Committee News
Issue 59, 12th February 2002
Audit Committee
At its last meeting the Committee continued consideration of the
Auditor General’s "Overview of the National
Health Service in Scotland 2000/01", hearing
evidence from the NHS boards and Hospital Trusts for both
Grampian and Argyll and Clyde. Discussion surrounded financial
pressures identified in the report and the local impact of the
new Arbuthnott funding formula and other Executive initiatives.
Members also considered an interim report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency agreeing to await their final report in June 2002.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Members are now nearing the end of their Inquiry into a Children’s
Commissioner. If they agree to proceed, the bill will be
introduced by the Committee.
Frank McAveety (LAB) and Mike Russell (SNP) last week gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee which is considering post devolution news and current affairs broadcasting in Scotland.
This week, evidence begins on the Scottish Qualifications Authority Bill which would see changes to the SQA's Management Committee while leaving it as a Non-Departmental Public Body.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
The Committee agreed the structure of its draft interim report on
its Lifelong Learning Inquiry as well as the overall
format of the Lifelong Learning Convention. The Agenda for
this Wednesday’s meeting includes Evidence taking on the
general principles of Nicola Sturgeon’s (SNP) Tobacco
Advertising and Promotion Bill at stage 1 (see Health Committee) and the selection of an adviser to the
Committee for the Budget Process for 2003-04.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week, the Committee members met largely in private,
considering a paper on their proposal for a Gender Equality
and Best Value Inquiry.
The Committee meets this week to take evidence from Deputy Social Justice Minister, Margaret Curran, on disability issues. The Committee has received several submissions highlighting issues such as difficulties with the Disability Discrimination Act, the provision of sign languages and symbol systems, and accessibility issues.
European Committee
The most interesting item in a busy agenda this week is a paper
on the scope for flexibility in the implementation of the Water
Framework Directive. It will be recalled that this concerns
the preservation of scarce water supplies, something which is not
as major a concern for Scotland as it is for southern Spain or
Kent.
Finance Committee
No meeting has been held since the last update. Items on the
agenda for this week's meeting include continuing consideration
of the 2003/04 Budget Process, the Financial Memorandum of
the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill
and the on-going review of Financial Scrutiny arrangements.
Health & Community Care Committee
The main agenda item was the on-going consideration of Nicola
Sturgeon’s (SNP) Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
Bill. As well as Deputy Health Minster, Mary Mulligan,
evidence was heard from Cancer Research UK, the Scottish Royal
Colleges, the Health Education Board for Scotland, the Chief
Medical Officer for Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon herself.
Again discussion surrounded the relative effectiveness of passing a Scotland-wide ban (proposed by Nicola Sturgeon) compared to waiting for the Westminster Government’s proposed UK-wide Bill to be passed (the Scottish Executive’s preference).
Although most witnesses considered that a Scotland-only ban could be beneficial in spite of its limited effect, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mac Armstrong, expressed fears that proceeding with the Sturgeon Bill could actually hamper the prospects of a UK-wide ban.
Dr Armstrong said: "My strongest recommendation to the Committee is to play a long, careful and diplomatic game…If this piece of legislation were to go through quickly in Scotland, it would collide with the Westminster process and delay the Westminster timetable, which has to be completed by July. I would hate the result of the passage of the legislation in Scotland to be that the Westminster legislation had to be unpicked, with attempts to pass a series of amendments to a tight timetable, resulting in time running out."
Members also turned their attention in private to a draft report on organ donation for transplantation.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week the Committee began stage 2 of the Freedom of
Information Bill with part 1, which deals with the
general right to information. There was a consensual atmosphere,
with many amendments withdrawn after Justice Minister, Jim
Wallace, promised to go away and consider them. All Committee
members supported an amendment to allow requests for information
not to be in writing if from a person whose disability prevents
them from writing.
Stage 2 continues this week.
Justice 2 Committee
Yet more evidence on the Land Reform Bill last
week. The law of trespass is still in contention. Scottish
Natural Heritage took the view that trespass exists, but is a
civil rather than criminal offence. The Law Society concurred,
and also backed up a number of landowners’ concerns about
the drafting of the Bill. There was also discussion of how people
using their access rights inappropriately would be policed.
This week there will be private discussion of evidence so far for the Crown Office & Procurators Fiscal Inquiry.
Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee completed stage 2 of the Marriage
(Scotland) Bill. With only technical amendments from the
Executive, these were either passed without division or an
agreement was made to bring forward improved amendments at stage
3.
This week, the Committee meets in private to discuss its conclusions to the Local Government Finance Inquiry and considers subordinate legislation which uprates councillors’ allowances.
Following the rejection of Alex Neil’s (SNP) Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Bill, the local government Committee will also be the lead Committee for Trisha Marwick’s (SNP) forthcoming PR for local government bill which will undoubtedly be contentious.
Procedures Committee
This week’s evidence on the marathon CSG Principles
Inquiry comes from organisations representing the business
sector. There are no major concerns in their written submissions:
like many external groups they focus on Committees, which is
where they have direct contact.
Public Petitions
Last week, Robbie the Pict gave evidence to the Committee on the
discrepancies in the PFI project for the Skye Bridge,
which is part of the campaign to abolish toll charges for the
Bridge. After a lengthy question and answer session with the
petitioner, it was agreed to request a response to the petition
from the Executive and the Lord Advocate.
A petition calling for a Parliamentary debate on employment and the Wild Mammals Protection Bill were ruled out in light of the forthcoming stage 3 debate.
Rural Development Committee
Last week was largely devoted to private discussion of the
stage 1 report on the Land Reform Bill. Rural
Development Minister, Ross Finnie, also defended the continuation
of the 20 day animal movement rule in respect of
foot-&-mouth. A long agenda this week contains little of any
real interest.
Social Justice Committee
No Committee meeting this week, although there is a more informal
meeting to discuss upcoming issues.
Standards Committee
Since its last meeting, Standards has launched its Standards Commissioner Bill which will legislate for statutory
procedures for the independent investigation of complaints made
under the Members’ Interests Order and the Code of
Conduct.
The Committee has also produced its Report on Lobbying.
Subordinate Legislation
Last week’s meeting looked at the Wild Mammals Bill,
and expressed concern at amendments from David Mundell (CON) and
Murray Tosh (CON) which, it was argued, have the potential to
undermine the Bill’s general principles – something
that should not be done by subordinate legislation. Said members
have been invited to attend this week.
An order regarding tolls on the Forth Bridge was highlighted by Margo Macdonald (SNP), who argued that the Transport Act does not give the requisite powers.
This week’s agenda also includes the Water Industry Bill.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Apart from considering the names of possible advisers in
connection with the 2003-04 Budget Process, there is
little to report. Except for consideration of a statutory
instrument concerning the Forth Estuary Transport Authority,
the only other agenda item for this Wednesday’s (13th
Feb) meeting is consideration of a draft report on the first
phase of the Committee’s Aquaculture Inquiry.
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