Enterprise & Culture Committee
Last week saw the publication of the Committee's report into business growth in Scotland.  The report noted the success of schemes such as the Venture Capital Fund in improving the levels of investment by the private sector.  It recommended using such schemes as the basis for further improvements in the levels of private sector investment in Scotland.

The Committee also took evidence on Part 2 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill which covers floating charges and enforcement. Part 3 is this week.

The issue of additional fees for medical students came to the fore via an SSI.  This also covered an increase in tuition fees and the Committee heard from NUS Scotland on the SSI.  Having considered the evidence, the Committee has agreed to ask the Executive for more information on the statutory instrument.

European and External Relations Committee
The Committee considered a paper and an oral update from Dennis Canavan (IND) and Jim Wallace (LD) for its inquiry into possible co-operation between Scotland and Ireland and the inquiry into the transposition and implementation of European Directives in Scotland.  The Committee also noted a paper on the proposed European Institute of Technology and agreed that the proposal would be included in the work programme paper at its next meeting.

Finance Committee
For its inquiry into the Financial Memorandum for the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill, the Committee agreed to adopt level 2 scrutiny, i.e. they will take oral evidence from Scottish Executive officials and also seek written evidence from relevant organisations.  For its inquiry into the Financial Memorandum for the Crofting Reform etc. Bill, the Committee agreed to adopt level 1 scrutiny for the Financial Memorandum i.e. that they will seek written evidence from relevant organisations and pass these on to the lead Committee.

The Committee also considered two draft reports. It agreed the draft report of its inquiry into the cost of the local authority single status agreement, subject to various changes being made.  A draft report on its cross cutting inquiry into deprivation was also considered and a further draft will come back to the next meeting.

Justice 1 Committee
Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, moved a motion that the draft Advice and Assistance (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 be approved. After debate, the motion was agreed.  The Committee went on to consider the recommendation that the draft Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 be approved.  This motion was also agreed after debate.

No recommendations were made in relation to the following negative instruments: the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2006; and the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2006.

On the family support services inquiry, the Committee considered and agreed the remit and timescale for the inquiry as proposed by the Committee reporter.  The Committee also considered correspondence received from the Minister for Justice on issues surrounding the  and agreed to consider this matter further at its next meeting.

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee started the session by taking evidence from Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, on the Fisheries Protection Order.  This was followed by Stage 2 of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.  All the Ministerial amendments were passed, and Colin Fox (SSP) withdrew his amendment concerning public processions following assurances from the Minister.  Mr Henry went on to discuss the draft Risk Assessment and Minimisation (Accreditation Scheme) Scotland Order.  No concerns were raised.  The Committee then went into private session to consider its draft report on the legislative consent for the UK Police and Justice Bill, currently before the Westminster Parliament.

Local Government and Transport Committee
Last week's meeting looked at section 9 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.  This deals with issues surrounding business improvement districts, which currently exist in England.  The Committee took evidence from the Association of Town Centre Management who were very supportive of the Scottish proposals and noted that they believed Scotland had in fact researched the English legislation and built into the Scottish proposals the lessons to be learnt.  The representative highlighted that business improvement districts in England have proved successful and that, out of 27 applications where the majority of local businesses have had to vote on whether to set up a district, 22 have received overwhelming support.  Evidence was also taken from the Federation of Small Businesses, who were largely opposed to the proposals, believing that local businesses pay enough in local taxation.  The Committee will take more evidence this week and will complete its report in due course.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The majority of the meeting was spent considering the large number of delegated powers in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.  These relate to issues ranging from the National Planning Framework, Development Plans, Action Programmes, Planning Obligations and Enforcement.  Under a new section (35a), there were three powers for the Committee to consider.  The new section places a duty on a prospective applicant for planning permission for certain prescribed classes of development.  Ministers have a power to make regulations in these classes.  Ministers may also prescribe under subsection 5 the form of notice and under subsection 7 there is a requirement for a planning authority to provide a statement confirming its opinion to the applicant within 21 days of the notice being given, or any such period as may be substituted in regulations made by Ministers.

The Committee also considered issues surrounding the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 in relation to the display of no smoking notices and the planning consent needed for these.  There were some minor points that the Committee decided could be raised with the Executive in an informal letter.