Committee News
Issue 95, 11th February 2003
Audit Committee
Last week, the Committee received a briefing from the Auditor
General for Scotland on his report entitled "Hospital
Cleaning."
The Committee also took evidence on Dealing with Offending by Young People from the Scottish Executive, chief police officers, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service.
In private, the Committee agreed to write to the Executive to seek further information on points raised during the discussions on hospital cleaning.
Again in private, the Committee considered a paper from the Clerk on its Legacy Report.
Commissioner for Children and Young
People (Scotland) Bill Committee
Stage 2 proceedings were consensual, with not a single vote
taken.
Education, Culture & Sport Committee
This week the Committee will consider in private a report on the Gaelic
Language Bill.
Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
Committee
The Committee received a briefing on the New Economy
from ScotlandIS, who represent the software industry.
The Committee agreed to seek further information from them on issues including venture capital gaps for technology start-ups, changes in working practices in countries with high broadband coverage, and the Executive's work on e-procurement.
The Committee also took evidence on the same subject from Enterprise Minister, Iain Gray. Members agreed to seek further information from him on Intermediary Technology Institutes and the Executive's involvement in the proposed "software gameplan" for the creative technology industries in Scotland. Labour members pressed the Minister on the issue of access to broadband, and he said the Executive would achieve its aim of 70% access by end of financial year 2003. Labour members argued that e-citizenship and e-learning would not be possible without widest possible rollout of broadband.
The Committee took evidence on the Social Economy from Columba 1400. Columba 1400 is a social enterprise scheme which puts people from industry and deprived areas together in projects which aim to give people from disadvantaged backgrounds leadership skills and a better idea of the opportunities available to them. Of the residents of Easterhouse who had taken part in such a scheme, 86% were now in employment as a result.
European Committee
This week’s meeting will continue the Inquiry into
Corporate Social Responsibility, with evidence from, amongst
others, Enterprise Minister, Iain Gray.
The Executive has responded positively to the Committee’s recommendations regarding Scottish representation in Brussels.
Amongst the routine documents, the following are worth noting:
Equal Opportunities Committee
Last week the Committee took evidence from Social Justice
Minister, Margaret Curran, on Mainstreaming Equality. The
Official Report is not yet available, but the papers include a
report on work undertaken since the publication of the Equality
Strategy. This outlines details of initiatives such as the
Executive’s anti-racism campaign and reports that the
Executive has focused its mainstreaming approach in two policy
areas: housing and education. £5m has been made available for
ethnic minority communities in housing which is Below Tolerable
Standard. The Executive has also promoted anti-racism education
in schools, supported improved access for children with
disabilities, and commissioned research on the integration of
equality into the budget process. The Minister also reports that
the Executive is still considering the issues raised by the
proposed adoption of an overarching equality clause in
legislation.
At its next meeting, the Committee will consider a draft report on Mainstreaming Equality in the Work of Parliamentary Committees.
Finance Committee
The Committee will this week take evidence on the Budget
2003/4 from Deputy Finance Minister, Peter Peacock, and will
then consider the Budget Bill at stage 2.
The Minister will also give evidence on Outcome Budgeting. The response to the Committee’s consultation on this has been decidedly mixed, with serious concerns expressed about its practicality, although only one organisation (NHS Highlands) came near to rejecting the idea entirely.
The Committee will also consider a report on the progress of the Holyrood Project and take evidence from Parliament Chief Exec, Paul Grice and others. Presiding Officer, Sir David Steel, has written to the Committee, saying programme uncertainty is the biggest threat to costs.
Finally, in private, the Committee will consider a draft report on its cross-cutting expenditure review on Children in Poverty.
Health & Community Care Committee
Once more the Committee met twice in a week to debate Stage 2
of the Mental Health Bill, and once more there has
been a great deal of consensus on the legislation. There was some
debate over restricting the definition of "nearest
relative", but this was not pushed to a vote. There was also
discussion around amendments which would broaden the functions of
named persons to deal with people who receive informal treatment
for mental disorder, and this may return at Stage 3. Amendments
sought to have a child’s wishes taken into account when
determining the named person and Deputy Health Minister, Mary
Mulligan, said the Executive would consider putting a provision
in the Code of Practice to ensure this takes place. The final
major issue to be discussed was an amendment from John McAllion
(LAB) to give a right of access to independent advocacy for every
person with a mental disorder. The Minister said the Executive
appreciated the intention of the amendment, and although it said
there were problems with its drafting, it was felt it would not
damage the bill and it was accepted.
At the next meeting there was debate around the issue of advance statements. Mary Scanlon (CON) put forward amendments to ensure that the decision to provide treatment which conflicts with an advance statement rests with the tribunal rather than with individual professionals. The Executive feels it is more practical and appropriate that the responsible medical officer make the decision. There was a division and the amendment was defeated. The next amendments which provoked most comment provided for a right of appeal against detention in conditions of excessive security. The Committee was sympathetic to these amendments and the Executive shares the Committee’s concerns, but the Minister said that such an appeal would not be workable until local medium security services are better developed. However, she gave a commitment that the Executive would bring forward an amendment at Stage 3 reflecting the Committee’s concerns, and the amendments were not pressed.
The Committee then discussed the Office of Fair Trading report on retail pharmacies. It agreed it needed more information on the implications for Scotland of the report, and is requesting further information from the Executive. The OFT has recommended that the regulations which control where an NHS pharmacy can open should be abolished. The OFT argues this will reduce the cost of over the counter medicines. It has been welcomed by supermarket chains, but is opposed by community pharmacists.
This week the Committee will continue consideration of the Mental Health Bill at Stage 2.
Justice 1 Committee
Last week, the Alternatives to Custody Inquiry continued,
with evidence from police organisations. Amongst the points of
discussion:
The petition on the Carbeth Hutters came back one last time. The Committee had expressed "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. They plan to propose a Committee Bill (although in reality this will be a matter for the Justice 1 Committee which is formed after the election).
Also in its legacy paper will be unfinished business on the couping (cutting away of the hoof for cosmetic reasons) of Clydesdale horses. The Committee suggests widening this to all instances of animal cruelty which might be criminal.
Justice 2 Committee
There is no Official Report yet for last week’s meeting,
which considered subordinate legislation and the handling
of European issues, both without controversy.
Local Government Committee
The Committee last week considered in private a report on the
Prostitution Tolerance Zones Bill and does so again
this week.
National Galleries of Scotland Bill
Committee
This Committee is considering
the removal of 59 square metres of Princes Street Gardens in
Edinburgh to facilitate the Playfair Project - the renovation
of the National Galley on the Mound. All players are
supportive, although there are concerns that this be seen as a
one-off, given the desire in some quarters for further commercial
encroachment on the Gardens. Last week’s preliminary stage
took evidence from all relevant stakeholders.
Procedures Committee
The Committee agreed to recommend what are uncontroversial
changes to Standing Orders concerning the election procedures for
SPCB elections. The Committee also agreed to propose
changes to standing orders on dissolution issues –
again the debate was devoid of controversy. On both these issues,
it will report to the Parliament in due course.
The Committee considered a paper on the Sewel Convention and Sewel Motions. It agreed to discuss a response to the memorandum received from Minister for Parliamentary Business, Patricia Ferguson, on the issue at a future meeting, and that detailed work should be commissioned for the next Parliament.
The Committee also considered a letter from Sir David Steel on First Ministers’ Questions, including a recommendation to extend FMQs to thirty minutes. Responses to questionnaires on the use of time in the Chamber were also considered. There was no consensus on these issues, and it was agreed that further work should be undertaken into the use of time in the Chamber; and to consider a paper at a future meeting.
This week the Committee will consider a draft report on its Consultative Steering Group Inquiry.
Public Petitions Committee
This week’s meeting has evidence on organic waste
spreading on land, and on personal expenses for residents
of care homes. Other topics include PFI, and the publication
of criminal memoirs for profit.
Rural Development Committee
Last week’s meeting began with discussion of the
Executive’s aquaculture strategy.
The main event, however, was Stage 2 consideration of the Agricultural Holdings Bill. This saw some intense debate, focussed in particular on two related issues: whether secure tenants should have an absolute right-to-buy at any time, and how to protect those in limited partnerships where landlords are acting now to end the relationship.
This week’s meeting sees extensive evidence from the fishing industry. There are written submissions from all the players.
Standards Committee
The Committee agreed a
transitional direction to the Acting Standards Commissioner.
The direction is made under section 19 of the Scottish
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002 and deals with
the transitional arrangements for complaints made before the Act
came into force. The direction provides for complaints that were
in the process of being dealt with by the standards adviser to be
handed over to the commissioner.
In private, the Committee considered a draft Committee Bill on Replacing the Members’ Interests Order. The Committee agreed to finalise the draft Bill, explanatory notes and a report by correspondence and to publish the documents as soon as possible.
Transport & the Environment
Committee
Last week’s meeting discussed telecoms in the
light of the more restrictive planning regulations for mobile
masts now in place. In written submissions:
Other Committee Homepages:
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm Committee
Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) Bill Committee
Social Justice Committee
Subordinate Legislation Committee
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