Committee News

Issue 73, 18^th June 2002

Audit Committee
Last week Audit met to take further evidence for its consideration of the Auditor General’s Overview of Further Education Colleges in Scotland 2000/01, hearing from the Chief Executive of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council – Official Report not yet available.

Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Last week, the Committee began taking evidence for its wide-ranging Purposes of Education Inquiry from the EIS, the Scottish Parent Teacher Council and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland. This week it hears from, among others, Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Also last week, in advance of Thursday’s chamber debate, the Committee agreed its Stage 1 Report on the School Meals Bill which advises the Parliament to reject the Bill, stating: "While the Committee accepts that the Bill would provide a school meal for all children in local authority schools, it is not convinced that the Bill is capable of addressing all of the complex issues of uptake, nutritional standards and child poverty as the sponsors of the Bill say it seeks to do."

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
Most of last week’s meeting was in private as it agreed the issues to be included in the Lifelong Learning Final Report. It also agreed a shortlist of advisers for the Tourism Inquiry. The final appointment will be made in the last week of the session.

The Committee discussed the proposed letter to be sent to Enterprise Minister, Iain Gray, on the subject of Local Economic Forums (LEFs). The letter welcomes the work of the forums, but says that some are doing a better job than others. It also calls for them to make more progress in rationalising business support services. Both Conservatives at the meeting dissented formally from the letter, arguing that LEFs had a "limited objective" and that a "wider debate" about local economic development was needed. Marilyn Livingston (LAB) pointed out the benefits that were coming from LEFs encouraging partnership and collaboration. The letter was agreed by all others on the Committee.

This week’s meeting in Lerwick will take further evidence from representatives of LEFs as well as oral evidence on the Tourism Inquiry.

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Inquiry into Gender Equality and Best Value made progress last week as the Committee heard evidence from Fair Play, CoSLA and the Equal Opportunities Commission. Members also considered a draft report on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, where they are giving particular attention to the physical punishment of children.

The ongoing issue of Tommy Sheridan’s (SSP) non-attendance at meetings appears to be reaching a conclusion. Members have agreed that, in response to a letter from Mr Sheridan referring to his inability to attend meetings of the Committee, they write to him inviting his resignation from the Committee. Mr Sheridan has cited his work on housing stock transfer and the School Meals Bill as too time consuming to attend a fortnightly meeting on equal opportunities.

European Committee
This week’s meeting begins with evidence from Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, on no less a subject than the future of Europe. The Committee is variously engaged in the ongoing discussions about EU institutions post-2004. Ben Wallace (CON) is reporter for a forthcoming Inquiry into Scottish representation in the EU. There is also a suggestion for yet another institution, this time a grouping of European Committees of devolved legislatures. Other matters comprise:

• The Committee will consider what action to take regarding proposed restrictions on transporting live animals by sea, which are causing concern in the northern isles;
• The Committee papers now include Council of Ministers agendas in some detail; and
• The proposed extension of the Committee’s remit to include External Affairs is back on the agenda.

Finance Committee
Finance met last week to consider the financial memorandum of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, taking evidence from the Scottish Courts Service and others. While there have been some concerned reports regarding the financial impact of the Bill, there was reassurance that there would not be an excessive financial burden arising from the Bill. The evidence also gave an opportunity to clarify some sections of the Bill with the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration stating that the pilot schemes for 16 and 17 year olds would cover 2 or 3 local authority areas. Roughly a quarter of offences would be referred to the children’s hearing system, depending on the precise instructions which the Lord Advocate issued and on case-by-case discussion between Procurators Fiscal and children's reporters.

The Committee returns to the Bill this week, taking evidence on the Financial Memorandum from the Scottish Executive Finance Team.

Health & Community Care Committee
The Committee’s main business last week was taking evidence on Cancer Services in Scotland following its visit to the Beatson oncology centre and the new site at Gartnavel.

Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, reported that most of the recommendations of the expert advisory group on the cancer strategy were being implemented, although not in terms of precise numbers in all areas of staffing.

The Minister was quizzed on whether there any moves to shift the Beatson back under the control of the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust. This issue was raised repeatedly in the meeting, with concerns having been raised by patients and staff. Mr Chisholm said no decision had yet been taken.

He also said the feeling was that the Beatson was on target for recruiting 20 oncologists by September.

The Minister said there were no current plans for a second cancer centre, with unmet needs such as in radiotherapy more likely to have an effect on the size of the new Beatson centre at Gartnavel.

He also acknowledged the unacceptable waits for access to scanners, but said that new ones were coming on stream. He said that the fact the new funds available for tackling cancer are ring fenced has been welcomed, and Dr Anna Gregor of the Scottish Cancer Group said the regional advisory groups were key in deciding investment priorities.

Representatives of the Beatson centre, including interim director Adam Bryson, were interviewed. Dr Bryson said the biggest problem was in recruiting senior clinical oncology staff, but progress is being made. The MSF representative at the centre said morale was improving and staff saw the necessary resources were "coming".

From the representatives of the centre, the main themes were problems with consultant recruitment and accommodation, but there was also optimism about the new investment.

Professor Paul Harrison of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research said Cancer Research UK had given a lot of support to basic research in the Beatson laboratories, but extra funding was needed to translate that into positive initiatives for new therapies or new diagnostics.

There was a debate over the collection of data on cancer incidence around Europe. Dr Harry Burns of the West of Scotland Regional Cancer Advisory Group argued "the notion that we are poor at treating cancer in Scotland is not based on good evidence" and that increases in incidence could be accounted for by the ageing population.

This week the Committee will take further evidence on cancer services and also consider possible action on the cancer plan.

Justice 1 Committee
Last week's meeting on the Prison Estates Review heard from Peter McKinlay, the former SPS boss whose report on Peterhead has attracted much attention. He said that the media reporting of his views had been distorted and was also clear that he had been commissioned to write a report supporting the retention of the Peterhead site – it was not intended to be objective.

There was also an intriguing session with Grant Thornton, an accountancy firm commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council to critique the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. Wendy Alexander (LAB) pressed them on whether, ultimately, they were arguing that public build could really be cheaper and the answers were non-committal.

Discussion continues about the accounting treatment of assets at Kilmarnock.

There was also subordinate legislation banning knives disguised as other objects – this is a post-September 11^th measure.

This week the Committee discusses its report on the Estates Review in private – although Scotland on Sunday claims to have seen a draft already.

Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s evidence on the Criminal Justice Bill came from legal and criminal experts. Bill Aitken (CON) pursued with the Parole Board his view that the new lifelong Restriction of Liberty Orders are not necessary, given the existence of life licenses. The Parole Board, and criminologists, discussed in response developments in the assessment and management of risk. Stewart Stevenson (SNP) seemed to be arguing against PFI in the prison service, saying that the French prison system (which he has been suggesting as a model over on Justice 1 and, it could be argued, uses PFI) does not deal with throughcare and rehabilitation.

The Faculty of Advocates, while stressing that they have no views on policy, raised a number of issues, some of which were shared with the Law Society:

• They believe that the Bill affects a principle that prosecutors have no interest in sentences;
• Their concern about victim impact statements is that if someone has pled guilty, such information should not be introduced. It was noted in passing that statements are already happening in England;
• They believe that the changes on chastisement of children could be done within the existing law.

No papers yet for this week’s meeting, but there is evidence on the Bill from Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, and private consideration of the Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Report.

Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee continued taking evidence on the Local Government Bill, hearing from the Forum of Private Business Scotland (FPBS) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Key issues for the FPBS include:

• Opposition to any suggestion to return control of rates poundage to local authorities. They would prefer a uniform business rate throughout the UK;
• The monitoring and review of the tendering process for contract work, with FPBS suggesting preference for local businesses in some cases; and
• A scepticism towards best value with concern that it will undermine business.

The FSB identified the key issues as:

• The role of businesses and local economic forums in community planning;
• Concern that the employment practices clause of best value will be a burden; and
• Greater consultation and dialogue with business.

This week, the Committee takes evidence on the Bill from the Community Planning Task Force, the STUC, the SCVO and the Association of Scottish Community Councils, while also discussing a draft report on Renewing Local Democracy.

Procedures
Last week, the Committee took evidence on monitoring the volume of Parliamentary Questions and the Scottish Executive's speed of response from Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson, and Executive Officials. The Committee agreed to receive further information from the Executive on target times for responses to Parliamentary Questions and on the admissibility of Parliamentary Questions, and to consider an issues paper in due course.

The Committee noted that no further protocols between the Parliament and the Executive had been introduced and wants to consider a paper on the issue. It also considered a paper on Sewel Motions and agreed that further work should be undertaken to clarify the process, with consultation with Scottish Executive and the UK Government.

At its next meeting, the Committee will consider a request from the Conveners' Liaison Group to prohibit contributions from the public gallery during formal Committee meetings.

Public Petitions
Among this week’s petitions is one from Conservative, Phil Gallie MSP (who is also a member of the Committee) on rural postal services, one on individual MMR injections, a call for Peterhead prison to stay open and a plea for Executive guidance on the shade of blue in the Saltire.

Rural Development Committee
Last week, the Committee took further evidence on integrated rural development from CoSLA, the STUC, the FSB, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland, the Association of Scottish Community Councils, and the Crofters Commission.

Points were once again raised about the need to improve infrastructure in rural areas. The STUC argued they should be represented on the forward strategy group for agriculture. Once again concerns were raised about the number of agencies working in rural communities, and the need for a joined up approach and more community planning. The issue of supply of affordable housing was also raised, with the STUC arguing that investment should be made in homes to rent. It was argued that the crofting housing scheme should be refreshed and that there was tension between that scheme and the rural home-ownership grant scheme.

VisitScotland argued that clusters were effective, with business and agencies working together to provide a rounded package to attract tourism. The importance of extending broadband provision in the highlands was also raised.

The Committee then took evidence on the draft codes for draft Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock and Farmed Animals. These were welcomed by the SSPCA, with some reservations, while the British Egg Industry Council raised concerns over cost.

Subordinate Legislation
Last week’s meeting dealt with two topics. Firstly, the Criminal Justice Bill has thrown up a number of technical issues, in particular regarding prisoners who are released on license for one offence but then put in prison for a different one. Secondly, there were a number of regulations dealing with foot-&-mouth and the Committee wanted to know why they differ from the equivalents for England.

This week’s meeting considers the Debt Arrangement & Attachment Bill.

Transport & the Environment Committee
Last week’s Rail Inquiry evidence came from the trade unions. All the unions would prefer full renationalisation, but regard what the Government is doing with Railtrack as an improvement. They also favour a UK-wide approach on safety grounds.

Enterprise, Transport and Environment Minister, Iain Gray, was questioned about the perceived lack of prescription in the draft directions for the Scotrail franchise. He also stated that the Scottish region of Railtrack makes a loss, which would have to be covered if Scotland went it alone.

There was a report on public petitions regarding opencast mining – one in favour and one against. The Committee considered a new fees regime to be raised on extractors, and are proposing further research.

The Rail Inquiry continues this week, the report on aquaculture is also considered.

Other Committee Homepages:

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee
Social Justice Committee
Standards Committee

[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]

[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]

Previous Page