Committee News

Issue 63, 19th March 2002

 

Audit Committee
The Further Education sector comes under the spotlight at this week's meeting. As well as considering the Executive’s response to the Committee’s overview of FE colleges in Scotland, members will also examine in more detail the specific issue of governance and financial management at Moray College. Afterwards, attention will again turn to the Auditor General’s report on the NHS in Scotland.

 

Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the Committee completed stage 2 of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupil’s Records) (Scotland) Bill. The only issues to raise division were over monitoring of strategies, which the Minister reassured the Committee would be dealt with in the accompanying guidance, and a complaints procedure which the Minister argued would be better dealt with by special educational needs legislation combined with the complaints process in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, rather than to introduce a third element, which might cause duplication and confusion. Members also raised the issue of the Bill’s title, arguing that the term "Pupils’ Records" was causing confusion with Record of Needs, which the Bill does not address – the Minister gave assurances to reconsider this in advance of stage 3.

The Committee agreed to consider the extent of ringfencing and excellence fund allocations when it takes evidence on the Budget Process 2003-04.

 

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
A relatively quiet meeting last week, the only item of business being the Committee’s agreement to the draft interim lifelong learning report. The main business for this week is reports from representatives on the progress and achievements of Local Economic Forums in Dunbartonshire, Glasgow and the Borders respectively.

 

Equal Opportunities Committee
This week the Committee takes evidence from Positive Action in Housing, and Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland on the Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Order 2002 which imposes a duty on specific listed bodies to publish race equality schemes, a statement of race equality policies and put in place the necessary arrangements to monitor the impact of such schemes and policies.

 

Finance Committee
In a busy meeting, top of the agenda last week was evidence-taking on the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s in-year financial performance report, its provisional expenditure plans for 2003/04 and its latest quarterly report on the Holyrood project. The best overview of this is laid out in the accompanying Committee papers.

The Committee was also addressed by members of the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly, on the findings of its own Inquiry into PPP/PFI. Depending on the size and nature of the project, the report appeared to take a generally positive view of PPPs as a way of addressing historical underfunding of parts of the Province’s infrastructure, as well as on the issue of value for money. However, it was stressed that existing PPP/PFI projects in Northern Ireland were still at too early a stage in their development to form conclusive views on all aspects. MLAs also stressed some differences between the situation in Scotland and Ulster; particularly the differing decision making powers of local authorities. The full presentation by the MLAs can be viewed here.

 

Health & Community Care Committee
Apart from approving more statutory instruments on amnesic shellfish poisoning, the only other relevant agenda items from last week were discussion in private of a draft report on petitions on fuel poverty and the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services on the health service in Scotland.

This week, attention turns to a draft stage 1 report on Nicola Sturgeon’s (SNP) Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill as well as a report on Hospital Acquired Infections.

 

Justice 1 Committee
Last week’s agenda consisted of alternatives to custody, and legal aid. Both were taken in private.

 

Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s meeting continued the long Inquiry into the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service. It was largely of technical interest, focussing on the relative merits of Procurators Fiscal and Advocate Deputes in determining whether and how to prosecute. Both groups argued their corner and claimed to be overworked; the procurators fiscal also argued that they are underpaid.

The Committee’s report on the Land Reform Bill was agreed in private.

 

Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee concluded its Local Government Finance Inquiry report in private. The report is due to be published today and will cover issues such as business rates, council tax banding and local income tax.

 

Procedures Committee
Last week, Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson, gave evidence on parliamentary questions. Two points of interest arose:

 

Public Petitions
Last week saw a petition on behalf of the STUC Women’s Committee calling for free school meals and the return of free milk in local authority schools. It was agreed to forward the petition to the Education Committee, who will be the lead Committee on the School Meals Bill, with the recommendation that the petitioners are invited to give evidence.

A petition on GM farms lead to much debate. It was ultimately agreed to send it to the Transport and Environment Committee with the recommendation that it considers referring it to the Health Committee because of the health implications.

 

Rural Development Committee
This week evidence begins for the Inquiry into integrated rural development.

 

Social Justice Committee
Last week in considering 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 was supportive, but will flag up CoSLA's concerns about the link between secure tenancies and anti-social behaviour.

The Committee also discussed its forward work plan, agreeing to consider post enactment scrutiny of the Housing Act, return to consideration of the licensing of houses in multiple occupation and petitions concerning the Housing Improvement Task Force, and respond to the Scottish Executive’s consultation on fuel poverty.

The Committee reported on its Inquiry into the voluntary sector last week which covered issues such as funding, the real cost of volunteering and the rural dimension – click here to read.

This week, the Committee takes evidence on Budget 2003-04 from panel sessions, including representatives from the Housing, Social Inclusion and Voluntary Sectors. Members also consider their approach to the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement.

 

Standards Committee
Last week, Standards found that Alex Johnson (CON) had not breached the code of conduct during a council by-election in Aberdeen. The Committee did, however, feel that the implication in a Conservative leaflet that the Liberal candidate was being given preferential treatment by the council over a planning matter was regrettable.

 

Subordinate Legislation
You might not expect excitement from the Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Locational Flexibility) (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/92). However, it gave the SNP the chance last week to question the definition of ‘Scotland’ in use. (This, essentially, stems from the SNP’s disagreement with the UK Government over the division of English and Scottish waters.)

 

Transport & the Environment Committee
Last Wednesday’s meeting was mainly taken up with consideration of a further draft report on the first phase of its on-going Inquiry into aquaculture. The Inquiry continues this week with representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Link and the supermarkets among those giving evidence.

 

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