Committee News
Issue 79, 24th September 2002
Audit Committee
At last week's meeting the Committee received a briefing from the
Auditor General on the Audit Scotland work programme for
September 2002 to March 2003.
The Committee agreed proposed aims, objectives and outputs of its research, which will examine audit processes internationally and build a platform for a possible civic participation event during this session.
In private, the Committee considered arrangements for a possible Inquiry into the report by the Auditor General on "Review of the Management of Waiting Lists in Scotland", and a draft report on its Inquiry into the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "Overview of Further Education Colleges 2000/01".
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
In response to a petition, the Committee agreed to write to
Learning & Teaching Scotland to ask if they will review the health
education guidelines. The petition calls for the Executive to
withdraw its list of resources for health education and ensure
that all teaching materials comply with the more recently
approved guidelines issued by the Education Department of the
Executive on the conduct of education in schools.
The Committee then took evidence on its Inquiry into Purposes of Scottish Education. The Committee was taken through the advisers’ paper, and the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE) gave evidence on their research with focus groups. The advisers’ paper outlined points of consensus in its analysis of responses on the purposes of education – nationally, the debate has received more than 1,200 submissions. Points included a belief that vocational training did not have an important place in schools, non selective education had been successful, there was no support for specialist schools and young people should be involved in decision making in their own schools and managing their own learning. Additionally, the summated points said there needed to be more attention to skills such as thinking skills and citizenship. The SCRE report showed concern over "respect" for teachers; young people believed the main purpose of education was to get them a job; education should have a socialising role and currently placed too much emphasis on academic achievement; some people are alienated from learning and education; and several people believed that children in Scotland started school too early.
There was discussion over what role vocational education could play in schools, how young people currently alienated form education might feel more included, and how subjects like PE and drama could broaden educational experience. Evidence given also suggested an over-emphasis on examination. It was agreed the advisers would draw up a framework to take this work forward and that as part of the process the SCRE would find ways of consulting with those who currently felt excluded from education.
This week, meeting in Glasgow, the Committee will take evidence on the general principles of the Protection of Children Bill at Stage 1. It will first hear from trade unions, Disclosure Scotland, the NHS Confederation and the Scottish Human Rights Centre. Following that, it will take evidence from schools representatives. It will also consider a draft report on the Public Appointments and Public Bodies Bill.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
There were two meetings last week, one of which was in
private to finalise the Lifelong Learning Report. At the
other meeting, the Committee considered various items of
subordinate legislation and took further evidence on its Tourism
Inquiry from a variety of organisations. These included
CoSLA, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Scottish Tourist
Forum and Historic Scotland. The Official Report is not yet
available for the meeting, but debate focussed on the structures
of the industry, including the Area Tourist Boards, and the
increase of innovation in the industry, including e-commerce. The
Committee agreed to seek additional written evidence from CoSLA
on good practice in multi-agency local approaches to the
promotion and development of tourism. It also agreed to seek
further written evidence from the Scottish Tourism Forum on the
breakdown of the £50M marketing spend proposed in their
submission. The Committee also agreed to seek additional written
evidence from Historic Scotland on the total amount of Euros
taken by Historic Scotland, and the costs of these transactions.
Next Monday the Committee will take further evidence on the Tourism Inquiry at a meeting in Inverness.
European Committee
The Committee now receives reports from all European Council
meetings, and they form a bulk of this week’s extensive
Committee papers. Also included is the opinion given by the First
Minister to the Committee of the Regions on the way forward for regional
involvement in the European Union.
Evidence will be taken on Scotland’s representation in the EU. The Scottish Council for Development & Industry will call for direct Scottish Parliamentary representation in Brussels through a staffed office. Scotland Europa, unsurprisingly, will defend their own existence and have submitted a mountain of written evidence to this end.
Finance Committee
Two meetings last week, at both of which the Committee’s
report on PPPs was considered in private. Back into the
public gaze this week, with a review of research into the way
the Scottish Parliament deals with financial matters. It is
also confirmed that the Committee will hold a meeting on Skye.
Health & Community Care Committee
The Official Report is not yet available, but last
week’s meeting took evidence from Health Minister, Malcolm
Chisholm, as well as petitioners and health board representatives
from Fife and Glasgow on the appropriateness of the
consultation processes. There was a recognition from
petitioners that there had been an improvement in the
consultation.
This week the Committee will take evidence at Stage 1 of the Mental Health Bill from the Mental Welfare Commission, Bruce Millan and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Committee will also consider the responses of the Scottish Health Boards to the Chronic Pain Questionnaire. The responses found that all NHS Board Areas, with the exception of Highland, provide a service specifically for the management of chronic pain, and Highland provides assistance for sufferers through other departments. The average waiting time was just over 16 weeks.
Justice 1 Committee
This week’s meeting will word a motion for the Chamber
debate on the Prison Estates Review, and continue with the
Title Conditions Bill. This continues to be
consensual and technical. Edinburgh Council points out that the
creation of owners associations, to deal with the issues in
sheltered housing previously reported here, would be a matter for
Westminster. The Scottish Landowners Federation is very exercised
about rules in respect of land which adjoins another’s
property.
A joint meeting of the two Justice Committees last week heard general updates from Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, and outgoing Chief Inspector of Prisons, Clive Fairweather. The lengthy session with the Minister was wide-ranging but friendly, although some remarks he made on fingerprinting caused subsequent controversy. On the issue of death caused by dangerous driving, Convenor Christine Grahame (SNP) wanted separate Scottish research, saying that it is vital to know whether Scottish or English drivers are more likely to speed.
Discussions with the outgoing Chief Inspector focussed on many individual prisons – inter alia, he reported rapid improvement at Aberdeen since the recent report. General points included continuing concern about SPS staff morale manifesting itself in absenteeism; the training and selection of staff to work with young offenders; and an expression of belief that the private sector could run a remand prison without difficulty.
Justice 2 Committee
Stage 2 of the Land Reform Bill was picked up
again. Progress is painfully slow, and the Committee is still
discussing part 1 on access. A suite of Conservative amendments
restricting access were heavily defeated. Two issues which
continue to be of debate are access to land where crops are
growing, and the extent of curtilage.
More of the same this week, at two separate meetings.
Local Government Committee
Private consideration of the stage 1 report on the Local
Government in Scotland Bill (Best Value, wider
competence, etc) continued last week, along with preparations for
Tricia Marwick’s (SNP) PR bill.
However, the main evidence was from CoSLA on the next phase of the Executive consultation, "Renewing Local Democracy". Discussion focussed on the remuneration of councillors, the provision of training, and the availability of IT. CoSLA President, Pat Watters, was very dismissive of the whole Kerley report.
This week an assortment of Bills are considered in private: the Public Appointments, Mental Health, and Homelessness Bills. Evidence on Renewing Local Democracy comes from an organisation called YouthLink.
Public Petitions Committee
This week, two issues amongst the new petitions have already
made news. The first is the implementation of the Meek Report
on the future of Gaelic. The petition was presented in
Parliament Square by students who travelled from Lewis for the
purpose. The second is the expansion of landfill sites in
Midlothian and Lanarkshire (also recently in the news in
Fife.)
Issues returning to the table include windfarms, and digital hearing aids.
Procedures Committee
This week, the Committee will consider a paper on changing
Standing Orders to improve private legislation procedure.
It will also consider a letter from Alex Neil (SNP) complaining about the time allocated to backbenchers in short debates.
Also on the agenda is a paper on extending the European Committee’s remit to include external affairs and a paper on proposed changes to Standing Orders to outline parliamentary procedure around the appointment of a Standards Commissioner.
Rural Development Committee
At this week’s meeting the Committee will take evidence
on the Cairngorms National Park from Scottish Executive
officials in the Environment and Rural Affairs Department. It
will also consider its future work programme and, in
private, consider a draft report on its Inquiry into
Integrated Rural Development.
Subordinate legislation strengthening the role of Quality Meat Scotland was considered and agreed to, although points were raised about its accountability to those groups not represented on its board.
The Committee took evidence from Rural Affairs Minister, Ross Finnie, on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. He reported that the process had been slower than the Executive had hoped, and that the Executive was pulling together the results of its wide-ranging consultation along with the views of other fisheries departments in the UK.
The next phase will be the second general discussion today at the agriculture and fisheries council, but the Minister did not think that any decisions will be taken until much later.
Richard Lochead (SNP) raised the issue of the Commission not setting total allowable catches for deepwater stocks, and the Minister said the Executive did not support the Commission in this matter. He also said relative stability was not a negotiating point, to protect Scotland’s historic fishing rights.
In private, the Committee considered arrangements for its consideration of the Agricultural Holdings Bill at Stage 1.
Social Justice Committee
Last week’s meeting agreed, in private, its likely approach
to the Homelessness Bill at Stage 1; to continue
its Social Inclusion Inquiry; and agreed a draft report on
the research into monitoring the impact of the Housing
(Scotland) Act 2001.
Standards Committee
At this week’s meeting, the Committee will consider a
proposal to establish a Cross-Party Group on Kidney Disease.
The Committee will give further consideration to an invitation to a conference on lobbying in Budapest, regarding the regulation of lobbying. Members will also consider a draft motion on lobbying to clarify the role of commercial lobbyists, offer members supplementary advice on dealing with them and emphasise the need for transparency in the relationships between MSPs and commercial lobbyists.
The Committee will consider correspondence from Convenor of the Justice II Committee, Pauline McNeill (LAB), concerning an alleged unauthorised disclosure of the Committee's draft report on the Criminal Justice Bill, requesting the Committee look into the matter.
The Committee will consider paid advocacy – where members receive payment for doing something in their capacity as MSPs. It will also consider a draft motion in support of its proposal for a Committee Bill on Replacing the Members' Interests Order.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Lots more on the Water Environment & Services Bill
last week, with evidence from public sector bodies. However, no
new issues were raised: who will pay the costs of compliance with
the new system continues to loom large.
This week’s evidence on the Bill will be heavyweight, coming as it does from SEPA and from Rural Affiairs Minister, Ross Finnie. The Committee will also return to the issue of Highlands & Islands Ferries.
Other Committee Homepages:
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]