Committee News
Issue 17, 12th December 2000
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Amidst the excitement of launching its report into the SQA, the actual committee agenda was light last week. After looking at a summary of the responses, the Order giving effect to National Education Priorities under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act was approved.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee
Today the committee will hear from Deputy Education Minister, Nicol Stephen, about the Graduate Endowment and Student Support Bill. The Bill was reintroduced on Thursday in an amended version as promised by the Executive.
Last week the committee revisited its inquiry on the Impact of the New Economy and called for more information on Digital Scotland. There was also discussion of the Committee’s recent work on the cost of fuel in rural areas and a short report will be prepared for a later meeting.
Last week was European Disability Day, and the Committee gave over its agenda to disability issues.
The largest item was evidence from the Disability Housing Network in the context of the forthcoming housing bill. The discussion provided a useful summary of the issues in this field, including the neglected area of home ownership amongst people with learning disabilities as well as physical and sensory disabilities. On the right to buy, the Network made a careful distinction: they wish to see sufficient adapted housing remain in the rented sector, by exemption from RTB, but the right itself must be given to people with disabilities.
This week includes two items of interest in the Convenor’s report. There will be a short discussion on voluntary sector concerns around Objective 3 funding; and the convenor reports a positive response from the European Commission to the Committee’s recent report into football transfer fees.
This week the Committee will be considering the response of the health, housing and local government ombudsmen to the Executive document Modernising Complaints. This proposes the setting up of a ‘one-stop shop’ to cover the various ombudsmen positions, something of which the current incumbents are very supportive.
The Executive has asked for responses in a short timescale to the report of the Joint Future Group, which was tasked with improving the implementation of existing community care policy. It is suggested that a reporter takes on this task.
Justice & Home Affairs Committee
Last week’s major item was self-regulation of the police, with evidence taken from the representative organisations of chief constables, superintendents and the rank & file. The committee’s original concerns had centred on the principle of self-regulation, but most of the questioning concerned the detail of the complaints procedure, the numbers of cases involved, and the extent of public confidence or lack of it in the process.
This week’s agenda includes:
This week the Local Government Committee, like the Health Committee, will be considering the response of the health and local government ombudsmen to the Executive document Modernising Complaints.
Parliament Officials are recommending responding to a public petition on allotments by conducting an inquiry.
Amongst the various issues raised in new petitions last week was one opposing the M74 extension which may cause further discussion. The petitioners do not dispute that an Environmental Impact Assessment has taken place, but argue that insufficient account has been taken so far of the effects on communities neighbouring the route.
As is often the case, several petitions attempted to get Parliament to intervene in local planning decisions and decisions of health boards and NHS trusts. This is inappropriate.
Today the Committee begins to discuss amendments to the Salmon Conservation Bill. This week’s amendments include a call for a commission on salmon mortality and for the publication of membership of every district fishery board.
Last Friday the Committee met in Dumfries and took evidence on the Hunting with Dogs Bill, hearing from the NFU and the Landowners Federation.
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee
As is often the case with this committee, no documentation relating to last week’s meeting has yet been released. Evidence was taken from Lucy McTernan of SCVO on the review of charity law, and Cumbernauld YMCA gave evidence with regard to the forthcoming housing bill.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
Buried in the minutiae of last week’s meeting is an order of the notification of discharge of pollutants, where the Committee believes that incompatibility with the ECHR may arise.
This week evidence will be taken from Executive officials regarding delegated powers in the Transport Bill.
Transport and the Environment Committee
The Committee will begin today to take evidence on its inquiry into water and the water industry. The first witnesses will be Scotland’s water authorities. The meeting will also look at a draft undertaking by the Executive which would allow the Executive to support lifeline ferry services to remote communities, and there will be private consideration of a report on Genetically Modified Organisms.
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