Committee News
Issue 80, 1st October 2002
Audit Committee
Next week’s meeting will consider correspondence on the Overview
of the National Health Service and, in private, arrangements
for a possible examination of the Review of the Management of
Waiting Lists.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
At its meeting in Glasgow last week, the Committee took
evidence on the Protection of Children Bill.
Disclosure Scotland said they supported the Bill and only had
minor procedural points to raise – for example they would
rather have the information held electronically and online. The
Scottish NHS Confederation also support the general aims of the
Bill, but raised a concern that the definition of a "child
care position" in the Bill needs to be widened. The STUC
also supports the bill, but has concerns about the reliance on
the integrity of the employer in the bill's application. UNISON
also wanted clarification on the disciplinary procedures relating
to the Bill, and wanted there to be recognition of the nature of
certain jobs, for example those working with young people in
secure units. The EIS raised the question of how the Bill would
sit with the current responsibilities of the General Teaching
Council. The Scottish Human Rights Centre also welcomed the
general principles of the Bill, but again there were concerns
about some of the practicalities, saying there was not enough due
process outlined in the Bill to give people a fair hearing. The
Committee then heard from school boards representatives and a
volunteer group, who argued that the bill should also cover
voluntary organisations working with children.
At this week’s meeting, the Committee will take further evidence on the Protection of Children Bill from a wide range of witnesses including CoSLA, the Social Services Council, the Commission for the Regulation of Care, and a range of voluntary organisations dealing with young people.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
This week’s meeting will be in Inverness, where the
Committee will take further evidence on its Tourism Inquiry.
Those giving evidence include VisitScotland, the British Tourist
Authority (BTA), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and
Scottish Enterprise.
In the papers for the meeting, VisitScotland argue that tourism must be recognised as a key player in the Scottish economy, and say that the opportunities to generate economic growth from the forecast increase in global tourism have never been better, with early signs indicating that the decline in recent years has been arrested. BTA have argued that they have a continuing role in marketing Scotland as many visitors want to visit Great Britain, including Scotland but not just Scotland, and have highlighted the work they have done in helping the market recover from foot and mouth. HIE argue that the "Tourism Framework for Action" shows early promise, but are concerned at centralisation within VisitScotland. Scottish Enterprise also point to promising signs following poor performance in the industry, which they argue were present even before the foot and mouth outbreak.
Equal Opportunities Committee
This week’s meeting will
discuss the Budget Process 2003/2004, a draft report into
the Gender Inquiry and Best Value, and a draft report on
emergent findings in its scrutiny of primary legislation.
European Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee considered:
Finance Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee considered a paper
on the Financial Scrutiny Review, which showed that the
process of refining financial scrutiny is well underway, and an
update paper on Cross-Cutting Reviews, which is looking at
children in poverty and regeneration as delivered by the
voluntary sector.
The Committee agreed to meet in Portree on 18th November as part of its stage 2 consideration of the Budget Process 2003-04 and agreed a paper for submission to the Conveners’ Liaison Group.
In private, the Committee considered a paper from its adviser on the Spending Review 2002 and Budget Process 2003-04 and agreed to write to the Minister for Finance and Public Services on a number of issues.
Also in private, the Committee agreed its draft report on the Financial Memorandum of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill to the Transport and Environment Committee.
Health & Community Care Committee
The Committee last week received a briefing from the
Committee adviser on the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill.
The Committee also took evidence at Stage 1 on the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill. Those giving evidence included the Mental Welfare Commission; Bruce Millan, former Chair of the Millan Committee; and Dr Denise Coia, Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The Committee considered the responses of the Scottish Health Boards to the Chronic Pain Questionnaire and agreed to write to the Scottish Executive. The Committee also agreed to follow up on Chronic Pain in conjunction with the budget process.
Justice 1 Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee took evidence on
the general principles of the Title Conditions (Scotland)
Bill at Stage 1 from CoSLA, a variety of legal agencies,
and the Scottish Landowners Federation.
In private, the Committee considered and agreed to a draft Stage 1 report to the Local Government Committee on the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Also in private, the Committee discussed and agreed to a draft motion for the proposed Committee debate on the Committee’s report on the Prison Estates Review.
This week, Justice 1 and 2 are meeting jointly to discuss stage 2 of the Budget Process 2003-4 and will take evidence from Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice, Jim Wallace QC, and Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC.
At stage 1, the Committee requested increases in the Budget for "Diversion from Prosecution"; "Time out Centres" and "Voluntary Throughcare"; members also requested an immediate review of the need for secure accommodation places in Scotland.
The Committee also raised the lack of available detailed figures for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and resolved to return to this at stage 2. Members want assurances that the £10m extra money promised will be "available and identifiable in the budget and would not simply go into management restructuring but also frontline services."
Justice 2 Committee
The Committee met twice last week to make progress on the Land
Reform Bill. Progress continues to be very slow going.
Two sections were deleted from the bill - one which would place
restrictions on access in statute will instead be covered in the
code of guidance, and a whole section which gave powers to local
authorities was deleted.
Local Government Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee took evidence form
the national co-ordinator of the Scottish Youth Parliament as
well as from YouthLink Scotland as part of its Phase 2 Inquiry on
Renewing Local Democracy. There was a wide-ranging
discussion on how young people might become more engaged in local
democracy, including involving trade unions in encouraging young
people to be more politically active.
In private, the Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report on the Public Appointments and Public Bodies Bill, and also considered proposal for consideration of the Homelessness Bill and the Mental Health Bill.
This week the Committee is in the Council Chambers in Paisley, to take further evidence on its Renewing Local Democracy - Phase 2 Inquiry. Renfrewshire Council will give evidence along with the Improvement and Development Agency and the Welsh Local Government Association.
Public Petitions Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee considered a
Petition by Ms Cathy Mary MacMillan on behalf of Stri nan
Oileanach, calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the
Scottish Executive to fully implement the recommendations of the Meek
Report, A Fresh Start for Gaelic, without
delay. The Committee agreed to link this Petition with a Petition
from Mr John Macleod on securing the future of Gealic through
legislation and a strategy for the language. It also agreed to
seek the further comments of the Minister for Tourism Culture and
Sport, to submit the Petition to the Education Culture and Sport
Committee for information, and to seek the views of the Equal
Opportunities Committee.
The Committee also considered a Petition from the Roslin Community Action Group, calling for the Scottish Parliament to investigate (a) the impact of landfill sites on the health and environment of surrounding communities, (b) the rationale behind the proposed expansion of landfill sites, such as that as Roslin, (c) the need to encourage more sustainable solutions to waste management and (d) better mechanisms in the planning process whereby all consultees become more proactive in encouraging developers to incorporate features reinforcing sustainable development policy objectives. It was agreed to link this to Petition 543, submitted by Karen Whitefield (LAB), which has the same wording but refers to proposed landfill sites at Greengairs (rather than at Roslin). The Committee also agreed to write to both the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) seeking their views on the issues raised in the Petitions and to pass copies of both Petitions to the Transport and Environment Committee for information only.
Procedures Committee
At last week’s meeting the Committee agreed to recommend
proposed changes to Standing Orders covering:
clarification of the restrictions applying to membership of
Private Bill Committees; periods for objections to Private Bills;
and fees for Private Bills which are re-introduced.
The Committee considered a letter from Alex Neil (SNP) concerning the time allocated to backbenchers in short debates and agreed that, as it was already considering issues relating to debates and speaking times, his concerns should be considered as part of that work.
The Committee considered the paper on proposed Standing Orders widening the European Committee’s remit to enable it to scrutinise the Scottish Executive’s external affairs policy. These were agreed. A further suggestion, to amend the Standing Orders to clarify the amendment of mandatory Committee remits, was referred back to the Directorate of Clerking and Reporting. The paper further noted the European Committee’s unspecified concerns about the Parliament’s external affairs policy. The Committee agreed that the Convener should invite the Convener of the European Committee to specify these concerns.
The Committee considered a paper which proposed changes to standing orders arising from the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002. The Committee agreed to these for inclusion in a future report to the Parliament.
Rural Development Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee heard evidence from
Scottish Executive officials on the controversial issue of the Cairngorms
National Park. There was a great deal of debate about where
the boundaries of the park should be and there was a discussion
on planning powers within the national park.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, requesting that he publish a report on the consultation on the draft designation order as soon as possible, and before he makes decisions regarding a final draft designation order. The Committee also agreed to urge the Minister not to make final decisions regarding the draft designation order until the Committee has met in Kingussie on 11th October and until the Committee has had an opportunity to take evidence from the Minister and report on the matter. The Committee consequently agreed to issue an invite the Minister or Deputy Minister to give oral evidence to the Committee after the meeting in Kingussie on 11th October.
The Committee also agreed to write to the Minister setting out its concern regarding the breach of the 21-day rule on the Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/404). The Committee also agreed to write to the Crown Office to seek clarification on legal issues associated with the breach of the 21-day rule.
In private, the Committee:
This week, the Committee will continue to take evidence on the Cairngorms National Park, this time from Deputy Rural Development Minister, Allan Wilson. In private, it will consider a draft report on its Inquiry into Integrated Rural Development.
Social Justice Committee
This week’s meeting will consider the Debt Arrangement
and Attachment Bill at Stage 2. The Committee will also
consider various items of subordinate legislation and, in
private, will consider a draft report on the Social Inclusion
Inquiry.
Standards Committee
At last week’s meeting, the Committee took evidence from
Margaret Jamieson (LAB) on her application to establish a Cross-Party
Group on Kidney Disease and agreed to approve the
application.
The Committee considered papers on a conference on lobbying in Budapest and agreed to submit a request to the Conveners’ Liaison Group and the Parliamentary Bureau for a representative from the Committee to attend.
The Committee considered correspondence from Pauline McNeill (LAB) on the Alleged Unauthorised Disclosure of a Draft Committee Report. The Committee agreed that the Convener should write to Ms McNeill to ask the Justice 2 Committee to carry out an initial investigation into the alleged unauthorised disclosure.
The Committee considered a paper on paid advocacy and agreed that the policy in the replacement legislation (see yesterday's e-Brief) should be to prohibit Members "doing anything" in their capacity as a Member in consideration of payment. The Committee agreed a motion in support of its proposal for a Committee Bill.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last week’s meeting
agreed in a discussion on delegated powers scrutiny to raise
points with the Executive on the Water Environment and
Water Services (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.
This week the Committee will consider delegated powers scrutiny of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill and the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
At last week’s meeting the Committee took evidence at
stage 1 on the general principles of the Water Environment
and Water Services (Scotland) Bill, including
evidence from SEPA and Rural Affairs Minister, Ross Finnie.
Willie Halcrow from SEPA said that SEPA believed that the Bill would deliver major benefits to the environment.
SEPA were questioned on the Bill’s interaction with agriculture, forestry and aquaculture; the resource implications of the Bill for SEPA; its role as both regulator and policy setter; cost recovery for diffuse sources of pollution; river basin management planning; definitions of pollution; and the role of SEPA in flood prevention management.
In private, the Committee also agreed a paper on the arrangements for its consideration of the Building Bill at Stage 1.
This week’s business includes consideration of a reporters’ paper on the draft service specification for Highlands and Islands Ferry services and in private it will consider its draft stage 1 report on the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill.
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Articles ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ UK Online ] [ Scottish Parliament ]