Committee News
Issue 49, 20th November 2001
Audit Committee
Last week’s short meeting noted with concern what the
Auditor General referred to as the ‘financial decline’
of Scotland’s FE colleges. It was agreed that the
matter had to be examined.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
The Committee is
continuing to focus on its inquiry into a Children’s
Commissioner, with evidence this week from the
Scottish Child Law Centre. Last week, evidence from the
Children’s Parliament described the commissioner as
providing "the catalyst for the cultural shift that Scotland
needs to make so that we view children as positive and active
members of their communities, with intrinsic human rights and
worth."
The Youth Parliament, Who Cares? Scotland and Children’s Rights Officers also gave evidence. Key issues raised included the scope of the Commissioner’s role.
In private this week, the Committee considers draft reports on Gaelic Broadcasting and Scottish Ballet.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
Last week the Committee concentrated on its lifelong learning
inquiry with evidence from Universities Scotland and the
Association of Scottish Colleges (ASC), as well as Prof. Lindsay
Paterson. It was agreed that Universities Scotland would provide
an additional submission for the Committee covering:
It was agreed that ASC would provide further material on:
Also, Prof. Lindsay Paterson was asked to provide an additional submission covering several issues including:
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week, after some debate, the Committee agreed its motion
for the chamber debate on Gypsy/Travellers (the debate was
scheduled for this week, but was postponed to allow for the
election of a new First Minister). The Committee originally had a
motion calling for Executive action, but this was revised to call
the Executive to ‘note’ the report, in line with the
protocol for Committee motions in the chamber. In private, the
Committee agreed reports on the Gypsy/Traveller civic
participation event, the Water Industry Bill and the Community
Care and Health Bill.
Finance Committee
Last week’s meeting took evidence from the Scottish
Parliament Corporate Body on their annual report. The
Committee asked detailed questions on many aspects of the SPCB
and in particular relating to the ongoing costs of the Holyrood
Project, the temporary move to Aberdeen next year and the day to
day staff costs of running the Parliament.
The Committee also met yesterday in Kirkcudbright and meets today to take further evidence for its PPP Inquiry. The evidence the Committee take this week is centred on detailed submissions from banks and accountancy organisations. The written evidence is fairly dry and technical, but appears to concur that PFIs allow for ‘expensive’ risk to be transferred to the private sector and ‘off balance sheet’ accounting, and are a cost effective way of risk management.
Health & Community Care Committee
Meeting in private last week, the Committee considered a
draft Stage 1 report on the Community Care and Health Bill,
which members return to this week. They also considered the terms
of reference for an advisor on Organ Donation for
Transplantation, and a paper on the Health Boards
Appointment Process on which they agreed to seek more
information from the Executive.
Also this week, the Committee takes evidence from Deputy Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, on the Scottish Executive Sewell memorandum on the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill, which will be debated in the chamber on Thursday morning. In private, members consider a paper on the approach to stage 1 of the Scottish Public Ombudsman Bill (details under the Local Government report).
Justice 1 Committee
Last week saw evidence from prison governors, and stage 1
evidence on the Freedom of Information Bill from
UNISON.
Freedom of Information continues this week with a wide range of witnesses including the Law Society and the National Union of Journalists. The Committee papers include many more written submissions – there have already been dozens. What is interesting is the distinction between those who hold the information and those who may seek it. Local authorities, the Law Society, even the EIS, argue for more exemptions and greater costs, while campaigning groups seek easier access and focus in particular on the difference in fees between Scotland and the UK.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week saw a longer than usual debate on subordinate
legislation. The issue is an increase in the financial limits
at which certain small claims can go to sheriffs as opposed to
the Court of Session. At present, claims for over £1,500 can go
to the Court of Session. This, though, has not changed since 1988
and the Executive wishes to raise it to £5,000. The Executive
sees this as enhancing local access to justice: others feel that
the costs involved in taking certain cases will be prohibitively
increased. A second issue is the removal of personal injury cases
from the procedure.
The GMB are pursuing the issue and are compiling a petition. The Law Society, meanwhile, has written confirming that it supports the proposals. The Committee agreed to continue discussion this week.
Evidence continues meanwhile for the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service Inquiry.
Local Government Committee
The Local Government Finance Inquiry continues this
week, taking evidence from the unions in the shape of Bobby
Parker of the GMB and Ian McKay of the EIS. CoSLA also returns to
give evidence along with Prof. Arthur Midwinter.
The Committee also considers proposals for consideration of the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill at stage 1. This is an Executive bill which will set up a modern public sector complaints system for Scotland. It will fulfil the Scotland Act 1998 requirement for the Parliament to make provision for investigating complaints of maladministration which are made against the Scottish Executive. The key proposal is a one-stop shop that will combine the offices of the Scottish Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Health Service Ombudsman for Scotland, the Local Government Ombudsman and the Housing Association Ombudsman for Scotland.
Procedures Committee
This week evidence for the CSG
inquiry comes from the Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body
and from Presiding Officer, David Steel. The Presiding
Officers’ written submission is very positive about all
aspects of the Parliament: their minor concerns are that
legislation is still tabled on an annual rather than a four-year
cycle, and that Committee membership changes too frequently (the
latter point has arisen elsewhere in the inquiry.)
Public Petitions
New petitions this week include one from the UK Men’s
Movement calling for the Scottish Parliament to recognise
Parental Alienation Syndrome; one calling for a chamber debate on
concerns over the handling of the Wild Mammals Protection Bill
and another calling for the appointment of a Commissioner for
Bullying.
The Committee also has responses to two current petitions to consider. First, the Executive and Edinburgh Council comment on a call for the recognition of Gaelic as the second national language of Scotland; and second, the Executive respond to a petition from the RSPB calling for the Executive to strengthen and extend the law protecting Scotland’s wildlife.
Rural Development Committee
Last week saw the second day of amendments on the Protection
of Wild Mammals Bill. Those in favour of a ban on hunting
had a rougher time, with a large number of amendments from hunt
supporters, Fergus Ewing (SNP) et al, being passed.
The heart of discussion was Mike Watson’s (LAB) amendment 53, which had two aims: to replace the licensing scheme (the bill’s original section 2) which was widely regarded as unworkable, and to protect the legitimate work of gamekeepers, terriermen and hillpacks. No fewer than 24 amendments to this amendment had been laid.
Two amendments in particular raised eyebrows as to their competence, but were passed nonetheless. These effectively re-allow hunting with dogs in certain circumstances, even though the whole point of the bill is to ban this.
Stage 2 continues this week.
Social Justice Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence from the Executive on
the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation. This was
followed by a panel session with witnesses including Scottish
Women’s Aid, who argue that refuges should be exempt from
the requirement of mandatory licensing. While Women’s Aid
welcome the legislation and appreciate why it is necessary, they
argue that refuges are temporary accommodation and not
necessarily the "only or principal residence" of women
staying there. However, if it is not possible to exempt refuges,
Women’s Aid wish the discrepancies in interpretation to be
minimised. Their underlying concern is the cost implications for
small, under-resourced local groups.
Standards Committee
Standards meets this week to return to the issue of a statutory
registration scheme for commercial lobbyists. Outstanding
concerns members wish to consider are: who is to be covered by
the requirement to register; the extent of the regulatory
framework; ECHR implications; and agreeing appropriate sanctions.
The Committee also considers proposals to replace the member’s interests order: declaration of interests with an Act of the Scottish Parliament as required by the Scotland Act. This requirement is being seen as an opportunity to reconsider the current arrangements. Also on the agenda is the consideration of the establishment of Cross Party Groups on Visual Impairment and Palestine.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Last week the Committee
took evidence from Rural Affairs Minister, Ross Finnie, on the Water
Industry Bill. The minister defended the creation of a
single public company as the best means of balancing the major
issues facing the water industry: investment needs, environmental
standards and the protection of consumers when it comes to
pricing. He gave explicit reassurance on the inclusion of
pensions along with TUPE.
John Scott (CON) suggested full privatisation as a preferable option.
This week sees evidence for the aquaculture inquiry from both the fish farming industry and environmental organisations. Their respective written evidence in the Committee papers highlights the gulf between the two sides.
Other Committee Homepages:
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]