Committee News
Issue 62, 12th March 2002
Audit Committee
Apart from subordinate legislation, last week’s meeting
consisted of the on-going Inquiry into the Auditor General’s
'Overview of the National Health Service in Scotland 2000/01'.
Evidence was provided by the Chief Executives of Fife Health
Board and Fife Primary Care NHS Trust, the Scottish
Pharmaceutical General Council and the former Acting Chief
Executive of the Common Service Agency. Discussion mainly
surrounded issues of cash flow for pharmacists and the impact of
recent system changes.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, Irene McGugan (SNP) and Jackie Baillie (LAB)
reported back on their meeting with the Education Minister to
make progress on a Committee Bill to establish a Children’s
Commissioner.
This week, the Committee begins stage 2 of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupil’s Records) (Scotland) Bill. As the Committee felt that much depended on the regulations and guidance, members have received initial drafts of the regulations to be made under the Bill and the guidance on accessibility strategies from the Executive.
With the SQA Bill reaching the chamber on Thursday, the Committee also returns to the stage 1 report in private.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
Two meetings last week. On Monday members continued discussion of
the draft interim Lifelong Learning report in private and
will continue to do so this week. At Wednesday’s meeting,
the only item of particular note was members’ agreement to
submit their draft report on the Impact of the New Economy to
the European Commission open consultation on e-economy.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week, Deputy Minister for Social Justice, Margaret Curran,
and Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, Peter
Peacock, gave evidence to the Committee on the Budget Process
2003/04. Key issues include progress being made with
mainstreaming pilots, tackling domestic abuse and providing
sufficient refuges, and the quality of the data which is used to
influence policy decisions.
In private the Committee discussed a paper on its proposals for a Gender Equality and Best Value Inquiry.
Finance Committee
This Tuesday’s agenda includes consideration of the Scottish
Parliamentary Corporate Body’s in-year financial performance.
The other main item is evidence-taking from Francie Molloy MLA,
Chairman of the Northern Ireland Finance and Personnel Committee,
as part of its on-going PFI/PPP Inquiry.
Health & Community Care Committee
The final stage 1 evidence-taking session for Nicola
Sturgeon’s (SNP) Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
(Scotland) Bill took place last week with the Tobacco
Manufacturers Association arguing that reform of current
voluntary agreements on advertising would be more effective than
statutory regulation in terms of preventing smoking, particularly
among young people. Reiterating claims that the tobacco industry
only targets existing smokers through advertising, it was argued
that banning advertising would encourage price competition
thereby increasing consumption. They maintain that under
voluntary agreements any tobacco advertising that "has the
purpose or effect of increasing consumption" is not allowed.
This led to members expressing doubts that the industry is
spending £30 million a year to target people who already smoke
as well as questioning the premise that only smokers are
influenced by advertising.
It was also established that current voluntary agreements, while providing some restrictions, do not preclude using brands in the title of sponsored tournaments (e.g. snooker) or ‘brand-stretching’ to non-tobacco products and merchandise.
In a bumper meeting, other items of particular note were the Committee’s decision to arrange a future meeting at Glasgow’s Beatson unit; consideration of possible future action on the Executive’s health plan; agreement to seek clarification on the future work of the Auditor General over Hospital Acquired Infections, and the appointment of John McAllion (LAB) as reporter to the Finance Committee for its PPP/PFI Inquiry.
Justice 1 Committee
Stage 2 of the Freedom of Information Bill concluded
last week.
The Executive has altered its proposals for fees to be charged for information, bringing it closer to the UK system.
Amendments seeking to incorporate into the Bill the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on environmental information were not pressed, as EU-level discussions continue on their implementation.
Section 12 will be redrafted to make clear that there is no problem with organised campaigns seeking information. The point is that where multiple requests are received, an authority may make the information publicly available rather than responding individually in every case.
This week’s agenda includes alternatives to custody and legal aid.
As last year, joint meetings of the two Justice Committees have begun to consider the budget.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s meeting returned to the long Inquiry into
the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal service. The
subject was the reports, policies and procedures arising from the
Chhokar case and focussed on the balance between the need for
more resources in the prosecution service and the need for better
working practices. The feasibility in all circumstances of the
110 day rule was also the subject of discussion.
No papers yet for this week, but the same item continues.
Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee began and concluded stage 2 of the Scottish
Public Sector Ombudsman Bill in an extremely consensual
session. There was only one vote on the British Waterways Board,
which will be outwith the jurisdiction of the Scottish public
sector ombudsman as it is a cross border body – SNP members
abstained.
This week, the Committee considers a draft Local Government Finance Inquiry report.
Procedures Committee
This week Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson,
gives evidence on parliamentary questions. A written
report on enquiries made to Executive civil servants by MSPs and
their staff in 2001 shows that more than fifty per cent of
inquiries were to the health department.
Public Petitions
Included in this week’s new petitions is one from Rozanne
Foyer, on behalf of the STUC Women’s Committee, calling for free
school meals and the return of free milk in local authority
schools. Other petitions include one on GM farms and
another on adoption procedures for black and ethnic minority
children.
Social Justice Committee
Very much concerned with housing this week, the Committee
considers various pieces of housing related subordinate
legislation and considers its response to the Scottish
Executive’s consultation Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
– Draft Guidance and Orders for the Implementation of
Scottish Secure Tenancy and Right to Buy.
The Committee also considers its forward work plan which includes post enactment scrutiny of the Housing Act, returning to consideration of the licensing of houses in multiple occupation and consideration of petitions concerning the Housing Improvement Task Force.
Standards Committee
This week, the Committee considers complaints against Alex
Johnstone (CON) in private before deciding whether or not
there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct. It also looks at
the broadcasting and webcasting of meetings of Cross Party
Groups.
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