Committee News
Issue 40, 4th September 2001
The Committee has a very busy agenda this week, with one issue of particular note. The Committee considers in detail the Scottish Ambulance Service and, amongst a number of recommendations relating to the efficient management of the service, it was recommended that the Ambulance Service should consider ‘priority despatch’. This means that instead of ambulances responding to emergency 999 calls on a first come first served basis, they should consider prioritising the despatch of ambulances when there are severe circumstances. Operationally, it is easy to see that prioritising the despatch of ambulances would be a very difficult thing to do, however, the Scottish Executive has responded to the Committee to say that they are ‘sufficiently convinced’ of the argument to investigate it more.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
At the first meeting after the recess, the Committee returns to school closures. A key issue remains a school’s viability, with CoSLA indicating that the financial situation would always have to be considered, while the Committee stresses that decisions should never be solely based on financial considerations. Cathy Peattie (LAB) will give an interim report on the Committee response to the current CoSLA consultation on school closures which she is preparing.
The Committee also returns to the petition from the Technology Teachers Association asking for technical / technology education to be a national priority in secondary schools. Earlier this year, the petition found support among members who were concerned about a deficit in applied technology in schools and a subsequent skills shortage. They therefore requested further information before a recommendation could be made.
Finally, the Committee considers a report from Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic, Alasdair Morrison, for its Gaelic Broadcasting Inquiry.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
Although the papers for this week’s Committee meeting have still not been published, it is likely that the Committee will consider the first draft report of its inquiry into the Scottish Higher Education’s Review of Teaching and Research funding. The issues raised in this inquiry are complex, but from the evidence taking sessions it would appear that the Higher Education would prefer it if SHEFC’s proposals had more evidence to back them up. Basically, SHEFC is proposing changes to the methodology behind the funding mechanisms for both research and teaching. As with any changes there are some big winners as well as some apparent losers. It is likely that these issues will be picked up on by Committee members when they come to publish their report in the not too distant future.
Mainly business items for the Committee this week as members discuss their workplan and draft annual report in private. They will consider the arrangements for their Race Relations event on 14th September arranged with the Commission for Racial Equality to examine the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
Also, a change of Committee membership as Gil Paterson replaces Linda Fabiani (both SNP).
Health & Community Care Committee
In addition to a number of Statutory Instruments, the Committee will consider in private draft reports on Petition PE 123 by the Warm Homes Campaign on Fuel Poverty; Petitions PE 185 and 45 on Haemophilia and Hepatitis C; and Petition PE 217 on Single GP Practices.
The main discussion this week will be around stage 1 evidence on the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Bill. There will be witnesses plus a consideration of written submissions.
This is the bill that is intended to prevent the accused in rape or other sexual offences cases from personally cross-examining the complainer. There are three other main provisions in the bill:
The submissions at the consultation stage were strongly divided. On the one hand, women’s and victims’ organisations in many cases wanted to extend the provisions to even more offences such as domestic violence. On the other, many lawyers’ and legal bodies are unconvinced that the volume of cases justifies even these restrictions in the rights of the accused. There also likely to be ECHR compliance questions.
Also this week: the subordinate legislation to the Gaming Act which has attracted attention for reducing casino licence fees while increasing those for bingo halls; and private consideration of the way forward for the major inquiry into the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.
The Committee takes evidence on stage 1 of the Police and Fire Services (Finance) Bill, which is a largely technical bill enabling the services to carry forward a balance from one year to the next. In private, evidence is also taken from the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland on its annual report.
Social Justice meets to discuss its workplan for the forthcoming year, which will be partly informed by their "open space" event earlier this year. A cross section of individuals and organisations were invited to discuss key issues with members to inform the Committee’s workplan and establish a dialogue with members.
In private, the Committee considers its response to their recent meeting with Communities Against Poverty. Early last year, the Committee agreed to meet with Communities Against Poverty four times a year and thereafter review the situation to ensure that their methods of consultation are widely representative.
Finally, Kenny Gibson and Linda Fabiani (both SNP) join the Committee this week.
Transport & the Environment Committee
The ongoing saga of Petition 96 is raised once again at the Committee. This petition calls for a full independent inquiry in to the environmental impact of sea cage fish farming. (See Committee News 32 for more information.)
There are also a number of new petitions and a collection of apparently straightforward pieces of subordinate legislation on the agenda.
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