Committee News

Issue 28, 27^th March 2001

Audit Committee

Last week the audit Committee considered the Executive’s response to their report on funding further education colleges and has agreed to write to the Accountable Officer seeking further clarification.

The Committee also agreed to ask for further clarification on responses from the Executive and the Corporate Body on their report on the Holyrood project, but they also agreed not to seek a parliamentary debate on the report.

Education, Culture & Sport Committee

Last week, the Committee received assurances from the SQA that there are now more open lines of communication within the organisation following last year's criticism of the body's internal culture.

On the issue of markers, Chief Exec, Bill Morton, confirmed that 6,052 had been appointed with 1,307 responses still to be received. With a further 500 markers in reserve, Bill Morton said he was ‘confident’ that progress was satisfactory in this area. He went on to describe the current position as having sound foundations in place, with many improvements and changes which should allow effective preparation for certification in the summer having been made.

The Committee also discussed Scottish Opera. Concern was expressed at the recent financial award to the organisation and at the timing of the announcement. Karen Gillon’s (LAB) proposal to write to the First Minister for clarification of the position and of which Minister should attend the Committee to answer questions on the topic was agreed. It was also agreed that Ms Gillon would take up some of the issues around arms-length funding with the Scottish Arts Council.

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee

The ELL Committee has one agenda item this week - taking evidence from Deputy Enterprise Minister, Alasdair Morrison on the implications of foot and mouth outbreak on Scottish tourism. The Committee is very concerned at the impact on tourism, and the SNP have tabled a debate on tourism for their opposition afternoon in the chamber on Wednesday.

Equal Opportunities Committee

The Committee takes evidence for their ongoing inquiry into Travelling People and Public Sector Policies from Racial Equality Councils, local authorities and the Travellers Site Managers Association. Key issues arising during the inquiry have been the provision of health and education services and travellers’ tenants rights.

European Committee

This week sees a key evidence session on the Common Fisheries Policy, with the European Commission and Fisheries Minister, Rhona Brankin both in the frame. The Commission last week launched a green paper on CFP reform, along with a strategy for better integration of environmental issues into fisheries policy. Some aspects of the CFP were due for review in 2002, but the Commission has taken the opportunity to launch a root-and-branch reappraisal. Their starting point is an explicit acceptance of a ‘spiral of decline’ caused by over-fishing by a fleet that is too large.

The Committee has continuing concerns around the Postal Services Directive, which will progressively reduce the ability of a postal service to be a monopoly. Following a resolution of the European Parliament in December, this issue was up for discussion at the Stockholm summit over the weekend.

The Executive has responded positively to the Committee’s report on the controversy surrounding Commission proposals for football transfer fees.

A paper has been received from the Foods Standards Agency on plans for the new European Food Agency.

Finance Committee

This week, the Committee discusses letters from Finance Minister Angus Mackay and his deputy, Peter Peacock. The letters respond to questions raised (mainly by Andrew Wilson (SNP) and David Davidson (CON)) on a range of issues, including the water authorities and Scottish Enterprise when the ministers gave evidence on Stage 2 of the Budget (Scotland) Act 2001. For further details click here.

Justice Committee 1

This week’s papers have not yet been posted, but the agenda includes:

• Further evidence on the major inquiry into legal aid;
• Consideration of the UK Armed Forces Bill, which will be the subject of a Sewel motion on Thursday. The Bill affects devolved areas only insofar as it extends the circumstances in which Ministry of Defence Police can operate. It proposes that, at the request of the local chief constable, MoD police should be able to assist with civilian policing in the vicinity of MoD property;
• The petition by the UK men’s movement. The Committee only agreed to look at one aspect of their concerns, the call for anonymity of the accused person in a rape case unless and until found guilty.

There will be an unprecedented joint meeting of the Justice Committees this week to consider the Budget process. Members on the two Committees have been unable to reach consensus regarding how to proceed on this particular issue.

Justice Committee 2

This week’s meeting will hear evidence on drug driving. On Friday, Helen Liddell and Henry McLeish announced support for a police crackdown, following recent research sponsored by the Executive that showed:

• Just under a tenth (9%) of all respondents reported ever having driven under the influence of any of the illegal drugs asked about in the survey and 5% reported having done so in the past twelve months.
• Men were significantly more likely than women to have driven under the influence of drugs.
• Drug-driving would appear to be most prevalent among the 20 to 24 year old age group with much lower levels in older age groups.
• Driving after recreational drug use was widespread amongst individuals attending dance / nightclubs in Scotland.
• Cannabis was the illegal drug most widely implicated in drug-driving, but driving after other drugs was also commonplace.
• Many dance/nightclub attendees believed that cannabis had little or no impact on driving skills or performance.
• Many individuals had accepted a lift in a car driven by someone they knew had been using illegal drugs.
• Knowledge of the legal position regarding drug-driving was very poor.

The Committee also considers the Procurator Fiscal service again.

Local Government Committee

Last week the Committee took evidence on codes of conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies - a measure arising from the Ethical Standards Act - from Deputy Local Government Minister, Peter Peacock, the Accounts Commission, and CoSLA (who drafted the code). The Committee considers their conclusions on this issue this week.

Recommendations of the Dog Identification Group to establish a register has been on the agenda for a few weeks, with the Committee now likely to take evidence. The main issue is whether the register should be compulsory or voluntary.

Also, the Committee continues their inquiry into local government finance, this week taking evidence from rural local authorities.

Rural Development Committee

Last week’s agenda was largely cleared to allow discussion with Agriculture Minister, Ross Finnie, on the fast-changing situation regarding foot-&-mouth.

This week there is a draft report on land reform, and further consideration of the Less Favoured Areas payments scheme.

Social Justice Committee

Last week, the Committee stage 2 considered amendments to the Mortgage Rights Bill. These were all fairly straight forward.

Robert Brown’s (LIB DEM) amendments regarding same sex couples were withdrawn on the agreement that more suitable amendments would be submitted at stage 3.

Stage 2 of the Housing Bill will begin on 4^th April – the Committee’s next meeting – and is due for completion the week beginning 14^th May.

Standards Committee

No papers yet, but the Committee returns to the issues of lobbying and the appointment of a Standards Commissioner.

Subordinate Legislation Committee

Last week’s meeting did not throw up any particular issues, but several recurring themes were present:

• Regulations being drafted that may be ultra vires;
• Regulations being drafted later than the statutory deadlines;
• The interrelationship between European, UK and Scottish legislation.

Transport & the Environment Committee

The only topic at last week’s meeting was the order giving a grant to Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. This week’s meeting is all in private, and includes the water inquiry and the trunk roads issue.

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