Committee News
Issue 57, 29th January 2002
Audit Committee
Last week the Committee returned to its overview of the
NHS in Scotland. There is no Official Report yet.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
In recent weeks, the Committee returned to its Scottish
Ballet Inquiry report to take evidence from the Scottish Arts
Councils and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mike
Watson. There appears to be slightly more consensus as to the
best way forward for the company now, will all sides seeking
stability.
The Committee has also completed evidence taking for Stage 1 of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Records) (Scotland) Bill, which addresses accessibility strategies in the widest sense for pupils with varied disabilities, complementing the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000 giving all children the right to education which is directed to fulfilling their potential. Financial implications of the additional responsibilities, the timescale for implementation and the appeals mechanism were key to the discussion. The impact of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill on forthcoming legislation was also flagged up.
This week, the Committee returns to the statutory instruments regarding children’s panels which are causing some dispute between the Committee and the Executive. The Committee and Sub Leg are dissatisfied with the drafting, contending there are concerns over ECHR. By laying down motions for debate on the statutory instruments this week, the Committee intends to force an Executive rethink of the drafting.
A key forthcoming event for the Committee is the evidence giving session to the Scottish Select Committee considering broadcasting and devolution. It has been agreed to send the convenor plus four party representatives.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
In recent weeks, the Committee has taken evidence on Local
Economic Forum Taskforces to monitor their progress one year
on. Consideration has also continued of the Committee's draft
report for the Lifelong Learning Inquiry, on which
evidence is taken this week.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week, the Committee began in private discussion of its
draft report on Alex Neil’s (SNP) Public Appointments
Bill.
European Committee
No papers yet for this week’s meeting, but the agenda
includes the Euro, declining fish stocks, and
feedback from the Laeken Summit. The last may take us into
the delicate issue of the role of the regions in Europe.
Finance Committee
In recent meetings, Finance has considered a paper on the Budget
(Scotland) Bill and a paper on possible case studies for
the PPP / PFI inquiry which has been fairly
straightforward at this stage. This week, Finance Minister, Andy
Kerr, gives evidence on Scotland’s Budget Document’s
2002/03 and Stage 2 of the Budget (Scotland) (No. 3)
Bill continues.
Health & Community Care Committee
Stage 2 of the Health & Community Care Bill
continued last week. In passing amendments on direct payments
(which allow community care service users to choose and purchase
their own care), members of all parties expressed concerns as to
the uneven development of direct payments by local authorities.
Evidence began on Nicola Sturgeon’s (SNP) bill to ban tobacco advertising. The Convenor rebuked the SNP for declaring by press release that Robin Cook might be invited to the Committee, when no such decision had been taken. A suggestion from John McAllion (LAB) that he be written to was accepted instead. Discussion focussed on the evidence for a reduction in tobacco use where advertising is banned. It also emerged that some aspects of an extended ban – to cover what is called ‘brand stretching’ where the name of a cigarette is applied to a different product – may be reserved.
This week’s witnesses include the smoking lobbyists FOREST.
Also on this week’s agenda are hepatitis C and organ donation.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week’s evidence on the regulation of the legal
profession came from the Scottish Consumer Council, who argue
that the self-regulating Law Society complaints procedure should
be replaced by an independent body.
No papers yet for this week, but the regulation of the legal profession inquiry continues with evidence from perennial picketers, Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers. Given that most of the Committee members are lawyers, there is some apprehension.
Justice 2 Committee
No official report yet for last week’s discussion of the
Land Reform Bill, but no new ground was covered.
There was discussion with the New Opportunities Fund about
whether the amount in their Land Fund will be sufficient.
This week the bill continues with Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie, in attendance.
Local Government Committee
In recent weeks, the Committee has taken evidence from both
Alex Neil (SNP) and the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public
Services, Peter Peacock, on Mr Neil’s Public
Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Bill. Mr Neil was
challenged on the extent of cronyism which his Bill intends to
address, the extent to which the system he is proposing could be
abused for political purposes, the unsuitability of confirmation
hearings and the equality problem which has been raised by the
Commission for Racial Equality.
This week, the Committee concludes evidence taking for the local government finance inquiry hearing from Finance and Local Government Minister, Andy Kerr. The report is expected by Spring and the Committee has so far been fairly united during the evidence taking sessions.
Procedures Committee
This week’s evidence in the never-ending inquiry into the
principles of the CSG (the Committee that agreed the
groundrules for the Parliament) comes from journalists, including
Brian Taylor.
Public Petitions
At the last meeting, the majority of petitions were referred to
the Executive for comment, including the latest from George
McAulay of the UK Men’s Movement on Parental Alienation
Syndrome. On the issue, Dorothy Grace Elder (SNP) said that
she had half decided to introduce a member’s bill on access
to siblings and grandparents but in light of the evidence would
pursue the issue.
Rural Development Committee
Evidence on the Land Reform Bill continued
last week with a meeting in rural Stirlingshire. The NFU, as
expected, took a restrictive view of access – Rhoda Grant
(LAB) pointed out that they seemed to be in favour of access so
long as people only went where and when the farmers want.
Discussion with the Ramblers and others expanded a different
concern: that in putting the current common law right of access
into statute, some things which are currently legal may
inadvertently be forbidden. A further live issue is the
establishment and maintenance of what is known as a ‘core
path network’ across the country.
This week is entirely devoted to private discussion of the stage 1 report.
Social Justice Committee
The Committee agreed a timetable for responding to the
Executive consultation on Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 –
Homelessness.
Standards Committee
At the last meeting, Keith Raffan (LIB DEM) led a request for
Cross Party Groups to have the option to meet in private –
as convenor of the Cross Party Group on drug misuse he argued
that confidentiality and privacy was occasionally needed.
However, the Committee was not persuaded of the need to change
the Code of Conduct which states that Cross Party Groups must
meet in public.
Subordinate Legislation
Not wishing to be left out, Sub Leg becomes yet another Committee
discussing the Land Reform Bill.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Stage 2 of the Water Industry Bill continues,
with the most contentious issue over the last few weeks being
charitable relief. The Executive has now, however, published
plans to introduce a modified relief scheme which will exempt
small charitable organisations.
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