Committee News
Issue 42, 18th September 2001
Audit Committee
This week the Committee sees the return of the financial problems
on the NHS in Tayside. The Committee published a critical
report of the way financial resources have been managed by NHS
Tayside and set a number of recommendations for both the Scottish
Executive and NHS Tayside to take on board. The Committee this
week considers the responses to this report from the Scottish
Executive and NHS Tayside. It would appear that both bodies have
taken the Committee’s report very seriously and respond line
by line to its recommendations, showing what audit systems have
been put in place and the progress of their monitoring to date.
The Committee will also receive a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland on his Report on the Financial Management in Moray College in advance of the Committee’s evidence taking on its next major enquiry.
Education, Culture &
Sport Committee
This week the Committee takes evidence from Gaelic Minister,
Alasdair Morrison, for its Gaelic Broadcasting inquiry.
Members also consider a petition requesting that the Scottish
Parliament takes account of the recommendation from the European
Committee that the Parliament consider ways to promote fans’
participation in the decision making process within senior
Scottish football, suggesting "supporters direct"
and football partnerships.
The Committee also has three negative instruments to consider, all of which are procedurally competent. The Subordinate Legislation Committee, however, draws members' attention to the Child Minding and Day Care (Registration and Inspection Fees) Amendment, as there are concerns over the scale of the increase in fees and the nature of their implementation.
In private, a work programme for the Children’s Commissioner Inquiry will be agreed.
Enterprise & Lifelong
Learning Committee
Last week the Committee launched into its Lifelong
Learning Inquiry. This is a major Inquiry which will be
ongoing until at least Christmas. The Committee members visited a
number of colleges over the summer recess and reported back last
week. A number of issues were highlighted and perhaps give a
flavour of the focus the inquiry will take. Gender differences
– particularly in areas of high poverty were highlighted,
where men, particularly older men, are underrepresented in the FE
sector. The interaction between the benefits system and further
education is also something that will probably be raised again in
the future.
This week the Committee will also sign off its SHEFC Report (probably in private).
Equal Opportunities Committee
On Friday, the Committee’s civic participation race
relations event was held in the chamber. Members report it to
have been a very positive day which generated many issues for the
Committee to consider. The participants agreed 7 recommendations
which will be available on the Scottish Parliament website tomorrow.
The Committee is looking to pursue all the recommendations, which include a call for the Committee to examine the possibility of a public inquiry into the Chhokar case following the publication of the independent judicial inquiry and the Inquiry into Family Liaison. The Committee is already committed to reviewing the need for a public inquiry following the reports.
This week, the Committee considers a paper on the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and discusses what action it wishes to take consulting on the issues in advance of subordinate legislation being laid. The amendment extends the Race Relations Act 1976 in relation to public authorities and places a duty on specified public authorities to work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity.
Members also consider a letter from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association which informs members of a meeting with Committee Convenor, Kate McLean (LAB) to discuss the possibility of a voluntary code of practice for access to restaurants etc.
European Committee
Last week’s meeting began with discussion of the directive
on consultation of employees. In the main, members accepted
that the particular circumstances of the UK should be reflected,
but there were some calls for a review of the exemptions for
employers with less than 50 staff.
Concerns remain about two fisheries matters: whether the Regional Committees established under Zonal Management will have more than advisory powers, and whether monies paid under the Executive’s decommissioning scheme will reach all employees and not just the boat owners.
The Committee also put down a marker of interest in forthcoming water legislation because of the Water Framework Directive.
Amongst the many documents up for scrutiny, the Committee noticed that it might have to return to the directive on the disposal of electrical equipment and transport proposals which may impact on the Glasgow Underground.
Finance Committee
Last week the
Committee considered correspondence from Professor Midwinter and
Finance Minister, Angus MacKay, relating to the budget
process. (See last week's Committee News
for details)
The Committee is now looking at using external research to help
it in influencing the annual budget process to a greater level.
Health & Community Care
Committee
Last week’s Committee was cut short as a mark respect to
those affected by events in America. The Committee limited itself
to deal with the subordinate legislation that was tabled –
mainly food protection orders on shellfish. The Orders
were duly agreed to.
This week the Committee considers its reports on three major petitions - Haemophilia and Hepatitis C; the effect of Globalisation on Public Health; and Fuel Poverty.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week saw evidence from the Chief Inspector of Prisons
and his colleagues concerning their annual report. Alex
Neil’s (SNP) attendance at the Committee (who, in a
surprising move, was called by Convenor Christine Grahame (SNP)
before any of the actual Committee members) was marked by an
assertive line of questioning on the private prison at
Kilmarnock. The inspectors responded that some aspects of
Kilmarnock are good and some poor. Mr Neil gave notice that he
intends to return to the issue of Kilmarnock at every opportunity
and Michael Matheson (SNP) asked for the Prison Officers
Association Scotland to be written to immediately, inviting their
views.
It should be noted, however, that it has already been agreed that Justice 2 will consider this issue.
The Estates Review and its affect on staff morale was the other major topic. Further issues were women offenders, overcrowding, and remand conditions.
The draft report on Legal Aid was considered in private.
This week sees a joint meeting with Justice 2 to question the Lord Advocate and the Justice Minister on the gamut of justice issues. The note prepared by the Scottish Parliament's Information Centre to support the meeting is a very helpful summary of the state of play.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s meeting was mostly taken up with evidence
from Deputy Justice Minister, Iain Gray, on women’s
offending. It was quite consensual, focussing on familiar
themes such as fine default and diversion from custody. There was
also discussion of reform of the law on prostitution. Bill Aitken
(CON) put in the usual caveats opposing a reduction in
imprisonment as a policy objective.
This week’s meeting returns to the Sexual Offences (Procedures & Evidence) Bill with evidence from sociologists, and takes stage 2 of the Protection from Abuse Bill.
Local Government Committee
Last week the Committee had a very short meeting which
suggests that the private discussion on the Police and Fire
Services (Finance) Bill went smoothly. Members
also discussed the appointment of an advisor for the proposed
local government bill, agreeing that they needed an advisor
with expertise in Best Value.
This week the Committee takes evidence for its allotments inquiry from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee City Councils.
Procedures Committee
This week’s meeting will begin with a declaration of
interests by new member and SNP business manager, Fiona Hyslop.
The main body of papers relates to the inquiry into the Parliament’s adherence to the founding principles of the Consultative Steering Group. External consultation has concluded and the research report on it has been tabled.
There is also a proposal to allow Selection Panels to be set up to scrutinise appointments to public bodies which required royal assent.
Rural Development Committee
Last week saw the petition on the new National Trust visitor
centre in Glencoe – which has been doing the rounds of
Committees for many months – come to Rural Development. SNP
members were keen to investigate the access of the National Trust
to public funds, but they did not find support.
There was a long discussion concerning an amendment to the stage 1 debate on the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill. It was eventually agreed that the Convenor would put down an amendment, not only disagreeing to the general principles, but stating that fox-baiting should be made illegal by other means if this bill falls. There is no such thing as a "Committee amendment" as such in the Parliament’s standing orders.
This week’s meeting sees a marathon evidence session on the Executive’s Agriculture Inquiry, concluding with Rural Affairs Minister, Ross Finnie. There are a huge number of written submissions from all the players in the field. Some of the main themes for discussion are likely to be:
There will also be the formal vote to implement the decommissioning scheme for fishing boats.
Social Justice Committee
This week, Deputy Social Justice Minister, Margaret Curran,
is giving evidence on The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2001, which implements
the free central heating scheme. While negative instruments do
not often make the news, there is disagreement over legislative
competence. The Subordinate Legislation Committee suspects that
the regulations are ultra vires and outwith the powers of the
Scottish Executive. The Executive disagrees and states that the
regulations are legally competent. Subordinate Legislation is
meeting with Executive officials today to discuss the technical
matters and will report to Social Justice, who need to report on
the instrument by 1st October.
Evidence is also taken from Scottish Executive officials for the Inquiry into the Voluntary Sector.
Standards Committee
Following its evidence taking session with commercial lobbyists,
who are strongly resisting the Committee’s proposals, the
Committee returned to the issue of lobbying. The Committee
is unflinching in its commitment to a statutory register, but
will consider in more detail how the scheme will operate and
clarify their definition of lobbying.
In their ongoing discussion on confidentiality and leaks from Committees, members find themselves in disagreement with the Convenor’s Liaison Group. The CLG wants the Standards Committee to be responsible for undertaking investigations into Committee leaks, while the Committee believes that initial investigation should be the responsibility of the Committee concerned. It was agreed to draw up proposals for the next meeting, where the Committee is also aiming to produce a draft standards commissioner bill.
Subordinate Legislation
Last week’s
meeting was the first with Margo Macdonald (SNP) in the chair,
and was longer than usual. It also saw a significant number of
instruments referred to lead Committees for consideration.
On the Sexual Offences Bill, the Committee approved the use of affirmative instruments after the Bill becomes law. However, concern was expressed that the Executive could find itself under pressure from campaigns in the wake of high profile cases.
More excitement than ever known at this Committee was generated by the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme – essentially giving effect to the free central heating programme for pensioners. There is legal advice that this may be ultra vires because it strays into reserved social security matters. The Executive’s lawyers, however, disagree. There will be an evidence session this week.
Transport & the
Environment Committee
Last week the Committee concentrated its work on the planning
process, and questioned Planning Minister, Lewis Macdonald, on a
number of planning issues including the review of Structure
Plans and mobile phone masts. The Committee took a
great deal of interest in the way in which the Executive makes
its decisions in the process of regional planning – and in
particular wanted to see more transparency in the way in which
planning decisions are made.
The Committee has a relatively light agenda this week, but the petition calling for an inquiry into the environmental impact of fish farming comes back for members to make a final decision on how they will consider the issues further. The Committee will also look at the way in which it will consider Stage 2 of the budget.
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