Committee News
Issue 44, 2nd October 2001
Audit Committee
The Committee considered responses from both the Scottish
Executive Health Department and NHS Tayside to its report into Financial
Management within the NHS in Tayside. The Committee was
pleased that all its recommendations have been accepted and was
impressed by the progress being made in ensuring more accountable
financial management in the future.
The Committee also heard from Andrew Black, the Auditor General for Scotland, on the Audit Commission’s current work programme. He informed the Committee that the Commission is in the middle of a major inquiry into PFI’s in education. With the increasing role for private finance, Robert Black explained that an audit of private finance in schools might be of use to local authorities in the next few years. This Audit Commission Report is likely to make very interesting reading, although no indication was given of when it will be published.
Education, Culture &
Sport Committee
The Committee
recently agreed its work programme for the year, which includes
continuing with the inquiry into a Children’s
Commissioner, Gaelic Broadcasting and Schools
Infrastructure. In addition, the Committee will initiate
inquiries into cultural tourism, sport and ‘blue
skies’ thinking on education - posing the question
"What is education for?". The Committee will also take
evidence on placing requests for the Education (Amendment)
Bill and will be the lead Committee for the Protection of
Children Bill.
It was also agreed that the Committee should go ahead with two short inquiries into Borders education and Scottish Ballet. The latter began last week with evidence from Scottish Ballet, the Scottish Arts Council and Trade Unions. The Committee was critical of the way in which the announcement was made on the change of direction for Scottish Ballet and the lack of consultation prior to the announcement.
This week, the Committee discusses the timetables for this inquiry, for its Sport in Schools inquiry and for the Education (Amendment) Bill.
Enterprise & Lifelong
Learning Committee
Last week’s meeting was taken entirely in private, to
allow the Committee to try and sign off its Report into SHEFC.
This week, the Committee has a heavy agenda, and amongst other things members take evidence from Deputy Enterprise Minister, Alasdair Morrison, on the budget process. They also start their major Inquiry into Lifelong Learning, with a briefing from the academics they commissioned to produce a ‘map’ of lifelong learning in Scotland.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Following the Race
Relations civic participation event recently hosted by the
Committee, members this week begin to discuss the way forward on
the action points agreed at the conference. The Committee will
propose to the Executive that, in light of recent events, it will
immediately consider starting a high-profile, zero-tolerance
campaign against racism. The Committee also agreed its
consultation paper on the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000,
which will be sent out to interested parties for comment. The
transcript of the Race Relations Event, which includes the agreed
action points, is now available and can be read by clicking here.
The Committee also endorsed a voluntary code of practice for pubs and restaurants to be guide dog friendly, which will be principally taken forward by CoSLA.
European Committee
Although most of
last week’s meeting was in private, the minute is
nonetheless informative.
Ben Wallace (CON) attempted to amend the Committee’s report on the directive on employee consultation, but found himself in a minority of one. The Committee is unhappy that the Executive has failed to supply them with information requested regarding the extension of their remit. Other items (including the Euro, and EU enlargement) were continued to a further meeting.
Finance Committee
The Committee took most of its business in private, including
further discussions on the details of the PPP / PFI Inquiry.
Members considered the issue of Voluntary Sector funding,
an ongoing issue on which Donald Gorrie (Lib Dem) has been
undertaking the legwork. The Committee wishes to have a major
inquiry into the Voluntary Sector, but due to workload
pressures, members have agreed to review the situation in March
when the PFI Inquiry is completed.
The Committee also considered Finance Minister, Angus Mackay’s, response to its Stage 1 Report on the Budget Process. The Committee basically complains that the system does not allow meaningful input into the budget while the details of the budget lie within Scottish Executive departments. The Executive has attempted to make officials and Minister more accessible, nevertheless the issue continues to rumble on.
Health & Community Care
Committee
The only item on the agenda taken in public related to correspondence
received by the Committee. The items taken in private were
the three ongoing petitions on Haemophiliacs and Hep C
(the report on which was published today - click here for more information), the Warm Homes Campaign on
Fuel Poverty and the World Development Movement's petition on
globalisation.
This week the Committee takes evidence on the Community Care and Health Bill.
Justice 1 Committee
The public parts of
last week’s meeting were largely dry and technical. The
order guaranteeing legal representation of an accused
appearing before a drug court was passed. In private, the
draft report on Legal Aid was considered.
There will be a joint meeting with Justice 2 this week on the Budget Process, with the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd, and Justice Minister, Jim Wallace. The stage 1 report from the Committees was critical in the areas of resourcing of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and of District Courts. The Lord Advocate has written at length explaining what action is being taken in these areas.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week the
Committee continued with stage 1 evidence on the Sexual
Offences (Procedure & Evidence) Bill. Representatives
of the legal profession are bitterly opposed to its general
principles, particularly the parts of the bill concerning
inadmissibility of supposed character evidence. Their concerns
include the role of the judge; what happens if an accused, denied
the right to defend himself, refuses legal representation; the
adequacy of legal training on the issues involved; and the
possibility of a ‘trial within a trial’ developing.
Returning to the petition on freemasons in the judiciary, the Committee agreed to return to the matter with Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, at a future date.
This week, evidence continues on the Sexual Offences (Procedure & Evidence) Bill, and there is consideration of subordinate legislation on fire fighters’ pensions.
Local Government Committee
Last week, the
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
gave evidence to the Committee for its local government
finance inquiry and called for a re-evaluation of council
tax bands to make them more progressive. Keith Harding (CON)
raised concerns over increases on the band level due to home
improvements. Arising from the review of local government
finance, the Local Government Committee is undertaking further
research on council tax banding, with a team from Heriot-Watt
University examining the matter on their behalf. CIPFA also
called for business rates to be returned to local control.
This week, the Committee takes evidence from Finance and Local Government Minister, Angus Mackay, on the Budget Process 2002-03, supported by its adviser, Professor Arthur Midwinter.
Procedures Committee
This week’s meeting will hear evidence on the principles
of the Consultative Steering Group from Convenor of the
Public Petitions Committee, John McAllion (LAB) and Convenor of
the Equal Opportunities Committee, Kate Maclean (LAB).
When discussing selection panels for public appointments, Murray Tosh (CON) and others expressed concern that an appointment could be advertised before a bill setting up the relevant position had been passed. This was referred to the Parliamentary Bureau, which took the view that a bill’s passing stage 1 confers sufficient authority.
The Standing Order change to allow Committees to meet exceptionally during Parliament meal breaks has been drafted.
Public Petitions
The Committee meets this week to consider several new petitions
including one calling for the Executive to carry out a Strategic
Needs Review Assessment on M.E. and C.F.S. (Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome), improve treatment and undertake research. The
Committee has also updated on a number of petitions on issues
such as sea cage farm fishing and organ retention.
Rural Development Committee
There is no report of the last meeting. This week, however, the
Committee takes evidence from Scottish Executive Officials on the
new National Parks.
The Committee will also consider the evidence it has received on the Executive's Agricultural Strategy.
Finally, members will consider the timetable for Stage 2 of the Protection of Wild Mammals Bill.
Social Justice Committee
The Committee recently agreed its work programme, which
includes visits to eight regions for the voluntary sector
inquiry to examine core themes throughout the sector.
This week, the Committee takes evidence from the Charity Law Commission as part of the voluntary sector inquiry and from Social Justice Ministers, Jackie Baillie and Margaret Curran on Budget 2002-03.
Standards Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee agreed to bring
forward a draft paper on confidentiality which has so far
generated a fair amount of discussion over whose responsibility
it should be to investigate Committee leaks. The Committee so far
favours the initial investigation being undertaken by the
Committee concerned. Moving into private session, the Committee
agreed a draft report on a complaint concerning the Rural
Development Committee meeting on 1st May
2001 from the Scottish Campaign Against Hunting with Dogs.
Transport & the
Environment Committee
Amongst a busy agenda last week, the Committee rejected an
annulment motion from Fiona McLeod (SNP) which aimed to stop an
Executive Order defining the details of the planning rules for telecommunications
masts going forward.
The Committee also heard from Maureen Macmillan (LAB) and Des McNulty (LAB) as the Reporters on an Inquiry into Ferry Services within the Highlands and Islands. Their report is detailed and accepted the justification for opening up ferry routes to competition. It also accepted the need for an operator of last resort – in other words if an operator fails to carry out service obligations, local people are not left without a ferry link. The Committee has agreed to forward their report to the Minister for Transport and for Des and Maureen to continue monitoring the situation.
This week the Committee goes back to the ongoing saga of Petition 96 and fish farming, as well as considering Stage 2 of the budget process.
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