Committee News
Issue 70, 21st May 2002
Audit Committee
Last week, the Committee focused on "Overview of Further
Education Colleges in Scotland 2000/01", taking evidence
from the Auditor General. The general message was positive, with
key financial systems of a good standard and action plans agreed
where there were difficulties. In terms of financial health, the
colleges total operating deficit was reduced to £13.8m, £2.2m
less than the previous year, but the deficit of the percentage of
income rose slightly from 2.7% to 2.9%.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence for stage 1 of the School
Meals (Scotland) Bill from, among others, Tommy Sheridan
(SSP) and Gillian Kynoch, co-ordinator of food and health policy
for the Scottish Executive. The main area of contention was
whether the Bill’s proposals would deliver any health
benefits. Gillian Kynoch’s submission stated there was no
evidence that the provision of free school meals will have any
benefit to health in addition to policies currently being pursued
by the Scottish Executive, a statement which was queried by Mr
Sheridan, Alex Neil (SNP) and John McAllion (LAB). During
evidence, Ms Kynoch said that the onus was on the bill's
supporters to say what evidence they had that making school meals
free for all pupils would add to the Executive’s existing
package, in light of continuing concerns about take-up and the
ability of the service to cope with the changes.
Cathy Peattie (LAB) was appointed Deputy Convenor and Karen Whitefield (LAB) joined the Committee as a substitute member. This week, the Committee considers all the stage 1 evidence on the Bill.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
The Committee considered and agreed the draft Stage 1 Report on University
of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill.
The Committee also discussed, in private, its next steps on publication of the Lifelong Learning Final Report. It agreed to publish the report during September. It also agreed that the Committee would be unable to undertake an Inquiry into Postal Services due to the other demands on the current work programme.
Equal Opportunities Committee
The main item last week was evidence on race issues from
Social Justice Minister, Margaret Curran. While covering areas on
which the Executive is currently focusing, the discussion also
centred on forthcoming initiatives, such as community planning.
The Committee also asked about Executive progress on the
Committee’s Gypsy Traveller report. This Minister also
confirmed that an Executive anti-racism campaign would be
launched during the summer.
European Committee
This week the Inquiry into Structural Funds continues,
with evidence from the policy director of the Conference of
Peripheral & Maritime Regions. Amongst the usual voluminous
paperwork, the Committee may ask questions as to why directives
on public procurement are being implemented on a UK-wide rather
than Scottish-specific basis.
Finance Committee
Finance meets this week to take evidence on the 2003-04
Budget Process from the Scottish Civic Forum, CBI Scotland,
Scottish Financial Enterprise and DTZ Pieda Consulting. They also
discuss the stage 1 Budget Reports from the subject
Committees in public, as agreed at their last meeting.
Health & Community Care Committee
The Committee took evidence on the School Meals
(Scotland) Bill from the Public Health Institute of
Scotland, the Scottish Community Diet Project, One Plus and the
Food Standards Agency.
The Committee also considered the MMR Expert Group report and agreed to continue this item to a future meeting.
Also on the Committee's agenda was its conclusions and recommendations on the Budget Process 2003-04. The report makes a number of recommendations including on allocation of resources to chronic pain and neurology, more transparency on how money is spent in the NHS, and revisiting aspects of the Arbuthnott formula to address inequality at a local level.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week’s evidence on the Prison Estates Review included
a contribution from Chief Inspector of Prisons, Clive
Fairweather. Among the points to emerge were:
This week there are two meetings. The first focuses on Peterhead, the papers for which include details of the STOP programme. There is also a paper from academic James McManus, which questions Peterhead and presents advantages of private prisons – particularly the speed of build.
At the second meeting, accountants, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Premier Prisons will give evidence.
The joint meeting of the two justice Committees on the budget last week considered a draft report.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week, the Committee considered the Criminal Justice
Bill, hearing from a large range of witnesses, beginning with
the police. The Police Federation and Association of Chief Police
Officers (ACPOs) were supportive of the policy objectives of the
Bill, but sought to ensure that certain provisions were
efficacious: lifelong restriction orders, for example, and the
chastisement of children. There was a difference of view on the
use of non-police officers for court duties, with ACPOs insisting
that savings would result.
CoSLA and the Association of Directors of Social Work began by approving of interim Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, if they can be made to work. They also argued that Victim statements should influence sentences. Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, in his evidence said that the statements will be available to the court after conviction to take into consideration.
Turning to physical punishment of children, Jim Wallace pointed to the wording of the consultation document in February 2000:
"there is a common sense distinction to be made between the sort of mild physical rebuke which is normal in families, and which most loving parents consider acceptable, and the beating of children. The law needs to be clarified to make sure that it properly reflects this common sense distinction."
No papers for this week’s meeting yet, but witnesses include the Scottish Human Rights Centre, children’s charities, and the Scottish Parent Teacher Council.
Local Government Committee
Last week the Committee began taking evidence on Renewing
Local Democracy – the Next Steps, with evidence from
Highland Council, who were largely concerned with remuneration
but answered questions on a range of issues. Members also
approved a draft order on the valuation and rating of
pipelines transporting petroleum offshore, with the principal
purpose of the order to bring about harmonisation of the rating
positions north and south of the border.
This week, the Committee returns to Renewing Local Democracy with evidence from Professor John Curtice and Fairshare. There's also the possibility of some entertainment when members consider the draft regulations for the Marriage (Scotland) Bill which, among other poorly drafted regulations, suggests to approve a venue, local authorities must approve ‘a fit and proper person’, and bans any food or drink until an hour after the ceremony – the Committee is expected to ask for the regulations to be redrafted.
Public Petitions
New petitions this week are on the subjects of hedge nuisance
and the Stone of Scone. Also the UK Men’s Movement
call for the Parliament to investigate the Executive’s
recent domestic abuse advertising strategy – a
reference to a dispute over the statistic used in some of the
advertising.
They also consider responses to petitions on the Skye Bridge, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Powers for Cairngorm National Park.
Rural Development Committee
The Committee continued to take evidence on integrated
rural development at its meeting in Lochgilphead. Firstly, it
heard from local businesses and local agencies involved in
developing rural communities. There was talk of the need to
invest more in renewable energy in rural areas to create
investment and jobs; the desire for developments to be approved
without public inquiries; and the importance of the proposed
Campbelltown to Ballycastle ferry. Shona Anderson, who negotiated
on behalf of the GMB during the Jaegar factory closure in
Campbelltown, talked about resulting unemployment in the area.
One witness suggested that Scottish National Heritage needed to
become more accountable. Highland Heritage expressed concern
about forestry and renewable energy’s impact on tourism. A
local businesswoman expressed concern about levels of business
rates.
The Committee also took evidence from Argyll & Bute Council and Argyll & the Islands Enterprise, who identified three barriers to rural development – transportation, funding for learning and state aid rules.
Social Justice Committee
The Committee discussed the Scottish Executive’s
consultative draft of its fuel poverty statement.
Committee members broadly welcomed paper. However, concerns were
raised about those with partial heating systems who are not
covered by the present free central heating scheme and about the
number of gas fitters available to implement the scheme on
schedule. The final draft will be discussed at the next meeting.
The Committee agreed its draft Stage 1 Report on the Budget 2003-04. It broadly welcomed the 8.98% real terms increase in the Social Justice budget between 2002-3 and 2003-4. However, it noted that the cross-cutting nature of the social justice agenda means scrutiny of the budget in relation to the Executive’s social justice agenda remains limited. The report states this is why it has made no spending recommendations.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Last week’s meeting agreed the budget report.
Evidence was also taken for the Rail Inquiry from the official players: the Strategic Rail Authority, the HSE, the Rail Regulator and Railtrack.
Consideration of the petition on the GM trials at Munlochy was closed. It is only 18 months since the Committee held an Inquiry into GM crops, but this did not stop the SNP and Conservatives moving unsuccessfully to take evidence. However, as the petitioners raise new health issues (principally the ingestion of pollen), the Committee is inviting the Health Committee to consider these.
No papers for this week’s meeting, but the main item will be Tesco and Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister, Allan Wilson, talking about aquaculture. Also on the agenda are subordinate legislation devolving transport functions from Westminster (subsidy for ferries to Northern Ireland, and the power to develop rail services) and public petitions on Road Equivalent Tariffs (reducing ferry fares); transport in Aberdeen; and once again on the siting of mobile phone masts.
Other Committee Homepages:
Procedures Committee
Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee
Standards Committee
Subordinate Legislation
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