evidence on the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill and plans will be made for Stage 2 of the Salmon Conservation Bill.
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee
Last week the Committee heard evidence on the proposed Housing Bill from church-related agencies. The agencies argued for the abolition of priority need and intentionality as tests in the determination of homelessness cases, but Committee members questioned them on whether new means of prioritisation would not need to be found instead. The churches also raised the French civic right to a home (the Loi Besson.) This week’s evidence is from agencies working with women.
Petition 242 on services to asylum seekers was also the subject of an evidence session, which focused in particular on exclusion in housing conditions. The Committee agreed to visit accommodation being used for asylum seekers. The petition is also considered this week.
This week the agenda returns to an Order on the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), where there had been issues around the treatment of properties belonging to the Abbeyfield Society.
The inquiry into drug misuse is due for publication very soon.
The questionnaire on the Members’ Interests Order, which was reported on last week, was approved. The leaking of the Health Committee report into community care will be referred to the Standards Adviser.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last week saw an unusually animated debate for this Committee, as Tommy Sheridan (SSP) attended to address the delegated powers in the Abolition of Poindings & Warrant Sales Bill. He and his advisers have two issues of concern, both of which relate to the transitional powers that the Executive introduced at Stage 2. Mr Sheridan insists that no transitional provisions are necessary, but the legal advisers to both the Executive and the Committee disagree. Mr Sheridan also opposes the powers granted the Executive regarding the date for the ending of warrant sales, but he was advised that this power would not allow the Executive to override the will of Parliament. Evidence will be taken from the Executive this week.
SNP members continue to raise concerns about the Instrument implementing National Education Priorities under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act. In particular they believe that the phrase ‘lesser used languages’ is too vague: behind this may be a concern on their part to prioritise Gaelic and Scots over other languages.
This week’s topics include an order on Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.
Transport and the Environment Committee
Last week the Committee completed Stage 2 of the Transport Bill, rejecting calls for the outlawing of parking charges in hospitals, removal of tolls on the Skye Bridge, and reducing the scope of powers on the proposed Forth Crossing Board. Amendments were passed which would empower the Executive to put more money into public transport, and the Minister gave assurances that amendments to implement Home Zones (neighbourhood speed controls) would be introduced at Stage 3.
This week the Committee will decide whether to approve Executive subordinate legislation which amends the functions of seven cross-border public authorities, and another order which modifies the Scotland Act in regard to post office subsidies, transport strategies, rail services and pesticides.
The Committee will also consider further arrangements for its inquiry into Water and the Water Industry.
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