Committee News

Issue 89, 17^th December 2002

Audit Committee
Last week the Committee received briefings from the Auditor General on the 2001/2 Water Authority Audits and Dealing with Offending by Young People.

In private, the Committee agreed its work programme for the period up to March 2003. The Committee agreed to proceed with an Inquiry on the "Dealing with Offending by Young People" report. The Auditor General said the report on the water authorities makes encouraging reading in that financial control was maintained in the period leading up to the creation of Scottish Water. However, there was a net debt across the three authorities of £95 million which showed that non-payment of water and sewerage charges continues to be a significant issue.

The report on dealing with young offenders found that the system was too slow and there was too much variation in the treatment which young people receive in the system. The report also found that special community support can be effective in treating young people, and that there is a shortage in that form of disposal. It also identified resourcing problems in social work departments which lead to problems in the timeliness and quality of the reports in some cases.

Education, Culture & Sport Committee
The Committee met last week to take stage 1 evidence on Mike Russell’s (SNP) Gaelic Language Bill and consider the Protection of Children Bill at Stage 2.

The Committee first took evidence from Professors MacKinnon and Meek, both members of the ministerial advisory group on Gaelic. Professor MacKinnon argued that a Bill was needed but all that this need do was to state that Gaelic is recognised as one of the official languages of Scotland. Mike Russell, in his position as both instigator of the Bill and on the Committee investigating it, suggested he was prepared to accept amendments to every aspect of the Bill, and Professors Meek and Mackinnon suggested that the Bill if amended would satisfy the urgent need for legislation. They have however expressed concern about the zoning in the Bill, the element of coercion, and the powers to be given to the proposed ombudsman.

The Committee then moved on to the Protection of Children Bill. A number of technical and consensual amendments from the Executive were passed, including one to allow a person to apply to the Sheriff for a review of their inclusion on the list of those unsuitable to work with children. This ended Stage 2.

The substantive business of this week’s Committee will be further evidence taking on the Gaelic Language Bill, with witnesses from Commun na Gàidhlig, and three of the local authorities specifically mentioned in the Bill, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Argyll & Bute and North Ayrshire.

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence on its Inquiry into tourism from Tourism Minister, Mike Watson, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland. There was a discussion on how the British Tourist Authority’s (BTA) new responsibilities for English tourism would affect its UK remit. Alex Neil (SNP) argued the Committee should have been consulted on changes to the BTA. The Committee considered its draft report on the Inquiry and agreed to seek permission from the Conveners’ Liaison Group to hold a debate in February on the report.

The Committee also discussed the nature of Scottish Executive responses to Committee Inquiries. Concern was expressed that the Committee's report on tourism may not receive an Executive response before the debate in Parliament on the issue and that generally there should be better follow-up from the Executive on Committee reports. It was agreed to write to the Procedures Committee on this issue, and that it should be raised at the Conveners’ Liaison Group.

European Committee
This week’s meeting begins with evidence for the Committee’s Inquiry into employment strategy and corporate social responsibility. Written evidence from Help the Aged and Scottish Enterprise throws up no surprises, while the other witnesses will be SCVO and structural funds officials.

Equal Opportunities Committee
This week the Committee is looking further into the Chhokar case and taking evidence from the Chhokar family themselves. It is also taking evidence from Colin Boyd, the Lord Advocate; Elish Angiolini, the Solicitor General; and Justice Minister, Jim Wallace.

Finance Committee
This week the Committee takes evidence from the SPCB and the Holyrood Project Team on the Holyrood Project - Financial Position Report and from Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Karen Gillon, on the Financial Memorandum on the Children & Young People’s Commissioner Bill.

The papers include a response from Presiding Officer, David Steel to Convenor, Tom McCabe’s letter stating the Committee’s disquiet at the fact it learnt of the latest revised costings and delays to the project from a press release. In his response, Sir David acknowledges this concern and reports the move to the revised work programme for the project has a cost of £15.9 million.

There is also a letter from Sir David on the Commissioner for Children & Young People Bill. He says the funding for the post will be channelled through the SPCB budget, and will cost around £1.54 million including start up costs in the first year, and £1.27 million annually thereafter.

The work programme includes the Children’s Commissioner Bill and consideration of cross-cutting reviews.

Health & Community Care Committee
Last week, the Committee took evidence on Hepatitis C from Lord Ross, Chair of the Expert Group on Financial Assistance and from Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm. The Minister reported that he was working very closely with colleagues in relation to the impact compensation may have on benefit payments. He indicated that the £89 million compensation package which had been proposed was not affordable. However, there was an indication that over three years there could be £10 million a year for compensation payments. The Committee agreed to invite the Minister back at the end of January to report on progress, and re-affirmed its commitment to its own report on the issue.

The Committee also considered a progress report from Epilepsy Action Scotland on epilepsy service provision and agreed to write to them for a response on the Executive's position. The Executive has no current plans for a new National Framework, and but says there is progress through Managed Clinical Networks and on waiting times to see a consultant neurologist.

This week the Committee will consider a draft report on its Inquiry into GM Crops in private.

Justice 1 Committee
Last week was never likely to generate any great fireworks, with stage 2 of the Title Conditions Bill and private discussion of the Council of the Law Society Bill. The Title Conditions Bill is just as consensual as at stage 1, with not a single vote being taken. Maureen Macmillan (LAB) raised the issue of having a means to ensure that land sold for social housing continues to have that use after subsequent sales. Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, agreed to look at this. An Executive amendment will assist local authorities in improving estates that include right-to-buy properties.

Both Bills continue this week, alongside:

Petitions: Sympathy in particular for the organisation Grandparents Apart Self Help, who are concerned with maintaining grandparental access to children in situations of family disruption. Their specific suggestion, however, to name grandparents in the 1995 Children Act, was not supported.

Legal Aid Inquiry: It’s back again and Women’s Aid, amongst others, have written expressing concern at proposed changes to the fee structure.

Justice 2 Committee
Last week’s two meetings continued stage 2 of the Criminal Justice Bill. At the first, the Committee took further evidence on Donald Gorrie's amendment on religious aggravation from Solicitor General, Elish Angiolini. The sceptical tone of the previous week continued, but Ms Angiolini maintained that the amendment was workable. She also expressed sympathy for Robin Harper’s (GRN) desire to extend this to other criteria such as sexuality and age.

At the second meeting the Gorrie amendment was debated and voted on. Issues of concern included the definition of religious hatred and the fact that evidence for the sectarian aggravation of an offence will not require corroboration (although evidence for the offence itself will). Given that there was no guarantee that the Presiding Officer would select the amendment at stage 3 if it were withdrawn, the amendment was passed with all Labour members voting for.

No papers for this week’s meeting, but topics aside from the Criminal Justice Bill include the ongoing petition on asbestos compensation, and the longrunning Inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurators Fiscal Service – both likely to be in private.

Local Government Committee
Last week, the Committee considered the Public Appointments & Public Bodies Bill at Stage 2. Deputy Finance and Public Services Minister, Peter Peacock, outlined the Executive’s proposed successor to the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland and the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, which the Bill would abolish. He stressed that the new Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland would be able to take a broader and more strategic role than is currently possible. The council’s remit will be to advise Scottish Ministers on matters which affect the historic environment and on Ministers' exercise of their powers and responsibilities with regard to the historic environment.

This week, the Committee will consider subordinate legislation on the Scottish Local Election Regulations before moving on to further consideration of Public Appointments & Public Bodies and evidence taking on the Prostitution Tolerance Zones Bill from Grampian, Strathclyde, and Lothian and the Borders police.

Written evidence has been received from Grampian and Strathclyde. Grampian currently operate an effective tolerance zone in an area of Aberdeen and feel that it provides an effective way of containing the problem and offering help to prostitutes themselves. Strathclyde, however, are firmly against the proposals, arguing that any prostitution zones would be likely to attract drug dealers and encourage other criminality.

Procedures Committee
Last week, the Committee continued consideration of its draft report on the Consultative Steering Group Inquiry, once more considering power sharing. Specific issues included lack of transparency in the public understanding of the terms and respective roles of the Executive, parliamentary bureau and the SPCB, and whether there should be a separate backbenchers’ interests group. There was general agreement that the petitions procedure should be given greater support, for example in following through the procedure more thoroughly and improving the way in which petitioners are responded to and kept involved throughout the process. No final decisions have been taken.

Public Petitions Committee
Last week’s meeting saw the Committee considering a petition on behalf of Save our Scottish Fishing Communities which calls for the Scottish Parliament to represent the industry to ensure its long term survival. The Committee agreed to pass this to Rural Affairs Minister, Ross Finnie, to illustrate the level of opposition to the proposed reductions in fish quotas and to ask him to take this into account during European negotiations. The Committee also agreed to write to the Prime Minister, the UK Fisheries Minister, the two UK EU commissioners and the group leaders in the European Parliament to convey the Committee’s support.

The Committee also heard evidence on the petition regarding recreational facilities for prison service staff, in particular at Polmont. Following questions to the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance and Business Services of the Scottish Prison Service, the Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the petition until the outcome of a meeting between the Prison Service and Polmont Staff Social Club was known.

Rural Development Committee
No official report is yet available for last week’s mammoth meeting, at which the Committee heard evidence on the Organic Targets Bill before discussing the Cairngorms National Park. The Committee, as will now be apparent, referred the designation order for the National Park to the full Parliament for approval, which was granted on Thursday.

Next week the Committee will be taking evidence from Robin Harper (GRN) on his Organic Targets Bill. Following the evidence given at previous Committee meetings, Mr Harper has submitted a paper which aims to clear up some of the points raised. This argues that the Bill will deliver a robust framework to enable the executive to deliver action and will allow Parliament to hold it to account. Mr Harper believes that without such legislation the Executive will have no commitment to deliver a plan, and no commitment to resources. The note also draws attention to measures in Sweden and Denmark, who have both legislated for targets.

Social Justice Committee
Social Justice met in private last week to approve its Stage 1 report on the Homelessness Bill. The Committee has approved the general principles of the Bill, but have raised concerns about its financial implications, a potential shortage of accommodation, and the effects of the Bill on dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Standards Committee
This week the Committee will consider an application to establish a Cross Party Group on Textiles, Clothing & Footwear. There is also a proposal for external research on Cross Party Groups. The research would be intended to inform the work of the next Parliament, and to achieve a better understanding of the role of the groups, what people believe their role should be, and to develop a practice model for them.

The Committee will consider another alleged unauthorised disclosure of a Justice 1 Committee report, on the Regulation of the Legal Profession. The Committee will also consider consequential changes to the Code of Conduct as a result of the appointment of the Standards Commissioner.

Transport & the Environment Committee
Last week, stage 2 of the Water Environment & Water Services Bill was concluded. A key issue to note is the transfer of planning powers over aquaculture from the Crown Estate to local government. Everyone supports this, but the Executive is insistent that this Bill is not the proper place to do it. The matter will continue.

This week, Stage 2 of the Building Bill begins. Deputy Social Justice Minister, Des McNulty, has written as the Minister responsible to confirm that ministers will be able to set standards on fuel poverty and sustainable development.

The petition on pollution in built-up areas (arising from the incineration of cattle carcasses at Carntyne) has returned. The outstanding issue is planning powers and whether they are adequate.

Other Committee Homepages:

Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm Committee
Subordinate Legislation Committee

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