Communities Committee
The Committee last week had two evidence sessions with Deputy Communities Minister, Johann Lamont, on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.  Issues covered included a third party right of appeal, with the Minister giving a robust answer on the Executive position and focusing the response on the need for more consultative, well-managed and accessible consultation with communities at the very earliest stages of the planning process.

Education Committee
The Committee began last week's meeting with Stage 2 consideration of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill.  This aims to encourage more parental involvement in schools by moving away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach of the school boards system, replacing it with a more flexible system of representation which reaches out to all parents and empowers them to decide on the model which best meets the needs and circumstances of their school.

The Committee also dealt with subordinate legislation which sets up the Additional Support Needs Tribunals legislated for in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Stage 2 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill was completed.

European and External Relations Committee
Members considered a paper from the legal advisor on Petition PE804 which concerned withdrawal from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The advice stated that the CFP is a binding agreement and that any derogation from it would have to be through renegotiation of the Treaty establishing the European Communities.  As this was unlikely to happen, the Committee was forced into the position of voting to invite the petitioner to the next meeting of the Committee.  The vote was carried by 5 to 4. 

The Committee also took an item which was not on the agenda from John Home Robertson (LAB) relating to the current strike action being taken across the UK due to concerns over pension issues and how they related to EU pension legislation.  The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Executive to seek further information on this matter.

Finance Committee
For its inquiry into the Scottish Executive’s Policy and Financial Management Reviews, the Committee considered a paper from the Clerk setting out the way forward for the inquiry.

The Committee agreed to adopt level 2 scrutiny for the Financial Memorandum for the Tourist Boards (Scotland) Bill i.e. that it should take oral evidence from Scottish Executive officials and also seek written evidence from relevant organisations.

The Committee also agreed a draft report for its inquiry into deprivation, subject to various changes being made.

Health Committee
More evidence on the care inquiry, last week from Deputy Health Minister, Lewis Macdonald.  Concerns again focussed on funding concerns surrounding free personal care for the elderly.  Mr Macdonald has agreed to supply members with details of the allocation of local authority funding for implementing free personal care over the current financial year and he will appear before the Committee again on 16 May.  In addition, the Committee agreed to write to each local authority asking how much money they have been allocated, details of their estimated actual expenditure, how long waiting times are etc.

Justice 1 Committee
Members considered the forthcoming Scottish Criminal Records Office inquiry, agreeing witnesses for a meeting later this month and to call for written evidence.  Once written evidence is received, the Committee will hold discussions on who else to call to give evidence.  Mike Pringle (LD) asked for legal advice to be provided to the Committee in terms of what was relevant to ask and how questions should be formed.

Justice 2 Committee
Stage 2 of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill continued.  Paul Martin (LAB) withdrew his amendment on the storing of DNA in all circumstances following agreement by the Committee for further discussion on the issue.

Local Government and Transport Committee
The freight transport inquiry continued with members using the evidence session to raise with Highland and Island Enterprise the issues highlighted last week regarding the need for more rest stops in order to comply with the European Employment Directive.  HIE argued that more rest stops were not viable given the only places available for vehicles to stop would be small villages, which do not have suitable roads and that this would cause friction with locals.

The Committee also agreed its stage 1 report on the Local Electoral Administration & Registration Services (Scotland) Bill.

Standards Committee
The Committee considered the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Bill as amended at Stage 2 and agreed to delegate to the Convener the authority to finalise the following amendments to be lodged on behalf of the Committee for consideration during Stage 3 of the Bill:

• The inclusion of registerable non-financial interests;

• The inclusion of the prejudice test to overseas visits; and

• A power to amend the terms of the schedule.

The Committee also agreed to delegate to the Convener the authority to discuss an amendment to the schedule with Margaret Jamieson (LAB), with a view to an amendment being lodged for consideration during Stage 3 of the Bill.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last week's meeting again discussed issues surrounding the delegated powers in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.  The Committee considered a new section, 4(1), which gives the power to designate a group of planning authorities to prepare a strategic development plan.  This provision enables Ministers to designate a group of planning authorities - known as "a strategic development planning authority" for the purposes of preparing a strategic development plan in a prescribed area.  The Committee was broadly content with this power, but asked the Executive about its plans for consultation in relation to such Orders and why it had decided not to include a statutory requirement to consult in the Bill.  The Executive responded by stating that it will consult planning authorities on the proposed strategic development plan areas.

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
Procedures Committee
Public Petitions Committee