Audit Committee
Members considered a draft report of their inquiry into the Auditor General for Scotland 's (AGS) reports entitled "Scottish Executive: supporting new initiatives" and "Leadership Development".  They also looked at their approach to and arrangements for the inquiry into the AGS' section 22 report on Inverness College.

Communities Committee
Discussion of the Stage 1 report on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill continued in private.

Enterprise & Culture Committee
Last week, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Nicol Stephen, took questions on Scottish Enterprise - in particular, the potential impact of having less of a budget available this year than previously thought for the delivery of training and skills.  The Minister assured the Committee that a target of 30,000 apprentices was still on track, but did accept that there would be a knock-on effect from an over-commitment in the last financial year.  The Committee agreed to write to the Minister with its thoughts on what it thinks the budget priorities should be with reference training and skills.

The Committee then went on to discuss subordinate legislation relating to student fees.  This was the final opportunity to give thoughts on this measure before it is formally laid before parliament.  The issue will come back to Committee once it has been laid.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
The Committee continued its consideration of the Crofting Reform etc Bill.  Landowner managers representing areas not currently covered by crofting legislation from Arran , Dumfries and Galloway up to Spey Valley explored issues of how the Bill might be amended.  The Committee also heard from witnesses from Shetland and the Western Isles, highlighting areas they support in the Bill.  The Committee also heard evidence from Scotland 's two foremost legal experts on crofting who raised concerns over how the protection of crofting landlords' access to housing link with the planning legislation and the future role of the Crofting Commission.

Equal Opportunities Committee
Members continued their disability inquiry, looking this week at transport issues for people with disabilities. 

The Committee also took evidence on the Scottish Parliament Equality Framework with interesting evidence on the number of Parliament employees who feel harassed and bullied at work.

Justice 1 Committee
The Committee took written and verbal evidence on the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill and continued its Scottish Criminal Record Office inquiry, agreeing potential witnesses.

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee considered the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill.  There were 600 written submissions plus oral evidence taken from the Law Society; Scottish Law Agency and SCOLAG.

Public Petitions Committee
Last week's meeting heard a petition urging the Executive to ensure the Conservation Regulations 1994, as amended, are applied in relation to ship to ship oil transfers in Scotland . The Committee agreed to seek views on the petition from various agencies, including Forth Ports PLC, Melbourne Marine Services, Scottish Natural Heritage, Friends of the Earth Scotland, the RSPB, and the North Sea Commission.  Members will further seek the views of the petitioners on these responses once they have been received.

Members also heard from a petitioner calling for the mandatory provision of an audio recording of civil court proceedings to those parties with special needs such as dyslexia.  Members agreed to seek views on the petition from Dyslexia Scotland , the Scottish Court Service, the Disability Rights Commission and the Scottish Executive and then hear the views of the petitioner once responses had been received.

There were also three petitions raising issues regarding people with learning disabilities and, specifically, the progress of the Executive's "Same as You" review. The Committee took evidence on these petitions from Scottish Executive Health Department and agreed to seek further views from the Cross Party Group for Learning Disability and the petitioners.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee considered aspects of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill.  The Bill, which aims to modernise and extend the system of adoption in Scotland , contains a large number of delegated powers and decision making powers.  It also confers powers on the Court of Session to make court rules and on the Registrar General to make Instruments.  The Committee agreed that it is content with these powers, but will ask the Executive to clarify the position with regard to consultation.  The Committee went on to consider provisions which criminalise any attempt by a parent or guardian to remove a child from prospective adopters.

Other Committee Homepages:

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Education Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Finance Committee
Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Health Committee
Local Government and Transport Committee
Procedures Committee
Standards Committee