Committee News
Issue 32, 8th May 2001
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the Committee began preparations for its debate on Special Educational Needs with Mike Russell (SNP) expressing disappointment at Brian Monteith’s (CON) misrepresentation of the Committee’s report on publication. The chamber debate is likely to be dominated by the issue of funding for special schools whose grant aided status will continue until 2003.
On the issue of school closures, Mike Russell (SNP) urged the Executive to follow England’s example and investigate national guidelines. It was agreed that Cathy Peattie (LAB) take this forward.
This week, the Committee takes evidence from trade unions associated with the SQA, including T&G, MSF and Unison, as part of its ongoing monitoring of this year’s exam programme.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence on its inquiry into SHEFC’s Review of Teaching and Research Funding. Members continue taking evidence this week with evidence being given that links research and economic development. Considerable opposition has been expressed by many in the HE sector to SHEFC’s funding proposals. The ELLL Committee is focussing its inquiry into the impact of research funding on the wider economy.
The consideration of the 2002/3 budget process has been deferred. The ELLL budget is very large and much of it is directed to a number of big spending QUANGOs – SHEFC, Scottish Enterprise and Students Awards Agency Scotland. Questioning, therefore, will probably focus on these agencies.
While the Committee has been continuing with its Travelling People Inquiry, members have also been considering the Budget 2002/03. Also under consideration is gender impact analysis, with evidence being taken evidence from Engender who are taking a lead on this.
The Committee is also looking at disability, lesbian & gay and race issues in relation to the budget. The Committee has also received a submission from the UK Men’s Movement. This Committee will be raising these issues when they take evidence from Jackie Baillie on the Budget 2002/03.
This week’s Committee will deal with a complex issue: how to scrutinise the implementation of EU law that affects Scotland in devolved areas when UK ministers are responsible for the implementation.
Members will also agree a major inquiry into ‘Governance’, which in this context means the role of Scotland and other regions with legislative assemblies in the EU. The Executive and CoSLA launched a well-received paper on this subject a few weeks ago.
Also on the agenda are the Workers’ Consultation Directive and the Postal Services Directive, where the Committee and the European Parliament have expressed concerns about the effect of the proposed competition.
The Finance Committee commissioned research from Prof. Arthur Midwinter from Strathclyde University on the Scottish Parliament’s budget process and the extent to which Parliament can impact on the budget process. This research was published last week and is available by clicking here.
It makes interesting reading, although much of its emphasis is on the ‘deflator’ that is applied to spending totals. This sounds quite technical but it is important as it defines how the Executive makes ‘cash’ figures ‘real’ figures. In other words we know that £100 this year is worth less that £100 last year. The Treasury ‘deflator’ is a fraction that is applied to spending figures to take account of expected inflation. This allows policy makers to compare ‘like-with-like’. Obviously the way this ‘deflator’ is defined can make spending figures look good or bad – if the deflator overestimated future inflation, then spending figures wouldn’t look as good as if it were the other way around. However, the real challenge is to get as accurate a reflection of price increases as possible – this means that spending decisions are made on the best platform possible.
This week's Finance Committee will consider Prof. Midwinter’s research and will decide how to proceed.
Health & Community Care Committee
Last week’s meeting continued extensive discussion of the budget, and also stage 2 of the Regulation of Care Bill. An amendment from Richard Simpson (LAB) dealing with the voluntary sector was passed against the wishes of the Executive. There is a concern that Local Authorities who commission services will not fund the costs of registering with the new Care Commission, and Richard is seeking to ensure that they do.
The Convention Rights Compliance Bill completed stage 2 without difficulty last week, despite (or because of) some very technical drafting dealing with the transfer of life prisoners from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
This week the Committee continues with its inquiry into legal aid, and returns to examine a draft of Maureen Macmillan’s (LAB) proposed Protection from Abuse Bill.
Last week’s short meeting considered the evidence to be taken at stage 1 of the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Bill. A number of written submissions have been received, the majority of which raise the issues of universal jurisdiction and a United Nations trust fund for victims.
The other main forthcoming issue is the inquiry into the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal service.
In private last week, the Committee agreed its stage 1 report on the Tendering Bill - essentially a technical bill extending Compulsory Competitive Tendering in order to extend the moratorium, with the only voice of dissent being Keith Harding’s (CON).
This week evidence is taken from Prof. John Curtice and the Scottish Executive on consultation on a draft Timing of Elections Bill. While there is general agreement on 4-year terms for local government, there is less agreement on how this should be achieved and whether or not the election should be on the same day as Scottish Parliament elections. We are only at the consultation stage, but positions are already beginning to emerge. Labour and Liberal Democrat Committee members are supporting the position that we move directly to 4-year terms with a shared election date. The SNP seem to agree with 4 years, but argue that it should remain 3 years until both elections converge. On behalf of the Tories, Keith Harding appears to be advocating a different Election Day for local government from the Scottish Parliament.
Last week’s official report is not available, but the Committee agreed to take forward an inquiry into Parliamentary Questions, and Donald Gorrie’s (LIB DEM) ideas regarding the Executive’s response to Parliament motions.
RDC will consider the same issue as T&E on the environmental impact of sea cage fish farming. The Committees have recommended that the Executive conducts an independent inquiry into sea cage fish farming but, as the Executive has refused, there is not a lot they can do about it except launch their own inquiries. As this was one of the options identified by Reporters from both RDC and T&E, it is possible the Committee may revisit this option today.
The Committee also takes evidence from Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie, on the Budget process.
Continuing stage 2 of the Housing Bill, Social Justice moves on to the consideration of amendments on the right to buy and tenant participation, including housing co-operatives. Last week’s meetings led to a confrontation between Labour and the SNP members over tenants in social housing having the right to buy.
This week the Committee starts to flesh out its proposals for the statutory regulation of commercial lobbying, and a voluntary code for everyone involved in lobbying.
There has also been a suggestion from the Clerks regarding party spokespersons making visits. They suggest that opposition frontbenchers should be free to visit any constituency so long as the local member is informed as a courtesy – this is similar to the Westminster system.
More cross-party groups are up for approval. The current number of approved groups already stands at no less than 39, including the one on ‘information, knowledge and enlightenment’…
A last minute addition to the agenda is a complaint about the conduct of last week’s meeting of the Rural Development Committee, which again deferred the Wild Mammals Bill.
Transport & the Environment Committee
The Committee has a number of ongoing items of business. The Inquiry into Scotland’s Water Industry is nearing completion with the Committee now considering the first drafts of the report. The new Inquiry into the Trunk Road Maintenance Contracts is still in its preliminary stages with no evidence being given in public as yet.
One other important issue being raised relates to a proposal from both the Rural Development and T&E Committee that the Executive establish an independent inquiry into the environmental impact of sea cage fish farming. Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie has now responded to the proposal and has indicated that the Executive is not keen to undertake such an inquiry. Mr Finnie’s letter was ‘leaked’ to Friends of the Earth last week who have subsequently attacked the Executive for their position. The Executive argue that an environmental impact of sea cage fish farming is clear, that further scientific research is required but action must be taken now to deal with the concerns held by many. The Executive does not believe that an inquiry would actually improve matters, rather a review and consultation conducted by Deputy Rural Affairs Minister, Rhona Brankin would be of greater use.
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