Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue
158,
17th May
Communities
Committee
Last week's meeting saw the
start of Stage 1 evidence on the Housing
(Scotland) Bill.
There were four panels giving evidence and it was an extensive and useful
session. The disability lobby was very vocal in its evidence and made it
clear that it were not in agreement with the Executive’s approach to
disability issues - they felt that the Scottish Executive, unlike the UK
Government at Westminster, had not struck the right balance.
Enterprise
& Culture Committee
Members took evidence for
their business growth inquiry and had their first session with their
advisor on the issue, Dr Wolfgang Michalaski. The evidence taking covered
developing a business culture, entrepreneurship in schools and innovation and
risk-taking. Dr Michalaski is a European expert on business growth and
economics and will be producing a paper comparing Scotland with other small
countries and regions in Europe. This will also look at how other countries have
dealt with a changing economic environment and what lessons Scotland might
learn.
The Committee also discussed its report on the BBC and broadcasting.
Environment
and Rural Development Committee
Consideration of the Environmental
Assessment (Scotland) Bill continued. The Committee will be
hearing from the Environment and Communities Ministers this week.
European
and External Relations Committee
The Committee started
taking evidence on the Fresh Talent Initiative, with contributions from
Professor John Wright of Stirling University and Professor Joan Stringer from
Universities Scotland. Concerns were raised about the movement of immigrants
south once they had come in under the initiative and about how many people the
initiative would attract. The inquiry is not expected to finish until
after the summer recess.
The Committee went on to deliberate on its report on the G8 Summit and the UK European Presidency which is expected to be published in two weeks time. The Committee also discussed its debate to be held in the Parliament next week and agreed that John Swinney (SNP) as Convener would open the debate and that Irene Oldfather (LAB) would close.
Finance
Committee
Evidence on the
Executive’s Efficient Government Initiative came from Tom McCabe,
Minister for Finance and Public Reform and Scottish Executive officials. Key
among the matters discussed was a comparison between targets north and south of
the border.
As part of its inquiry into the Financial Memorandum for the Family Law (Scotland) Bill, the Committee took evidence from Scottish Executive officials and considered written submissions from the Crown Office, the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The Committee was broadly content with the Financial Memorandum but had a number of technical questions.
The Committee also considered and agreed its report on the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill. It was concerned that local authorities, upon whom major costs will fall, appear to have deep reservations about the costs outlined in the Financial Memorandum and about future burdens which may be placed on them. The Committee is also concerned that the situation could be further exacerbated by a gap between the implementation of this Bill and the introduction of a Planning Bill.
Finally, the Committee considered and agreed its report on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Overall, members were satisfied with the information provided in the Financial Memorandum and drew the attention of the Communities Committee to the issue of water quality which, whilst it could have an impact on costs to individuals, is largely one of policy.
Health
Committee
The vast majority
of last week's Committee meeting was taken up discussing subordinate
legislation. Most media coverage, however, surrounded what didn’t
happen at the Committee and Hepatitis C campaigners' decision to launch legal
action against the Executive. Members of the Scottish Haemophilia Forum
were due to give evidence to the Committee and ask for an independent public
inquiry. However, after legal action was started, the Committee had no
option but to call off their appearance in case parliamentary rules were
breached.
Justice
1 Committee
4 separate panels
of witnesses took evidence on the Family
Law (Scotland) Bill
over a
particularly long session.
Justice
2 Committee
Justice
Minister, Cathy Jamieson, gave evidence on the Management
of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill,
centring on the structures to be put in place to ensure a smooth transition from
prison to social work support. Conservative members raised concerns about the
proposed curfew elements in the Bill, which would enable some offenders to
complete their prison sentence at home under strict supervision. The
majority of the Committee, however, felt that the Minister addressed the
concerns expressed. She also assured the Committee that the strictest of
conditions would be in place before a prisoner would be allowed to complete
their sentence in this way.
Local
Government and Transport Committee
Stage 2 consideration
of the Transport
(Scotland) Bill was
completed. A number of amendments were agreed, the most significant being
a proposal, championed by Paul Martin (LAB), to introduce a passenger
representative committee to look at issues across the public transport network.
This would provide a strong representative body for all, working across
transport modes. Having agreed to the proposal, the Executive is set to
come forward with more detailed proposals in the near future. Other
amendments to note were a raft of proposals brought forward by Chris Ballance (GRN)
seeking, amongst other things, to set targets to reduce the number of private
vehicle miles. These amendments were heavily defeated and the Committee as a
whole chastised the Green group for their lack of representation at the
Committee over the course of the Bill and subsequent attempt to introduce
amendments at the last minute.
Procedures
Committee
The inquiry into
the Sewel Convention continued with Minister for Parliament, Margaret
Curran, appearing before the Committee. The Minister welcomed the Committee
inquiry and stated that, while she believed that improvements has already been
made, she wished to see the Parliament’s Committees have an increased role.
She also highlighted the need for an improved early warning system.
Petitions Committee Convenor, Michael McMahon (LAB), also appeared before the Committee to request a rule change regarding the resubmission of petitions.
Public
Petitions Committee
Subordinate
Legislation Committee
The Committee continued
its review of the regulatory framework and discussed issues surrounding
the way the UK implements EU Directives. Some concern was also expressed at the
variation in the way the Executive/Public Body fees are paid particularly in
relation to annual increases. There does not appear to be a standard rate used
when applying any such increase.
The Committee also examined and agreed the Regulations which apply to horse passports. Initially, there were some concerns about the definition in the Regulations surrounding wild horses. However, in the absence of any wild horses in Scotland, there was no need for Scottish Regulations to make provision for them.
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