Committee News
Issue 34, 22nd May 2001
Last week the Committee continued its investigation into the financial difficulties experienced by the NHS in Tayside.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week the Committee heard from the top brass in the SQA. Given the Executive's priority to ensure that things go smoothly this year, there was firm questioning on issues such as markers, communication, and staff.
A helpful paper on consulting children was received, which has itself involved children in its drafting.
This week the Committee returns again to the hot issue of the National stadium.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
The Committee has continued on the budget, and this week considers its report into the New Economy in private.
The Procedures Committee has initiated an inquiry into the founding principles of the Parliament, as articulated by the Consultative Steering Group. Equal Opportunities was a fundamental aspect of this, and the Equal Opps Committee gets its say this week.
This week sees a visit from a large number of members of the Committee of the Regions from all over the EU. This is part of the forthcoming inquiry into governance.
Outwith the agenda, the Committee’s report on the Common Fisheries Policy has finally been published. This states that while a CFP is necessary there is an urgent need for reform and accountability.
This week the Committee considers the Annual Expenditure Report of the Executive. An interesting point in the study of the report, which is distributed in the Committee papers, is that, alongside the big increases to public services such as health and education, there is a fall in the allocation to the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
The Committee also reaches its final report on Resource Accounting & Budgeting.
Health & Community Care Committee
Last week’s meeting continued discussion of the budget, and concluded stage 2 of the Regulation of Care Bill. This week Health Minister, Susan Deacon, speaks to the Committee about the issues of haemophilia and hepatitis C.
Last week the Committee considered the Draft Freedom of Information Bill. A written submission from the Society of Media Lawyers (who advise the media before they print or broadcast something) raises a number of concerns.
Anyone who is around the Parliament on a Wednesday will be familiar with Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers, who demonstrate outside every week. Their petition has been referred to the Committee for information, and the substance of their concerns will be subsumed into the forthcoming inquiry into the regulation of the legal profession.
There was a further joint meeting on the budget last week and will be another this week. Meanwhile, Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, has announced additional financial allocations for the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
Last week there was a petition on asbestos related diseases, expressing concern that, notwithstanding what the UK Government has done, the Scottish courts are interpreting time limits in an unnecessarily restrictive manner. The views of the legal establishment will be sought.
This week the Committee turns to the issue of women's offending. A number of organisations have been asked to give evidence on the appropriate use of custody for women offenders, and on whether changes have been felt in the system in recent years.
Last week’s session on the budget did not really throw up new issues. Falkirk and Perth Councils welcomed additional investment but said that it still wasn’t enough. Finance and Local Government Minister, Angus Mackay, stressed his open mind on local government finance, but pointed out that the Executive is working against a backdrop of long-term under-investment.
This week’s session on the local government finance inquiry hears from the Institute of Rating Revenues and Valuation (IRRV).
There is also a draft paper on non-domestic rates.
This week the Committee considers the changes to Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow, which have aroused intense local passions there.
The Committee considers a range of fisheries matters this week, but likely to be of more interest to the wider public is the reconsideration of the Wild Mammals Bill (i.e. foxhunting).
Discussions of the draft report have been in private, but according to leaks to the media, the Committee has recommended rejection of the principles of the Bill at stage 1. Again according to media speculation, this was on the casting vote of the Convenor in the absence of a Labour member.
Last week’s meeting concluded the marathon stage 2 of the Housing Bill. A full update of the changes at stage 2 will be issued in advance of the stage 3 debate in June.
The Committee is not quite finished with the Housing Bill, however. This week members will consider the post-enactment scrutiny which is planned on the legislation’s impact.
This week the Committee considers again its proposals for the registration of commercial lobbyists. Members recognise that both defining the term and finding a workable system will be hard, and they are also clear that lobbying is a legitimate part of the democratic process. But they wish to recognise their ‘view that there is a distinction between organisations which lobby on their own behalf and those which lobby on behalf of third parties in return for payment.’
Transport & the Environment Committee
Ongoing issues in private are the budget, and the water inquiry.
This week’s public business concerns petitions on environmental matters: the spreading on sludge from abattoirs on farmland and the odour produced by crushed oilseed rape.
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