Committee News
Issue 68, 7th May 2002
Audit Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence from the Executive finance
officers on the 2000/01 accounts of the Scottish Prison
Service where the assets of private prisons were mentioned
– more details once Official Report is available.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
This week, the Committee starts taking evidence for stage 1
of the School Meals (Scotland) Bill. Responding to the
consultation, some individual local authorities are
"generally supportive", but raise issues surrounding
staffing levels, the lack of dining and catering facilities, cost
and the debatable effectiveness in reducing stigma.
Children’s charities are largely supportive while the
Scottish Parent Teacher Council is opposed.
Last week, the Committee took evidence from Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet, and Culture Minister, Mike Watson, on the 2003-04 Budget. Issues raised include the reduction in levels of corporate sponsorship, concern over the impact of the decline in popularity of the National Lottery, the percentage of SAC funding within the overall Executive budget (0.162%), and implementation of the cultural strategy.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence from then Enterprise
Minister, Wendy Alexander, on the department’s budget for
2003-2004 and on Local Economic Forums.
Tertiary Education: Ms Alexander reported that funding had been focussed on allowing growth in tertiary education. Half of the £400 million invested in Scottish Enterprise is now invested in training and skills, allowing the target of 20,000 modern apprenticeships to be beaten. Funding of Further Education had increased 50%. When asked about the balance of investment in Further and Higher Education, she reported that investment in further education has been significantly higher than that in higher education.
Economic Growth: Responding to a question from Andrew Wilson (SNP) on growth and comparing Scotland’s growth with England, Ms Alexander stated that the long-term strategy was correct. The impact of September 11th was still an issue, but in the fourth quarter of last year, in terms of growth, Scotland was up while England was down.
Local Economic Forums: The Minster said that there has been a stronger focus on putting the business community and service users at the forefront when designing services.
The Committee also took evidence from Scottish Enterprise on the Budget Process 2003 –2004. Chief of Scottish Enterprise, Robert Crawford, reported that the merger with Careers Scotland has proceeded well, and that it still aimed to realise £200 million in benefits by 2006, which will be reinvested in operational activities and projects. Andrew Wilson (SNP) asked for clarification on the amounts of administration costs. Mr Crawford stated that Scottish Enterprise was satisfied with the amount set for its budget.
The Committee agreed to invite a number of local economic forums to give evidence to the Committee when it meets in Shetland in June, and will also invite representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to attend.
The Committee also agreed the issues to be included in the budget 2003/2004 report.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week, to the Committee on Budget 2003-04 from the
Equality Network, the Disability Rights Commission, the Disabled
Persons Housing Service and the STUC welcomed improvements in
equality monitoring and mainstreaming since last year, but said
more could be done to improve the Budget proposals.
Sexual orientation reporter Cathy Peattie (LAB) presented a report on current issues, including a request for the Committee to write to Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, to ask if LGBT representatives will be invited to the next Holocaust memorial event – the convenor is awaiting a reply.
The Committee agreed to keep an eye on the implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 for equality issues. Members also discussed arrangements for their civic participation event in Aberdeen which is expected to focus on mainstreaming issues.
European Committee
This week’s agenda is long, as usual, and begins with
evidence from local authority consortia and Scottish Natural
Heritage for the Structural Funds Inquiry. There is also a
proposal to hold a Scottish Parliamentary Forum on the future
of Europe.
The Executive’s response to the Committee’s report on enlargement endorses almost every point made by the Committee.
Finance Committee
Finance meets in private this week to consider its PFI/PPP
Inquiry.
Health & Community Care Committee
Last week the Health Committee met in Inverness where it met
representatives of Highland NHS Board, as an example of a board
in a rural area, as part of its consultation on the budget
process 2003/04.
Roger Gibbins of Highland NHS Board argued that the some of the indicators which were used to calculate deprivation under the Arbuthnott formula are not sensitive to rural deprivation, and in that area, the Highlands have been disadvantaged. However, costs incurred from providing services in such a large area had been recognised for the first time.
The issue of GPs working single-handed in rural areas was raised, and Ken Proctor of Highland Primary Care NHS Trust talked about how out-of-hours co-operatives were being developed to help support rural GPs.
On the issue of future healthcare provision in rural areas, Ken Proctor said that NHS 24 would be a useful vehicle to help provide more joined-up services. However, this needed to be supported by health care professionals amalgamating in larger groups which go out into the community to provide the service, rather than relying on isolated practitioners.
Items for this week’s meeting include taking evidence from Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, on the 2003/04 budget process and taking evidence on the School Meals (Scotland) Bill.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week’s evidence on the Prison Estates Review began
with the Prison Service Union (a self-styled "moderate"
body, not affiliated to the TUC) who represent the majority of
staff at HMP Kilmarnock. They are supportive of privatisation,
but made the following points:
There were also tense exchanges with the governors of HMP Barlinnie and HMP Low Moss. The latter expressed the view that a recent increase in violence at his prison resulted from crack replacing heroin as the drug in use inside the jail.
The petition from the prisoners at Peterhead will be considered as part of the Estates Review, which continues this week.
The joint meeting of the two justice Committees on the budget last week heard a bid from criminal justice social workers to increase their role and resources in regard to throughcare for prisoners and the availability of secure accommodation for children. This week there is evidence from Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, which may focus on prisons.
Justice 2 Committee
The long Inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service approached its end, as the report was
considered last week in private.
This week on the Committee’s agenda is the Criminal Justice Bill with evidence from Executive officials. There is also a petition on the sentencing of paedophiles.
Local Government Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence on the 2003-04 Budget from
Deputy Finance and Public Services Minister, Peter Peacock. There
are continuing issues over levels of funding, in particular the
funding gap which CoSLA identifies. The Minister stated that this
was a starting point for discussions over the spending review.
The cost to local authorities of the increase in National
Insurance was also raised.
This week, the Committee confronted the Braehead issue. The Boundary Commission recommended that Braehead be included in Renfrewshire rather than Glasgow. As was reported in today's press, the Committee voted in favour of the Boundary Commission's proposal.
Public Petitions
Reaching its 500th Petition this week, the Committee
considers the issue of Scottish Transport Group Pension Funds,
as well as two petitions on Fife Health Board and its
recent review of acute services.
Rural Development Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence on integrated rural
development from a number of major stakeholders – the NFU,
the Scottish Landowners Federation, environmental bodies and
others. Those giving evidence agreed that there was a need for
more joined-up thinking. The variety of funding sources resulted
in policies which were not always complementary, it was argued.
There was also a plea for more local partnerships.
The Committee considered a petition on the possible closure of the Auchincruive campus of the Scottish Agricultural College. It will keep informed of developments. Considering a petition on a long-running campaign by gamekeepers to be allowed to kill more birds of prey, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the petition to seek an update on the work of the Moorland Forum.
Social Justice Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence on the Scottish Fuel
Poverty Statement. Evidence was taken on sustainability and
consumer issues from the Scottish Warm Homes Campaign, on
implementation from EAGA and CoSLA and on provision issues from
Energywatch, Scottish Gas and Scottish Power. Those giving
evidence agreed that the Scottish Executive had set itself
ambitious targets, but that these were achievable. The main area
of concern was that there may not be enough gas fitters available
to implement the free central heating scheme on schedule, and the
Committee agreed to raise this issue with the Minister.
Standards Committee
This week’s meeting of the standards Committee will discuss
an issues paper summarising written and oral evidence on replacing
the Member’s Interests Order. The Committee will also
consider a review of Cross Party Groups and transitional
arrangements for handling complaints against members.
Subordinate Legislation
One point of note regarding the laying of an order to rectify an
omission. For a two year period, people should not have been
given traffic fines for outstaying their time in
a pay parking space. The fines were, however, levied.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Last week’s meeting heard from Deputy Transport
Minister, Lewis Macdonald, on two issues: the budget for
the years ahead and the transport situation in the Aberdeen
area – the north-east has a strong view that it has been
underresourced.
This week’s meeting is extensive. There are a slew of petitions, mainly going over old ground where the Executive has already acted: incineration of animal carcases, radiation from telecommunications masts, and the sale of school playing fields. In each case, the petitioners’ motivation is an individual local case.
Other Committee Homepages:
Procedures Committee
Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee
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