Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 162, 14th June 2005

Communities Committee
The Committee met in private to discuss its draft report on the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Education Committee
Last week's meeting continued taking evidence on the pupil motivation inquiry.  It heard from Careers Scotland about the need for every young person to have an opportunity to develop their carer planning and decision making skills.  It also heard from Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS), whose submission noted the impact of devolution on focusing the Scottish media on the issue of Scottish education.  However, LTS highlighted that this attention tends to focus more on the negatives than the positives, which impacts not only on the morale of schools and teachers, but also on the expectations of students, parents and wider society.  In its submission, LTS was keen to stress that the vast majority of pupils’ experiences in school are positive as a result of "a well taught and appropriate curriculum".  HMIE also gave evidence and pointed to the wide range of reports it had completed which impact on the discussion on pupil motivation and underachievement.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
The Committee began its inquiry into accessible rural communities, during which it will be looking at whether there is a gap between government policy in urban vs. rural areas.  Issues raised included employment, tourism, renewable energy and sustainable construction opportunities.  The Committee also looked at how community planning can be used to help communities shape the actions of national agencies.  The inquiry will continue until recess.

Equal Opportunities Committee
The progress made on the previous Committee report from 2001 on Gypsy/Travellers was discussed. Save the Children gave evidence outlining the slow progress in meeting the recommendations made by this report.  Describing this as "frustrating and disappointing", the organisation outlined the problems still faced by Gypsy/Travellers including: discrimination and prejudice; lack of access to basic services such as health and education; lack of involvement in bodies making decisions on their behalf; problems with accommodation; and little appreciation of the needs of young Gypsy/Travellers.  The Committee also heard from Aberdeen and Edinburgh City Councils on the progress they had made in implementing the recommendations.

European and External Relations Committee
Members took evidence from the STUC and others for their Fresh Talent Initiative Inquiry. They also considered a letter from the First Minister's office declining an invitation for him to attend the Committee.  After much discussion, a proposal from the Deputy Convener, Irene Oldfather (LAB), that the Committee invite the Minister for Finance, Tom McCabe, to give evidence was accepted.  If any questions remained following the evidence from the Minister for Finance, the Committee would reconsider what information might be needed from the First Minister.

Finance Committee
Members of the Committee made case study visits as part of their inquiry into Efficient Government.  One group visited Stirling Council and the Forth Valley NHS Board, while the other group met with VisitScotland.  Reports about the case studies will go to the next meeting.

Health Committee
Stage 2 consideration of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill continued.  The only amendment to go to a division was an attempt by Caroline Leckie (SSP) to remove the section on joint ventures from the Bill.  However this proposition was defeated with all nine Committee members voting against it.

Justice 1 Committee
The evidence from Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, on the Family Law (Scotland) Bill, started last week, was completed.  The Committee then went on to discuss the first draft of its Stage 1 report on the Bill.

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee had its annual meeting with the Accounts Commission to discuss its local authority best value audits for 2004.  The Commission members sought to discuss the generalities of the audits and looked at a range of issues from roads maintenance to Council contingency funds. However, in response to a question from the Convenor, Accounts Commission Chair, Alastair MacNish, confirmed that should the worst performing local authorities fail to follow their recovery plan, then the Commission would be prepared to ask the Scottish Executive for direct intervention.

Standards Committee
Two reports by the Standards Commissioner regarding complaints against members were considered last week.  On the outstanding complaint against First Minister, Jack McConnell, the Commissioner found that there was no breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. With regards to Ken Macintosh (LAB), the Commissioner stated that there was a technical breach of the code.  However, he noted that there was no intention to deliberately mislead the Parliament.  Prior to this, Mr Macintosh had decided to stand down from the Committee to avoid any conflict of interest.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee completed its scrutiny of delegated powers in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill.

Under the Right to Purchase (Prescribed Persons) Scotland Amendment Order, the Committee was left to speculate whether school janitors were being denied the right to buy their houses.  They have therefore asked the Executive for clarification on this point.

The Committee also considered the maximum residue content of various pesticides.

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
Enterprise & Culture Committee
Justice 2 Committee
Procedures Committee
Public Petitions Committee

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