Committee News

Issue 94, 4^th February 2003

Audit Committee
This week the Committee will take evidence on Dealing with Offending by Young People. It will also receive a briefing from the Auditor General on the report "Hospital Cleaning". The report on hospital cleaning said over one in five hospitals have at least one ward or public area that failed to meet acceptable standards. Staff turnover is highlighted as one problem, but the report states that there is evidence of many trusts having carried out significant work to improve standards. There is correspondence on Dealing with Offending by Young People. The Justice Department welcomes the report and says steps are being taken to address the problems it highlights. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPOs) says it has begun standardisation across the country.

Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Committee
This week the Committee will take evidence on the new economy from Enterprise Minister, Iain Gray and from ScotlandIS who represent the software industry. In its submission the latter argues for greater access to broadband. The Committee will also take evidence from Columba 1400, an organisation encouraging social entrepreneurship in Scotland.

European Committee
There is no Official Report for last week’s meeting, where evidence for the Inquiry into corporate social responsibility came from the Executive and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Committee noted proposals to provide funding for the provision of Information and Communication Technology in schools to assist with twinning activities.

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Committee met on Friday to take evidence on the European Year of Disabled People, but there is no Official Report as yet. It meets this week to discuss Mainstreaming Equality, with evidence from Social Justice Minister, Margaret Curran.

The Executive has tabled a paper updating its work on equality issues. This highlights its work on consultation, improving research and statistics, promoting equal opportunities (in particular the anti-racism campaign, RaceActionNet and the Close the Gap initiative) and mainstreaming work in housing and education.

Finance Committee
At last week's meeting, the Committee considered a report on its commissioned external research into comparative budget setting and financial scrutiny. It took evidence from Professor Colin Talbot of Public Futures, who carried out the research, looking into the processes in other legislatures across the world. He said thought should be given to adjusting the planning processes for spending in Scotland to bring it more in line with the spending review process at UK level, so that it fits better in terms of planning on a slightly longer horizon. He also said consideration should be given to a legislative budget office. He talked about using innovative ways to engage more people in the budget consultation. He also said consideration should be given to more longer term planning and consensus revenue estimates involving external financial predictions.

In private, the Committee considered and agreed a draft report on its cross-cutting expenditure review into regeneration as delivered through the voluntary sector.

Health & Community Care Committee
The Mental Health Bill continues. An amendment giving Mental Health Officers the power to suspend Compulsory Treatment Orders (CTOs) was withdrawn once the Deputy Minister, Mary Mulligan, pointed out the Executive was introducing such an amendment. However, Mary Scanlon (CON) pressed an amendment to say that reasons for a suspension should be given, and this was passed on a division. Although this section was deleted on a later vote, the Minister assured the Committee its views on this matter would be taken into account. Later Executive amendments related to the appeals procedures at tribunals and were agreed to without divisions.

The Minister also introduced amendments related to child-specific services, ensuring that the opinion of a child specialist must be sought for children to receive certain medical treatments. This addressed concerns raised by Margaret Jamieson (LAB) in the stage 1 debate. Shona Robison (SNP) put forward amendments to prevent certain treatments from being given to patients who are incapable of consenting. It was pointed out that this would deny treatment to some of the most ill patients, and the Minister said that safeguards were already in place. The amendment was defeated. An amendment was also introduced so that, where a patient is capable to do so, written agreement must be obtained before they can undergo electroconvulsive therapy. Further amendments were agreed to ensure there are safeguards for drug treatments that exceed the normal dosage.

The Committee then took evidence from Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, on the issue of Hepatitis C compensation. The Minister said the Executive would like to give a payment of £20,000 to everyone who contracted hepatitis C from blood products and who is still alive and a further payment at the cirrhosis, or more advanced, stage of the illness. The Minister reported the Executive has had on-going engagement at official and ministerial level with the Westminster Government but it has not come to a final view on the vires issue, so it is not possible to go ahead until that has been resolved.

The Committee then took evidence from Malcolm Chisholm and Dr Mac Armstrong on MMR vaccines. The Minister repeated the Executive's commitment to the vaccine, and argued there is no link between the vaccine and autism.

The Committee meets twice this week to continue with the Mental Health Bill at stage 2 and consider future work on the OFT report on retail pharmacies.

Justice 1 Committee
Last week the Committee met in Inverness for an extended session with northern organisations regarding the alternatives to custody Inquiry. Aside from the challenges of a large area with a sparse population, many of the issues raised were Scotland-wide: the perceived complexity of funding streams, reliance on the voluntary sector, lack of statistics on drug and alcohol, shrieval awareness of community sentencing options, the efficacy of secure accommodation, and the purpose of youth courts.

This week’s evidence comes from police organisations:

• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPOs) notes that community disposals use more police resources, but praises youth diversion schemes, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and drug courts. It regards the jury as still out on tagging.
• The Police Federation says that criminals and their lawyers see community sentences as a soft option.
• The Superintendents are concerned about the effectiveness of alternatives to custody.

There is also a big block of petitions:

• The Law Society disputes the terms of concerns raised about access to Legal Aid.
• Carbeth Hutters: the Committee has expressed its "consternation" that there has been no move forward on legislation, given strong support in the public consultation, to allow people with temporary holiday homes to gain ownership.
• Clydesdale horses: equine organisations do not share the petitioner’s concern about couping (the cutting away of the hoof for cosmetic reasons).

Also: there is a group of petitions on dangerous driving. The Faculty of Advocates has written with its opinion that the Prostitution Tolerance Zones Bill is workable. The papers include the feasibility study which has led to the announcement on youth courts.

Justice 2 Committee
No Official Report of last week’s meeting, which decided to take no further action on petitions regarding freemasonry in the judiciary, parental alienation syndrome, and the display of pornography.

This week’s meeting will consider European issues.

Local Government Committee
The Committee met to consider the Dog Fouling Bill at Stage 2 last week, together with correspondence on Public Appointments and Public Bodies.

Amendments to the Dog Fouling Bill had been indicated by Keith Harding during Stage 1 and were non-controversial. The Committee then discussed a letter from the Executive regarding amendment at Stage 3 of the Public Appointments and Public Bodies Bill so that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland will no longer be dissolved. This is for reasons to do with its charitable status which the Committee accepted.

The Committee meet in private this week to discuss its stage 1 report on Prostitution Tolerance Zones.

National Galleries of Scotland Bill Committee
The National Galleries of Scotland Bill Committee meets again this week to start consideration of the Bill. All written evidence is supportive.

Procedures Committee
This week the Committee will consider the procedure for electing Presiding Officers. The Committee will also consider a paper and standing order changes to the SPCB elections, to do with the timing of the elections, and papers and standing order changes on dissolution issues. Finally, it will consider correspondence on Sewel motions.

Public Petitions Committee
Petitions at last week’s meeting included one on food supplements, passed to the European Committee. This is European legislation but would have to be passed on a Statutory Instrument: the Parliament could therefore have some influence on this by seeking assurances before accepting the legislation. There were also petitions on the siting of a private heroin clinic in Reddingmuirhead – the Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Social Justice; on requesting the Parliament to debate the possibility of war with Iraq – now somewhat superseded by the actual debate; on abolishing Scottish Enterprise – on which it was agreed to write to the Executive; and on upgrading the M80 -the same action was agreed. Finally, the Committee heard from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society about saving the hedgehogs of Uist. Scottish National Heritage, proposing the cull, has agreed to meet the petitioners and the Committee urged SNH to look favourably on proposals for "translocation" of the hedgehogs.

Rural Development Committee
At it's last meeting, the Committee continued consideration of the Agricultural Holdings Bill at Stage 2. There was a long debate on an amendment lodged by Rhoda Grant (LAB) that would give the land court the power to allow tenants to withhold their rent until landlords obligations e.g. repairs, are fulfilled. The Executive opposes the amendment, which was eventually withdrawn on the understanding that the issue would be returned to at Stage 3. Other amendments regarding the work of the Land Court were consensual and in the main technical.

Consideration of the Bill continues this week, and moves on to the controversial section dealing with the right to buy. Fergus Ewing (SNP) has lodged two amendments as alternatives; the first gives tenants the absolute right to buy, the second gives them this right where they can prove that their landlord is not meeting their obligations to provide buildings and machinery.

Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) Bill Committee
Last week’s meeting was entirely given over to private consideration of the Committee’s report on the Bill.

Social Justice Committee
Last week’s meeting focused on housing, with the first witness the author of a report on licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). His report concludes that there is no evidence that in its first year mandatory licensing has had a significant impact on the supply of HMO accommodation. There was also no indication that it is having a significant impact on rent levels. However, the report did show up the very bad relationships between most local authorities and their tenants, and also found that the scheme was still failing to pick up on the worst landlords. The Committee then took evidence from Deputy Social Justice Minister, Des McNulty, on the same subject; the Executive is looking at the scheme and intends to revise the guidance to make it more enforceable and effective.

The Committee is meeting in private this week to consider the New Policy Institute’s report on "Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Scotland".

Standards Committee
This week the Committee agreed to waive Rule 8.3.2 of the Code of Conduct in respect of the Cross-Party Group on Palestine’s membership - there are no Conservative members of the group as a Tory MSP has withdrawn from it. The reason for the withdrawal was not known at the meeting.

The Committee noted the agreement of the Conveners’ Group to the Committee’s proposal to commission external research on the Cross-Party Group system. It also considered the contents of a guidance letter on issues facing Cross-Party Groups during the period of dissolution and the subsequent registration period. The Committee agreed to draw the attention of CPGs to the on-going review.

The Committee considered correspondence from Sir David Steel and the Director of the Business Exchange. Members were very unhappy at the letter from Sir David, and felt he had been dismissive of the Committee's concerns about the function of the Exchange. They agreed a letter to be sent to all MSPs expressing their unhappiness at Sir David's response.

This week the Committee will consider its draft Bill from the Non Executive Bills Unit in private session.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
Last week’s meeting raised concerns about Mike Russell’s (SNP) Gaelic Language Bill, in particular the adequacy of the consultation provisions. Evidence this week.

Transport & the Environment Committee
This week’s meeting will discuss telecoms in the light of the more restrictive planning regulations for mobile masts now in place. In written submissions:

• The Mobile Operators Association (who will give evidence along with O2 and Vodafone) raise a number of issues to do with local authorities: speed of dealing with applications, willingness to engage, inconsistency in implementation, and permission to erect on local authorities’ own land. They suggest that the combined effect might be to slow down the rollout of 3G in Scotland.
• The DTI outline continuing research on the health impacts of mobile masts.

The papers also contain a comparison of planning regulations internationally.

Other Committee Homepages:

Education, Culture & Sport Committee
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm Committee

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