Committee News
Issue 52, 11th December 2001
Audit Committee
This week’s meeting will consider the Auditor
General’s report into the awarding of trunk road
maintenance contracts.
Education, Culture &
Sport Committee
Last week, the
Committee took evidence from Deputy Education Minister, Nicol
Stephen and the Local Government Ombudsman for its inquiry into a
Children’s Commissioner. It is understood that if the
report is positive, the Committee will take forward the
establishment of a commissioner with the introduction of a
Committee bill. The central issue emerging is the definition of
the role and responsibilities of the commissioner and how s/he
would work with other agencies. There is as yet very little
consensus or agreement over which space the commissioner should
fill. Also, the issues of the commissioner having a remit within
reserved as well as devolved areas has been raised and all
submissions to the inquiry have been asked to comment on this
matter. In giving evidence, Nicol Stephen made clear that the
Executive had an open mind on the idea and is trusting the
Committee to bring forward proposals.
This week, the Committee deals with two high profile issues. First, members take evidence from Cllr David Suckling from Scottish Borders Council as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the education overspend. This is followed by the consideration of an invitation from the Scottish Affairs Committee to contribute to its inquiry into the effects of devolution on the structure of news and current affairs broadcasting in Scotland.
Enterprise & Lifelong
Learning Committee
The Committee is continuing with its substantial inquiry into
lifelong learning, and considering a draft interim report for
the inquiry in private.
Equal Opportunities Committee
An important meeting for the Committee this week as it takes
evidence from Alex Neil (SNP) on his Public Appointments
(Parliamentary Approval) Bill. Although local government
is the lead Committee for this Bill, the Committee wishes to
consider the implications for equal opportunities, in particular
gender and race balance.
European Committee
Last week’s meeting
took evidence from Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, on EU
governance. Opposition members raised procedural points on
Labour’s choice of Committee chairs, and on the transfer of
the external affairs portfolio to the Deputy First Minister.
Finance Committee
The PFI/PPP inquiry continues this week, taking evidence
from MSF, TGWU, GMB and UNISON.
Health & Community Care
Committee
Last week’s meeting heard concerns around the proposed
Public Sector Ombudsman, in that the existing health service
ombudsman has greater powers than those proposed.
This week the Committee begins stage 2 of the Community Care & Health Bill, including the contentious issue of carers.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week’s meeting saw Justice Minister, Jim Wallace,
giving evidence on the Freedom of Information Bill.
Michael Matheson (SNP) was exercised about ministerial
certificates – the backstop measure which will allow the
First Minister to block disclosure where the Information
Commissioner is in favour.
The inquiry into the regulation of the legal profession continues this week, with evidence from the statutory independent Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal, whose annual report states that they are seeing less cases but that those which they do see are more serious. Also giving evidence are Executive officials: their written submission points out that the Legal Services Ombudsman has criticised the Law Society of Scotland for handling complaints too slowly, and the Executive’s evidence concludes that "self-regulation by the legal professional bodies is a privilege conferred on them and not a right."
Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s evidence for the Crown Office /
Procurator Fiscal Service inquiry focussed on the victims of
crime. Victim Support argued for more information to be available
at a trial; there was discussion of the use of victim statements;
and evidence from families who have been through the system
showed the urgent need for improvement.
This week’s meeting begins stage 2 of the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) Bill.
Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee completed Stage 2 of the Scottish
Local Government (Elections) Bill. Executive amendments
ensuring that local government elections are not held in line
with Scottish Parliament extraordinary elections were passed
without a vote. Keith Harding’s (CON) amendments addressing
disability access were recognised by all members as necessary,
but Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, Peter
Peacock, was concerned that the amendments would inadvertently
constrain what ministers can approve. The minister gave
assurances that the Executive would seek to bring forward an
amendment at Stage 3 to address access. Keith Harding’s
amendments were withdrawn.
This week the Committee continues the local government finance inquiry taking evidence from Prof. Midwinter, Land Reform Scotland and a Professor of Property Taxation. In private, members consider an external research project on Council Tax rebanding, a key issue of the finance inquiry.
Procedures Committee
This week’s meeting
hears evidence for the CSG principles inquiry from people
who have submitted public petitions, asking their opinions of the
procedure.
There are papers from the clerks regarding amendments to bills. These propose allowing manuscript amendments at stage 3. One of the reasons is to allow members to respond to Executive amendments that are submitted close to the deadline, although it is noted that an Executive commitment to lay its amendments early is being generally adhered to.
Public Petitions
The Committee considered a
number of new petitions including a call for similar protection
for school playing fields in Scotland as provided in England
and Wales, with the Committee agreeing to contact the Executive
for clarification. Also, in relation to a petition on the water
industry, it was agreed to ask the Executive for an update on its
position on fluoridisation of the water supply.
In considering a reply from the Scottish Executive on religious belief in the employment of teachers, members noted that the Executive has no plans to amend the legislation relating to the appointment of teachers in denominational schools, and that it does not consider the issues raised in the petition to be in contravention of ECHR legislation. The Committee agreed to refer the petition to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament for its consideration.
Rural Development Committee
Last week’s meeting returned to the Fur Farming
Prohibition Bill. Mike Rumbles (Lib Dem) argued that
there was no moral justification for a ban, only the
environmental justification of the damage caused by escaped mink.
As he did in relation to the Wild Mammals Bill,
Fergus Ewing (SNP) sought a delay for further evidence to be
given.
Speaking of the aforementioned bill, it has finally cleared stage 2. All but two amendments went the way of the anti-hunt grouping. Generating most comment in the press was Mike Rumbles' (Lib Dem) proposal for a compensation scheme for hunt employees being defeated by one vote.
This week’s meeting considers a report into the state of movement restrictions due to foot-&-mouth disease.
Social Justice Committee
This week the Committee takes evidence from Deputy Social
Justice Minister, Margaret Curran, on two matters: the Voluntary
Sector Inquiry and the Executive’s Social Justice
Annual Report. Those with a special interest in this may wish
to refer to the recent chamber debate on the report.
The Committee also considered in private its draft report on Licensing of Homes in Multiple Occupation, having heard strong evidence from the voluntary sector, particularly Women’s Aid who are concerned about the status of refuges, on the difficulty they face in meeting the Order.
Subordinate Legislation
Last week’s meeting
concluded consideration of the Freedom of Information Bill.
The principle outstanding concern is the mechanism for setting
the financial limits at which a disclosure request can be turned
down.
Transport & the
Environment Committee
This week, the
Committee continues taking evidence for its Aquaculture
Inquiry. This is the culmination of Petition 96, which asked
for a consideration of the environmental impacts of fishfarming
on marine life. The Committee has agreed to do a short and
intensive investigation into some of the issues that surround the
fishfarming industry, including the environmental carrying
capacity of coastal waters.
The Committee also considers several petitions including a petition from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association calling for limited licensed culling of raptors, and two petitions on opencast mining.
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