Scottish Parliament Committee News, Issue 150

Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 150, 1^st February 2005

Audit Committee
Last week the Committee heard from the new head of NHS Scotland, Dr Kevin Woods. He gave evidence on Argyll and Clyde Health Board’s accounts. He was also questioned on the NHS overview and the Committee again raised concerns about the information the department is able to collect and, therefore, the predictions it can make with regard to future funding needs. The Committee remains concerned that this information is lacking, meaning that such predictions are difficult and that improvements to patient care cannot be seen.

Communities Committee
The Committee continued its evidence taking on Stage 1 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill, hearing from three panels of experts. The first panel consisted of representatives from Oxfam and Capability Scotland who were representing the larger charities. They expressed general support for the Bill but had some concerns about over regulation, particularly in relation to the larger charities which operate both north and south of the border. For Panel 2, CoSLA withdrew from the meeting, but Edinburgh City Council made representations on behalf of itself. They raised concerns about sports, leisure and arts trusts which had been established by Local Authorities and might fall short of their independent role and a possible loss of charitable status. The 3rd Panel was represented by Jane Ryder from the Office of Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) she gave evidence on the operation of the proposed legislation and provided reassurance of the good working relationship between OSCR and the Charities Commission. She also expressed understanding of the pragmatism required for the operation of the Charitable Housing Associations and she demonstrated a clear understanding of the concerns expressed by the National Collections at the possible loss of their charitable status and the need for this situation to be addressed.

Education Committee
Agreement was reached on the terms of reference for the Committee’s proposed early years inquiry at last week’s meeting. The Committee also received annual reports from organisations which form part of its remit: the Social Work Services Inspectorate; the General Teaching Council; HM Inspectorate of Education; Learning and Teaching Scotland; the Scottish Qualifications Authority; and the Gaelic Media Service.

The main item of business was evidence from the Social Work Inspectorate on its work as it moves towards being an Inspection agency. Issues raised included the ability to compel local authorities to comply with recommendations; the reasons for vacancies in social work; and the availability of drugs and alcohol services.

Enterprise & Culture Committee
Members heard from Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson, on the Area Tourist Board Review and the National Lottery Sewel Motion which came before parliament last week. The Minister reassured the Committee that the new proposals would not have an adverse effect on the number of projects the lottery fund can support.

Interestingly, Committee Convenor Alex Neil (SNP), in a departure from party policy, announced to the Minister that the London 2012 bid had his full support.

The Committee also agreed the final draft of its Arts in the Community Inquiry, which will be published soon, and completed its response to the Transport Committee on the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
A panel of experts from business, academia and NGOs gave evidence on climate change. A wide and varied discussion touched on the issues of the impact on business and economic growth, the public debate on wind farms and the ability to limit the impact of climate change.

Finance Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Public Administration Select Committee's Inquiry into Civil Service Effectiveness. John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive and Sally Carruthers, Director of Change and Corporate Services at the Scottish Executive, gave evidence on the Executive's "Changing to Deliver" programme in the context of UK initiatives for improving the delivery of public services. The Scottish Executive has embarked on a major corporate culture change programme with the aim of ensuring that the Executive is fit to deliver the "Partnership for a Better Scotland" programme.

The Committee also discussed its work programme up until the summer 2005.

Health Committee
The short inquiry into eating disorders continued with contributions from both the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Deputy Health Minister, Rhona Brankin. Members also considered their approach to evidence taking for the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill.

The long-awaited Workforce Planning Inquiry was also published. The Inquiry outlined problems with the European Working Time Directive; the cost associated with new pay deals; and the insistence of the Royal Colleges to train consultants in larger hospitals. It also looked at the environmental problems including our growing elderly population and the world health care market. The report calls for an extra 100 medical school places be made available in Scotland. Minister for Health, Andy Kerr welcomed the report and highlighted the work the Executive was doing on this issue, through both the Kerr group’s National Framework for Services, and the National Workforce Plan which is currently being worked upon. The Minister also highlighted the overall rise in NHS staff, with the service in Scotland now having more staff than ever before, including a 12% rise in consultants, a 6% rise in nurses, and a 25% rise in the number of trainee and student nurses and midwives.

Justice 1 Committee
The Committee then continued hearing evidence on the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. Rachel O'Connell from the Cyber Space Unit raised some serious concerns with the Committee. Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, was also called to answer questions in relation to the Bill. The Committee will turn to its Stage 1 report at this week’s meeting.

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee discussed two Sewel Motions. The first concerned the UK Inquiries Bill. This will set out a template for how to set up Inquiries across the UK. The second Sewel was more contentious and concerned the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. There was a feeling among some members that aspects of this legislation are at odds with the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The Committee will be looking for further concessions and more consultation with Westminster. However, the timescale is very tight.

The Committee also considered the Fire (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2.

Local Government and Transport Committee
Apart from considering an item of subordinate legislation the Committee met in private to discuss the Prostitution Tolerance Zones (Scotland) Bill, the Transport (Scotland) Bill, and the Council Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill.

Standards Committee
Following correspondence form the Procedures Committee, the Standards Committee agreed to take on responsibility for complaints regarding public appointments. The Committee also looked at a number of Cross-Party Group issues. The most notable of these was a request to relax the rules on political representation on CPGs. While the Committee agreed that the current rules created the correct balance, it did agree to revisit this matter in the future. The Committee also agreed to write to all MSPs regarding its proposed review of the Code of Conduct for MSPs, this letter will be sent following the forthcoming debate on the Members’ Interest Order, due in February.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee had one item on the agenda this week, the Inquiry into the Regulatory Framework in Scotland - Phase 1. This will look at how regulations can be made better and with a lighter touch in relation to all aspects of legal systems in Scotland. The Committee's consultation paper set out the context and practice of regulation in Scotland and raised a set of questions by setting practice against principles of good regulation. The Faculty of Advocates and the Law Commission responded to this paper and set out their views, focussing on areas of accessibility and consolidation. The Inquiry continues.

Other Committee Homepages:

Equal Opportunities Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Procedures Committee
Public Petitions Committee