Audit Committee
The Committee travelled to Inverness last week to take evidence on the Section 22 reports on Inverness College.  It heard from the Chair of the Board of Management, the Director of Finance & Commercialisation and the Chair of The Finance and General Purposes Committee.  The Committee agreed to take evidence from the Accountable Officer of the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department at a future meeting. It also agreed to write to the Scottish Funding Council and Inverness College seeking clarification on a number of issues raised during discussion.  It was recognised that, while Inverness College has financial difficulties, it is by no means a failing college and the Funding Council has compiled a report which should help the college get its finances back on track.

Communities Committee
Last week's meeting took evidence on homelessness from various organisations with an interest in the field.  This session was an opportunity for the Committee to hear about the progress of the homelessness working groups and gather evidence on issues which may be of concern.  The evidence gathered will be relayed to the Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, when he appears before the Committee on 24th May.

Education Committee
The Committee took evidence on the draft Joint Inspections (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2006, hearing from the Deputy Education Minister and officials.  The regulations were approved by the Committee.

It also began evidence sessions on the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill, hearing from organisations including the British Association for Adoption and Fostering Scotland, Children in Scotland, Children 1st, Barnardo's Scotland and the Scottish Adoption Advisory Service.  The main issues raised were: permanency orders, withdrawal of rights of birth parents, adoption by unmarried couples, fostering and adoption allowances and kinship care.

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee heard from the Executive on the Tourist Boards (Scotland) Bill.  The Bill is mainly a technical measure related to the changes to the organisation of tourism and the name change for Visit Scotland following last year's reorganisation.

There was also a lively debate about Michael Matheson's (SNP) proposals for a national debate on a national anthem for Scotland.  Unfortunately, the proceedings degenerated into petty politics and Mr Matheson's idea to spark a national debate was rejected by the Committee.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Members met in Oban to continue taking evidence on the Crofting Reform etc Bill.  Four panels of witnesses included crofting organisations and land managers, such as the Scottish Crofting Foundation, the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Renewables Forum.  In the main, the witnesses welcomed the new opportunities to set up crofts under the Bill, but concerns remain regarding the long-term viability of crofting and the performance of the Crofters' Commission.  Again, affordable housing was raised as an issue for crofting communities.

This week, the Committee will meet in Inverness, where it will take its final set of evidence from local crofters - this time representing the Highlands and Shetland Isles - as well as the Ministers.

Equal Opportunities Committee
The disability inquiry continued with evidence from Transport Minister, Tavish Scott and various disability transport groups (UPDATE, DisabledGo, Scottish Accessible Information Forum) on transport issues.  Issues raised concerned access to appropriate transport to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities to access employment and leisure.

The next issue for the Committee for the inquiry is architecture, dealing specifically with new-builds where barriers remain for disabled people (for example, accessing locked disabled toilets).

European and External Relations Committee
As part of its work programme 2006, the Committee discussed a briefing paper on energy issues.  It discussed the extent of evidence which can be taken in relation to a large part of the energy Green Paper which is reserved to Westminster.  The Committee decided it would look at energy conservation.

Members also discussed a letter written to the convenor from Scottish Public Pension’s Agency regarding local government pensions.  The discussion centred on the removal of the "rule of 85" and Ministers' stance on the legal requirement to remain compliant with the EC Directive.

The Committee took evidence from Jeremy Wyatt, Managing Director of Hall Aitken (authors of "Making Every Euro Count", a report on EU Structural Funds administration options for Scotland), on the UK Government’s National Strategic Reference Framework (which poses a series of specific questions about how the UK Government plan to manage Structural Funds for 2007-2013) and "An Inquiry into the Scottish Executive’s plans for future structural funds programmes 2007-13".  The Committee is seeking written evidence on how best to spend the funds, which were worth over one billion pounds 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.  Mr Wyatt gave his view on comparisons which had been made between how other EU countries administered their structural funds and stated that the level of uncertainty surrounding the future management and levels of funding for Scotland is having a negative impact on the people involved in this on a day-to-day basis.

Finance Committee
For its inquiry into the Financial Memorandum for the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill, the Committee had previously agreed to undertake level 2 scrutiny and issued its standard questionnaire to potentially affected organisations.  Members last week discussed the written submissions from the Scottish Legal Aid Board; Fostering Network; and British Association for Adoption and Fostering. The Committee also took oral evidence from Scottish Executive officials. The officials agreed to write to the Committee clarifying a number of issues and providing updated figures in relation to the Financial Memorandum. 

The Committee agreed to adopt level 3 scrutiny when considering the Financial Memorandum for the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill - i.e. that it should take oral evidence from affected organisations followed by Scottish Executive officials and also seek written evidence from relevant organisations.

The meeting also agreed: the contents of the Committee's annual report; its report on the Financial Memorandum for the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill and its report on the Financial Memorandum for the Tourist Boards (Scotland) Bill, subject to specified changes being made.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
The Committee heard from Infratil Airports Ltd., Scottish Airports Ltd., Passenger Focus Group Scotland., the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport on the general principles of the Bill.

Health Committee
The Committee last week considered its approach to the Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill, considering a timetable for the Bill and from whom it would seek to take evidence.  The Committee also took its first look at the care inquiry report and decided to finalise it at a future meeting, after this week's evidence session on direct payments.

Justice 1 Committee
A roundtable discussion on the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill featured representatives of the Scottish courts system.  The discussion centred on proposed changes to the role of JPs and District Courts.  Some of the concerns raised included the re-appointment and training of JPs and the proposals for a Procurator Fiscal fines system.

Justice 2 Committee
More on the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill last week, with evidence from 3 panels of witnesses which included Citizens Advice Scotland; academics; and Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers.

The Committee then considered its draft annual report for the Parliamentary year from 7 May 2005 to 6 May 2006.

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee continued its freight transport inquiry, with evidence from Transport Minister, Tavish Scott; Scottish Enterprise; the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland; and Transport Scotland.  The evidence sessions are now complete and the Committee will begin drafting its report.

Also, Fergus Ewing (SNP) was elected as Deputy Convener and Andrew Arbuckle (LD) has resigned to be replaced by Mike Rumbles (LD).

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee considered issues surrounding the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill.  The Bill contains a number of provisions aimed at improving the operation of the summary justice (i.e. courts without a jury) system.  It also brings forward reform of the operation of the bail and remand system in Scotland.  The Bill makes provision in 8 main areas. (1) reform to the system of bail and remand; (2) changes in the law relating to criminal proceedings relating mainly to procedure in summary cases; (3) increases in the criminal sentencing powers to summary courts; (4) extending the range of alternatives to prosecution which can be offered to an alleged offender; (5) reform of the way in which fines and other financial penalties imposed can be collected and enforced; (6) the establishment of Justice of the Peace courts in place of District Courts; (7) reform of the procedures by which justices of the peace (JPs) are appointed and trained; and (8) placing the existing Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland on a statutory footing.

Other Committee Homepages:

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Procedures Committee
Public Petitions Committee
Standards Committee