Committee News
Issue 23, 6th February 2001
Further evidence is taken this week from a number of Trusts and Health Boards into the consideration of the report: "Overview of the NHS in Scotland".
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the Committee concluded their evidence taking on the Regulation of Care Bill. Key issues arising have been the creation of two regulatory bodies as opposed to one; concerns from childminders that raising the age of children covered by regulations to 16 will restrict their ability to mind children around school hours; and a proposal that foster carers be included in the proposed workforce regulation, an issue that may arise again at Stage 2.
This week, the Committee returns to the issue of Hampden Park’s financial position and progress after a delay of several months, taking evidence from the Millennium Commission. With the completion of the deal in April 2000, it is expected that the inquiry will be short and concluded quickly.
Another issue being returned to this week is that of a Children’s Commissioner for Scotland, a position supported by many NGOs including Save the Children. The Executive have indicated it is open to further discussion on the matter and that the appointment in Wales of a Children’s Commissioner and the appointment of a Children’s Rights Director in England offers practical examples to learn from. As shadow education minister, Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) previously championed the proposal.
The Committee also notes a letter from the Convenor to Culture Minister Sam Galbraith regarding the recent request from Ministers that £1 million of the Scottish Art Council’s £4.9 million additional resources is awarded to Scottish Opera. In the Committee’s report last year into the national arts companies, serious concerns were expressed about funding for Scottish Opera and took the view that annual dispensations to enable it to meet its budgetary requirements was unsatisfactory.
Last week the Committee took evidence from Ministers Jackie Baillie and Margaret Curran on equality issues in the context of the Housing Bill. The Bill introduces measures such as the right to register for everyone over 16; succession rights for same-sex relationships and adopted children; and the same rights for disabled and non-disabled people in relation to tenancy and right to buy. But, as Jackie made clear, what is really important is not so much what is in the Bill but how it is implemented and followed up.
In questions more focused on the Committee’s remit, the issue of tenancy rights for travelling people was raised in line with the report that the Committee is currently completing.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
The ELLL Committee is very busy with a number of important inquiries and issues.
This week, Wendy Alexander, the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning gives evidence to the Committee on their New Economy Inquiry and on the national guidelines for Local Economic Forums (the new way in which local economic development will be delivered). At the end of the meeting, the Committee will consider its reports into the above issues in private.
The Committee is also taking evidence in small groups on the Duffner Report (the report into the Careers Service).
Stage 2 of the Graduate Endowment Bill will start shortly, as this week’s meeting considers the order in which the Bill will be considered.
Last week’s evidence on the Common Fisheries Policy from fishing and conservation organisations was predictable, in that all wish to see reform – as of course does the Executive. It is the content of the reforms that will cause controversy.
Publication of the Committee’s report on structural funds is imminent.
The Committee continues with its inquiry into resource accounting and budgeting, with further evidence being taken this week.
The Committee will also finalise Stage 2 of the Budget Bill, again with little contention expected.
Health & Community Care Committee
Last week’s evidence on the Regulation of Care Bill threw up a couple of new issues in addition to those discussed in previous weeks. The Bill crosses over from the community care field to the education field, and it is with regard to the latter that the relationship of the new Social Care Commission and Council to HMI needs to be clarified. It has also been pointed out, in the context of the Sutherland debate, that clause 2(20) of the Bill gives a definition of personal care, as ‘care which relates to the day to day physical tasks and needs of the person cared for…and to mental processes relating to those tasks’. Eating and washing, and remembering to do so, are given as examples.
This week’s evidence comes from care providers. Community Care Providers Scotland, representing voluntary organisations, will call as others have done for the widest range of services to be included in the new regulatory regime. They will also express concern that the Commission and Council may be wholly funded from fees charged to providers, arguing that voluntary organisations cannot absorb such a cost, and ask for financial help too with the one-off training costs in preparing for the new regime.
Scottish Care, representing the independent (private) sector, will also complain at the costs of the new system. As well as this, they are unhappy at being required to release information to local authorities, who they regard as commercial competitors because of their direct provider role – indeed they question whether local authorities should continue to be allowed to provide their own services.
Last week’s evidence on the Convention Rights Compliance Bill was uncontroversial. This week the Committee hears from the legal profession, and there is an advance submission from the Law Society of Scotland. A couple of issues are worth commenting on:
The Protection from Abuse Bill will proceed in its original, narrow form. It has been agreed not to incorporate the wider protections that the Executive had been considering.
As regards the petition from the UK Men’s Movement, the Committee has agreed to consult relevant organisations on the issue of anonymity of the accused in cases of rape and sexual offences against children.
This week the Committee gets down to real business with discussion of Glasgow Sheriff Court.
In their final evidence taking session on the Housing Bill last week, Shelter’s concerns over the dispute resolution process were clarified. Shelter were claiming that in the case of a Registered Social Landlord refusing to house a homeless person, the Bill did not ensure that a special manager could be appointed. As the Convenor pointed out to Shelter, the Bill in section 62(1) does meet their concerns, but dispute remained over this point and Shelter are likely to submit amendments at Stage 2.
This week, the Committee takes evidence on the Executive’s proposals for a power of community initiative, community planning and political restrictions on council employees.
At its last meeting, the Committee heard evidence from the Deputy Minister for Rural Development, Rhona Brankin, and officials from the Scottish Executive Rural Development Department on the implications of recent EU fisheries negotiations. This remains a hot political issue and, as the EU will publish a green paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy in the spring, will remain so.
Fergus Ewing (SNP) is to move a motion that recommends, "nothing further be done under the Agricultural Business Development Scheme". He wants to stop the ABDS in favour of its predecessor "ABIS" and is trying to reject it through a statutory instrument.
The Committee will consider a draft stage 1 report of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill. Given the nature of the membership of the rural development Committee and the widespread concern regarding terrier work, the Stage 1 Report is likely to provoke lively discussion.
Last week, the right to buy dominated discussion of the Housing Bill as the Committee took evidence from SFHA who are completely opposed to modernisation of right to buy and raise concerns over the envisaged bureaucracy of applying for pressured areas acting as a deterrent.
This week, the Committee takes evidence from the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Scottish Homes. CML have indicated that they have some concerns about the modernisation of the right to buy in so far as houses which may be sold ten years from now may have formed part of the security against which funds were lent to housing associations. Scottish Homes basically welcome their constitutional change from a QUANGO to an Executive Agency with responsibility for the introduction of a new single regulatory framework for Scottish social landlords.
The Committee will also consider the nomination of a member for the Working Group on Diligence against moveable property.
Most of the items on last week’s agenda have been deferred for further discussion. A difference of view has arisen over the appropriate term of office for the proposed Standards Commissioner.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last week saw only one issue of substance, in relation to the Convention Rights Compliance Bill. The Bill as drafted is thought to give ministers the power in future to bring any law into line with the ECHR without reference to the Parliament, and there are concerns at the strength of this remedial power. As Gordon Jackson (LAB) said, "I worry about that kind of thing, not because I do not love all members of the Scottish Executive dearly, but because there will be other Executives in the future."
Transport & the Environment Committee
The Committee was scheduled to meet in Aberdeen and continues with its in-depth water inquiry.
Given the recent very serious transport problems in Aberdeen, the Committee is also investigating integrated transport in the city. They are taking evidence from the Council and from economic development representatives from the North East. This is a very serious issue in the area following the closure of a local bridge. The city is basically in gridlock and local opinion is running extremely high. 2,500 people attended a public meeting and local politicians are under considerable pressure to take action.
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