Committee News - Special Festive Edition
Issue 18, 19th December 2000
As the Christmas recess begins on Thursday, this will be the last Committee News Bulletin of 2000.
The next issue will be published on Tuesday 9th January 2001.
We hope you have found these briefings useful and wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
In today’s meeting the Committee will decide whether to seek a Parliamentary debate on the new Scottish Parliament Building, and will hear from the Auditor General for Scotland on his report on the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
The committee meets this afternoon to discuss its forward work programme. At their last meeting, Mike Russell (SNP) suggested an inquiry into Gaelic broadcasting and a consideration of the British-Irish Council, suggesting educational links between Scotland and Northern Ireland as the focus. As the inquiry into Hampden was suspended, the committee is considering whether it is necessary to return to the issue. Committee members are also considering a second draft of their report into Special Educational Needs.
The committee met today to take evidence from the Scottish Refugee Council on the proposed housing bill. They also considered an options paper from Michael McMahon (LAB), as the committee’s race reporter, on the Crown Office Inquiries in the Chokkar case. The Committee decided to wait until the Crown Office’s review of family liaison issues and an independent judicial investigation into the handling of the case by the Crown are concluded before it takes any action.
As part of their forward work programme, the committee agreed to invite Jim Wallace and Colin Boyd to discuss general issues relating to the judicial system.
Last week, Jack McConnell gave evidence to the committee on the Parliament’s relations with the European Union in his capacity as Minister for External Affairs. Many of the questions to the minister were concerned with how he saw the role developing, and his views on the recent Nice summit.
Last week the Parliament debated the Finance Committee’s report on the 2001/02 budget process, and this week the committee will consider the Finance Minister’s response to the report, as well arrangements for the third and final stage of the budget process. The committee will also look at the financial implications of the Graduate Endowment Bill, and hear an update on the External Research commissioned from Professor Arthur Midwinter.
The committee met last week to consider the recommendations of the joint future group report, in particular on care of older people and charging for home care. It was agreed that Margaret Smith (LIB DEM) would prepare a response on behalf of the committee, comparing the report with the committee’s report on community care, which they would consider on 10th January. They also agreed to return to the issue of a Public Sector Ombudsman on 10th January, and indicated that they hoped there would be an opportunity, perhaps in the Chamber, to discuss the matter in depth.
Justice & Home Affairs Committee
Last week the Committee decided not to nominate a member to participate in the Executive’s diligence working group, but instead agreed to write to Angus MacKay asking to be kept informed.
The Committee agreed not to consider the Chhokar case at least until the Crown Office inquiries had been completed. There was also agreement not to hold an inquiry into the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash in the Mull of Kintyre, but to consider the relationship between the role of governmental boards of inquiry and judicial inquiries in such cases, particularly in relation to differing standards of proof. There was also evidence on the work of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
The committee met last week to take evidence on the consultation on Public Sector Ombudsmen in Scotland from Angus Mackay and COSLA, and concluded with a private discussion on their conclusions on the consultation.
Today the committee will be looking at the timetabling of amendments to bills, and is expected to recommend a shift in the deadline for stage 2 amendments to Bills, from 5pm to 2pm, 2 days before the meeting. The committee is also expected to decide against an immediate alteration in the deadlines which the Executive must adhere to for submitting amendments. Other topics for consideration will be Gaelic, substitutes on committees, the Consultative Steering Group principles and a paper from Donald Gorrie (LIB DEM) which says that the Scottish Parliament has too many debates.
Last week the Committee considered amendments on the Salmon Conservation Bill and decided to take additional evidence on the foxhunting Bill on 23rd January.
The Amendment stage on the Salmon Conservation Bill continues this week, and the committee is also expected to recommend that an independent body carry out an inquiry into the environmental impacts of sea cage fish farming.
Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee
The committee will begin meeting again in January when they are expected to be undertaking Stage 1 of the housing bill and pursuing the issue of asylum seekers.
This week the Committee will continue to consider its consultation on lobbying, and the establishment of a Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Transport and the Environment Committee
Much of last week’s meeting of the Committee focused on the inquiry into water and the water industry, with witnesses from the Scottish water authorities. Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack, also attended the Committee to give evidence on the Executive Undertaking on Northern Isles Ferries, which the parliament subsequently discussed on Thursday.
This week the Committee will hear from Environment Minister, Sam Galbraith, on the future of the water industry, and the Minister is likely to repeat the Executive’s commitment to developing the public sector model of water supply. Other witnesses include SCVO and the Campaign for Lower Water Charges. There will also be a private look at the second draft of a committee report on GMOs.
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