Communities Committee
The Committee held two sessions last week to consider its Stage 1 report on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.  The second session also dealt with a legislative consent memorandum on an aspect of the UK Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc. Bill which would allow the UK to deal with a technical matter relating to decisions which were taken affecting Scottish Housing Associations pre-1989.  Evidence was taken from Deputy Communities Minister, Johann Lamont, on the memorandum and the Committee agreed to recommend that it should be approved.

Education Committee
Members met in private last week to consider a draft report of its early years inquiry.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
The Committee met in Stornoway last week for further consideration of the Crofting Reform etc Bill.  This time they heard a Western Isles perspective on crofting from community organisations such as South Lewis & Harris Rural Community Housing Pilot Group, the Stornoway Trust and the South Uist Community Company.  The Committee heard various concerns about opening crofts up to the free market and the lack of activity from the Crofting Commission over absentee landlords.  There were also contributions giving thoughts on what might be done to encourage innovation in crofts by young, new tenants without compromising the main crofting purpose.

European and External Relations Committee
Last week's meeting saw the Committee embarking on its Structural Funds inquiry.  It sought written evidence on how best to spend the funds, which were worth over £1bn to Scotland in 2000–2006.  Due to the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 member states, however, the money available for Scotland could be cut by as much as 55% in 2007 – 2013.

The inquiry will examine:

• How Scotland can maximise the reduced funds available;

• How well the funds have been distributed to date;

• Possible changes to how funds are distributed; and

• The main priority areas for funding.

In addition to examining the future distribution of Structural Funds, the Committee's inquiry will respond to UK Government's National Strategic Regional Framework (NSRF) consultation document.  This document poses a series of specific questions about how the UK Government plans to manage Structural Funds for 2007-2013.  

Finance Committee
Members met last week to take evidence on the Financial Memorandum for the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill from Scottish Executive officials.  Members discussed submissions from the Law Society and Scottish Legal Aid Board which were critical of the costings in the Financial Memorandum, however no alternatives were given.  There was also discussion surrounding staffing levels, training and complaints handling.

The Committee also took evidence on the Financial Memorandum for the Tourist Boards (Scotland) Bill from a Scottish Executive official. Members discussed the commitment that the Bill will not impose any additional costs on local authorities, VisitScotland’s VAT liability and debt levels.  The Executive agreed to provide the Committee with a breakdown of the aggregate Area Tourist Board deficit.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
The Committee met at Renfrewshire Council HQ last week, where they heard from Scottish Enterprise; Glasgow City Council; Glasgow and Renfrewshire Chambers of Commerce; SCDI; Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company; and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.  Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company expressed their support for the Bill, citing the positive economic impacts for both Glasgow and its businesses and for the most disadvantaged areas of Renfrewshire.  Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce expressed concerns on behalf of BAA regarding the compulsory purchase power of land around Glasgow Airport.  BAA is concerned that this might not be in the best interests of the airport.  However, the airport is willing to lease the land.  In addition, the Chamber expressed the concerns of some of the Renfrewshire business community about how the rail link is to be funded.  Citing the example of Newquay - where an additional levy on airlines of £5 per person raised by the local authority forced Ryanair to pull out of the airport - the Chamber supports the rail link, so long as Glasgow Airport is protected from unfair cost increases that it considers may impact on the beneficial effects of the link on the Renfrewshire economy.

Health Committee
Last week's meeting received a pre-briefing on the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill from Jude Payne, Senior Research Specialist from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).  The Committee also agreed its work programme for 2006/7, which will be published in due course.

Justice 1 Committee
In a long and sometimes fractious meeting, the Committee began its Scottish Criminal Record Office inquiry, taking evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including the Scottish Police Services Authority, the Scottish Criminal Record Office and the Scottish Fingerprint Service.  Members also heard from Head of Counter Terrorism Forensic Services at the Metropolitan Police; a Senior Advisor Fingerprints for the Dutch National Police Force; and the US Department of Homeland Security.  The inquiry continues.

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill from civil servants from the Scottish Executive's Access to Justice Division.  The Committee also agreed to delegate to the Convener responsibility for arranging for the SPCB to pay, under Rule 12.4.3, any expenses of witnesses in the inquiry.

The Committee then considered a draft report on memorandum LCM (S2) 4.1 on the Police and Justice Bill, currently under consideration at Westminster.  A number of changes were proposed and agreed, two by division. 

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee continued its freight transport inquiry, last week hearing evidence from Network Rail and Transport Scotland.  Network Rail highlighted the need to maximise rail freight transport and the needs associated with maintaining this form of freight transport.

Procedures Committee
Members considered and agreed a draft annual report for the parliamentary year 7th May 2005 to 6th May 2006.  They then went on to consider the timescale for the completion of the inquiry into the review of parliamentary time and agreed to consider issues papers on the inquiry’s main themes at future meetings. The Committee also agreed that rule-changes were required to prevent an MSP who was a member in charge of a Member’s Bill also participating as a member of a Committee scrutinising the Bill.  It further agreed to recommend rule-changes to allow a substitute to stand in for the member in charge during relevant parts of Committee meetings.  The Committee will consider further at a subsequent meeting how the new rules would apply in cases where the member in charge of the Bill was not a member of a party entitled to appoint Committee substitutes.  The Committee then agreed that the requirement for Committee annual reports should be retained and agreed that written evidence received be forwarded to the Conveners’ Group with a recommendation that its guidance to Committees on the format and content of those reports be reviewed.  On the issue of the proposed Transport and Works Bill, the Committee agreed a draft letter in response to the Executive’s consultation.

Standards Committee
The Committee considered a paper on the structure of the Code of Conduct for MSPs and agreed its approach to a revised structure based on recommendations in the paper.  Members agreed to seek the advice of the Presiding Officer and the First Minister on various sections of the code. The Committee also considered a paper on guidance for MSPs in dealing with unacceptable actions and agreed to develop the policy as outlined in the report and circulate a draft of a policy to Business Managers of parties and groups represented on the Parliamentary Bureau.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The meeting considered the delegated powers in the Crofting Reform etc Bill.  There has previously been a number of areas where clarification was needed, which the Committee had sought from the Executive.  The Executive responded to the Committee on the matter of Avian Flu in wild birds to the satisfaction of Committee members.  The Committee then discussed a number of SSI's on water supplies and joint inspections, but no points arose.

Other Committee Homepages: