Committee News
Issue 74, 25th June 2002
Audit Committee
This week, Audit meets to take further evidence for its
consideration of the Auditor General’s Overview of
Further Education Colleges in Scotland 2000/01, hearing from
Angus College, Clydebank College and Inverness College. Angus
College’s submission to the Committee calls for in-year
additional sectoral funding for 2002/03; a substantial increase
in core funding for 2003/04; more joining-up of strategies and
priorities in delivering lifelong learning and social justice
agendas; and enhanced interaction between SHEFC and FE Colleges
to address issues of financial management and performance.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
This week the Committee takes further evidence for the Purposes
of Education Inquiry, hearing from CBI Scotland, the Scottish
Council Foundation, Action of Churches Together in Scotland and
the Scottish Interfaith Council.
It also considers a letter from Paul McManus, Scottish Organiser for Media Union, BECTU, regarding ITV’s and the ITC’s agreement to reduce regional programming and the subsequent effect of this on Scotland. BECTU is asking for an investigation. As the Committee is reaching the recess an Inquiry is unlikely, but they may decide to write to the broadcasting authorities raising concerns.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
At its meeting in Shetland, the Committee heard reports on
the progress and achievement to date from three Local Economic
Forums: Shetland, Argyll & the Islands and Moray,
Badenoch & Strathspey. The Shetland LEF reported that its
year 2 plan consisted of looking at education, and encouraging
matching skills with jobs. It was noted that there was a need for
management training in the area and it was hoped that the
University of the Highlands and Islands could meet that need. It
was also encouraging a 10 year economic plan for the area.
Members of the forum maintained that, although there had been in
the past duplication of effort in the area of economic
development in Shetland, the forum had made a difference.
Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey insisted they had found no areas of "overlap" in encouraging economic development in the area, and highlighted the national park designation as something that would greatly benefit the economy of the area.
Representatives of the Argyll LEF said that there had already been good partnerships between organisations in the area before the LEF was set up, and there was concern that there was overlap between the LEF and the LEC. It was argued that both should not be responsible for economic delivery, with perhaps the LEF addressing barriers to economic development such as transport issues.
The Committee also heard its first evidence on its Tourism Inquiry, from Maurice Mullally of Shetlands Islands Tourism. Mr Mullally reported that Orkney Tourist Board, Shetland Tourist Board and NorthLink Ferries had joined forces to create Viking Island Holidays, to offer more economical and comprehensive packages in a range of accommodation in the islands and to a wider market. He highlighted travel costs as a big issue for tourism in Shetland, and said the are would benefit from more niche marketing from VisitScotland.
At this week’s meeting the Committee will select an adviser for its tourism Inquiry.
Equal Opportunities Committee
This week, the Committee takes evidence from the Commission for
Racial Equality for its Gender Equality and Best Value Inquiry,
as well as considering draft equality guidelines on Mainstreaming
Equality in the Work of the Parliamentary Committees.
Members also return to the issue of Tommy Sheridan’s (SSP) non-attendance at meetings.
European Committee
Last week’s meeting began with evidence from Deputy First
Minister, Jim Wallace, on no less a subject than the future of
Europe – nothing new emerged. The Committee is variously
engaged in the ongoing discussions about EU institutions
post-2004. Ben Wallace (CON) is reporter for an 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 include:
Finance Committee
Finance met last week to continue consideration of the financial
memorandum of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill,
taking evidence from the Scottish Executive Finance Team. They
state that the financial implications which arise from the Bill
are not particularly significant, given the overall level of
provision which is supplied to local authorities under the 100%
funding arrangement. They also state that the funding which is
given to local authorities has risen by 52% in cash terms since
2000-01, when the baseline provision was £44 million - in the
current year, baseline provision sits at £62 million and in
2003-04 it will rise to £67 million. However, the Committee
continues to have reservations over the financial implications of
the Bill and remains concerned about disagreement between CoSLA
and the Executive.
This week the Committee meets in private to discuss the above report and its PFI/PPP report.
Health & Community Care Committee
At last week’s meeting the Committee heard further
evidence on Cancer Services from the British Medical
Association, Royal College of General Practitioners, Amicus, MSF,
the RCN, representatives of hospices, Macmillan Nurses and Cancer
Research UK. The main themes were that there was a need to
consider further how staff are recruited and retained, and that
there was not enough joined-up thinking between the NHS and
Universities to match skills with jobs in the sector, and this
impacted on recruitment.
At its next meeting, the Committee will take evidence on the Local Government Bill. It will consider a paper on cancer services in Scotland, and a questionnaire on a petition on chronic pain.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week, the Committee discussed its report on the Prison
Estates Review in private – although Scotland on
Sunday claimed to have seen a draft already. This matter was
referred to the Standards Committee at the request of members of
all parties. Members were particularly concerned that the article
suggested that the Committee had formed a view when no discussion
of the report had taken place.
This week the Committee starts to move on, by preparing for its Inquiry into alternatives to custody. However, the petition from wives of Peterhead prison officers is back on the agenda, and there are various written papers. These include a report on the Committee’s visit to Kilmarnock Prison, and a statement from the Sheriffs’ Association that they only send people to jail when there is no robust alternative.
Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s meeting heard evidence on the Criminal
Justice Bill from Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, and
considered the Crown Office / Procurator Fiscal report in
Private.
Mr Wallace began by answering the question persistently posed by Bill Aitken (CON). The difference between a life license and the new lifelong Restriction of Liberty Orders (RLOs) is that RLOs will not be limited to murder. However, they are intended for situations where there is a likelihood of serious violence – there will be no US-style ‘three strikes and you’re out’ for petty offences. The Executive does not foresee any ECHR difficulties.
There was explicit clarification that victim statements will be piloted, not introduced generally. On the pilot use of children’s hearings, it was suggested that it will be at least two years before the pilots are over; and that a ballpark figure for the number of serious offences currently sent to hearings is 26 per year.
This week, the principal business will be the start of stage 2 of the Land Reform Bill. The Committee will consider only the first twelve sections, which deal with the access provisions.
The agenda and papers also round off various topics from the year, in particular the Criminal Justice Bill and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal reports.
Local Government Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence on the Local
Government in Scotland Bill from the Community Planning
Task Force, the STUC, the SCVO and the Association of Scottish
Community Councils.
In private, the Committee also agreed its first report on Renewing Local Democracy – the next steps. The Committee is considering the consultation in two stages and this report considers electoral reform and remuneration. In terms of electoral reform, the Committee could not reach a consensus. Labour members took the view that a wider debate was required to determine the most appropriate voting system. The Tricia Marwick (SNP) and Iain Smith (LIB DEM) argued that PR should be introduced with the Single Transferable Vote system being the most appropriate. Keith Harding (CON) supported retention of first past the post.
In terms of remuneration, the Committee agreed that current system is inadequate and should be reviewed. Members propose that remuneration should be set nationally and independently by a national remuneration Committee. They also considered pensions, concluding in principle that pension arrangements should be made for councillors on retiral from council service.
This week the Committee concludes evidence taking on the Local Government in Scotland Bill, hearing from Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, Peter Peacock.
Procedures
The meeting on Tuesday will consider a letter from George
Reid (SNP) on behalf of the Convenors Liaison Group and will hear
evidence from the group on prohibiting contributions from the
public gallery during Committee meetings when they are
meeting formally.
The Committee will also consider a draft response to the Executive on the issue of Parliamentary Questions and a draft of its Annual Report for 2001-2002.
Public Petitions
At last week’s meeting, the Committee agreed to invite
Derek Scott, a pension trustee representing the Scottish Bus
Group pensioners, to give evidence to the Committee following
on from Deputy Transport Minister, Lewis Macdonald’s,
evidence. It was also agreed to invite the Inland Revenue to
clarify an issue relating to the taxation of pension funds.
Rural Development Committee
At last week's meeting, the Committee considered a petition
from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, calling for the
Scottish Parliament to allow licensed culling of raptors where
local populations have increased beyond normal levels. The
Committee agreed to write to the Convenor of the Transport &
Environment Committee, which is considering a similar petition,
asking when it will be considered and to urge the Committee to
take oral evidence on the issue.
The Committee considered a paper outlining proposed arrangements for the scrutiny of European policies. It agreed to seek a quarterly overview of these, to seek further detailed briefings from the Scottish Executive on the key dossiers within the rural development portfolio and to consider options for more detailed scrutiny of specific EU proposals.
In private, members agreed the annual report subject to some changes, and also agreed its work programme. The work programme will include: finalising its report on integrated rural development; consideration of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill and the Organic Target (Scotland) Bill; and taking evidence on the Common Fisheries Policy reform package, the Scottish Executive strategic framework for aquaculture and proposals for the establishment of the Cairngorms National Park.
Social Justice Committee
Last week, the Committee heard evidence from Deputy Justice
Minister, Dr Richard Simpson and Deputy Social Justice Minister,
Hugh Henry, on the Debt Arrangement & Attachment
(Scotland) Bill - its final evidence before drafting its
Stage 1 report. The Committee pursued the issue of funding for
advice services, and whether it will be sufficient, and raised
concerns over the distribution of funding to Local Authorities
and to voluntary organisations to provide advice services.
Members highlighted to Dr Simpson points made by the law centres
that for people to have confidence in the system attachments
would have to be exceptional, and that people would definitely
have to be able to qualify for arrangements. Both Ministers gave
a robust explanation of why this Bill differs from the previous
systems of poindings and warrant sales.
At its next meeting, the Committee will meet in private to discuss the Stage 1 report on the Bill. It will also discuss a petition on the issue of summary warrants by Sheriffs to local authorities. Also on the agenda is consideration of its approach to consultation on the Homelessness Task Force final report, as well as the response to the Executive consultation on guidance on strategies for dealing with homelessness.
Subordinate Legislation
This week’s meeting considers the Debt Arrangement
& Attachment Bill, and medical treatments for
incapable adults – both items continued from last week.
Standards Committee
At this week’s meeting the Committee will consider a
draft proposal for a Committee Bill on replacing the
Members’ Interests Order. It will also consider a draft
of its annual report and its forward work programme.
The Committee will discuss a draft consultation paper for its Review
of Cross-Party Groups and will also consider a proposal for a
Cross Party Group on Learning Disabilities.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
The Rail Inquiry continued last week, with evidence
from Strathclyde and the Highlands, plus private consideration of
the report on aquaculture.
This week’s agenda is an end-of-session catch-up: one item of note is a sympathetic Executive response to a petition regarding the spreading of sewage on farmland.
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