Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue 198, 10th October 2006

 

Enterprise & Culture Committee
The Committee questioned Historic Scotland and the National Library of Scotland on the budget process.  In particular, the Committee questioned the National Library on what actions it was taking to widen access to this national resource and to work with local libraries to that end.

The Committee also considered further amendments to the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill and looked at the proposed Bill to establish a national register of tartans, on which it agreed to call for written evidence in the first instance.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
Evidence on the budget process for 2007/08 last week took the form of a roundtable discussion.  Views were sought from the Parliament's Budget Advisor, the Disability Right's Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equality Network.

 

Finance Committee
The Committee debated the Single Status arrangements for Local Government and discussed the Executive's response on its report into deprivation.

 

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
The Committee has completed the consideration stage of the Bill and will publish its report at the end of October.  It will take amendments to the Bill starting from 14th November 2006.

 

Health Committee
Last week's meeting featured a round table discussion on the subject of the Scottish Mental Health Budget for 2007-08. Based on the evidence given, the Committee will compile a report to present to the Finance Committee.

The Deputy Minister for Health, Lewis Macdonald, also gave evidence on the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill.  The Minister addressed some of the Committee’s concerns and the Committee will now move to producing a Stage 1 report.

 

Justice 1 Committee
The Committee considered a number of Stage 2 amendments to the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill, with a number from Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry, being agreed.

 

Justice 2 Committee
Amendments to the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill were discussed, but nothing controversial was raised.  The Committee then considered in private its report on the Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Bill and its approach to the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill.

 

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee last week took its final piece of Stage 1 evidence on the Transport and Works (Scotland) Bill, hearing from the Transport Minister, Transport Scotland and Solicitors from the Official Solicitor to the Scottish Executive.

Officials from the Corporate Killing and Prostitution Team then gave Stage 1 evidence for Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill, as did Margo Macdonald (IND).

  

Procedures Committee
In a short meeting, the Committee took evidence from Brian Adam (SNP) Convener of the Standards Committee.  There was nothing controversial to note.

 

Public Petitions Committee
The Committee was in the news last week as it received its 1000th petition.  The meeting also considered a plea for the human rights of Palestinians; a demand that the system of school clothing grants be updated; a petition by a Scot living in Scandinavia about the danger of microchip implants; oil transfers at sea; and one seeking removal of any form of religious studies in schools.

One petition which came back to the Committee was on the provision of lockers for secondary school pupils.  The Executive responded to the Committee's concerns, saying it was a local authority decision.  Members agreed to forward the petition to the Education Committee for its views.

 

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee considered the delegated powers in the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill and the Commissioner for Older People (Scotland) Bill and agreed the terms of its reports on both.

The Committee agreed to draw the attention of Parliament to the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Severance Payments) Regulations 2006.

It also agreed there were no points to raise over a series of Instruments subject to annulment.   

 

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
Communities Committee
Education Committee
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee
European and External Relations Committee

Standards Committee

                  

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