Scottish Parliament Committee News, Issue 60

Committee News

Issue 60, 26^th February 2002

Education, Culture & Sport Committee
This week, the Committee continues with evidence on the SQA Bill from, among others, Deputy Education Minister, Nicol Stephen. The Committee also receives an update from the SQA on this year’s exam diet. Having issued a report last year, members return to the issue of the Roman Remains at Cramond.

Also, the Committee considers an invitation from the Finance Committee for a member to join a case study group for the PFI / PPP Inquiry.

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
This Wednesday members continue consideration of the draft stage 1 report for Nicola Sturgeon’s (SNP) Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill in private.

European Committee
There has been long discussion about changing the Committee’s remit to include external affairs. This has now become a wider issue, because the European Committee is a statutory not subject Committee and therefore a change to its remit requires the approval of the whole Parliament. Indeed, there are questions as to whether the Scotland Act allows the remit of a mandatory Committee to be changed during the course of a Parliament.

A new EU directive on combating ozone depletion will be considered, as will a petition on globalisation. The clerks note that the subject matter of the latter – international trade rules – is reserved.

Finance Committee
With the assistance of adviser Professor Arthur Midwinter, members will on Tuesday continue discussion surrounding the 2003/04 budget process, in particular draft guidance for issue to the subject Committees, and possible cross-cutting reviews. In addition to debating a motion by Finance Minister, Andy Kerr, approving a draft order in relation to the Budget Act, members will also consider options for future Inquiries.

Health & Community Care Committee
The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting consists purely of consideration of Statutory Instruments: the Food Protection Order (concerning emergency provisions on Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning for the west coast), as well as negative instruments on Food and Animal Feedingstuffs (Products of Animal Origin from China) and Notification of Marketing of Food for Particular Nutritional Uses.

Justice 1 Committee
This week the Committee continues stage 2 of the Freedom of Information Bill.

Justice 2 Committee
An unusual procedure this week, as stage 3 evidence is taken on the Sexual Offences (Procedures & Evidence) Bill. This is because of the concerns raised about the late submission by the Executive of amendments at stage 2 relating to the disclosure of previous convictions.

The Committee will return to the petition on civil justice for asbestos victims; and the Committee’s report on the Land Reform Bill will be discussed in private.

Procedures Committee
This week’s evidence on the marathon CSG principles Inquiry comes from witnesses as diverse as UNISON, The EIS, the Federation of Small Business, and Alex Neil (SNP), with architects and chartered surveyors thrown in for good measure. The written submissions follow the by now familiar pattern of praise for the Parliament’s openness, and a focus on Committees. Two new points on the latter:

UNISON argues that by consulting umbrella bodies such as SCVO and the STUC, diverse views within those federations may be missed; and
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors argues that, since stage 1 evidence is restricted to principles, stage 2 evidence is required from organisations which agree with the general principles of a bill, but have reservations about the detail.

Public Petitions
New petitions this week include a concerted attack on Scottish National Heritage, with three petitions expressing dissatisfaction at its consultation methods. Also, several key petitioner issues reappear this week, with petitions on the water industry and cuts in Borders Council. The Men’s Movement also continues to pursue custody and parental access issues.

Current petitions being considered include responses from the Executive, Edinburgh City Council and Kenny McAskill (SNP) on the regulation and control of bus companies, and a response from Glasgow City Council on issues raised concerning the siting of a secure unit in the Greater Glasgow Health Board Area, i.e. the Stobhill hospital issue.

Social Justice Committee
In the first meeting for a few weeks, the Committee meets in private this week to discuss a draft report for the Inquiry into the Voluntary Sector. Issues expected to feature prominently include the stability of funding and the working relationship between the voluntary sector and local government.

Standards Committee
This week Standards is invited to agree to amend the Code of Conduct in line with its recommendations on confidentiality in the report, The Investigation of Unauthorised Disclosures. The Committee is proposing:

An amendment ensuring that the provisions on confidentiality apply to confidential material or information as well as draft Committee reports.
A provision prohibiting Members from giving ‘off the record’ briefings on the general contents or ‘line’ of draft Committee reports or other confidential material or information.
A prohibition on Members who dissent from Committee reports from disclosing their contents whilst they remain confidential.

The proposals were formed after concerns over the leaking of several private Committee reports.

Transport & the Environment Committee
Items for this Wednesday’s meeting include the consideration of a referred public petition on trunk roads congestion (particularly regarding Aberdeen), an invitation from the Finance Committee for a Transport & Environment member to join the reporter group for its PPP/PFI Inquiry, as well as the selection of an adviser for the Transport Committee’s own rail Inquiry.

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