Scottish Parliament Committee News
Issue
163,
Communities
Committee
The Committee discussed two pieces of subordinate
legislation last week, the Charities (Designated Religious Bodies)
(Scotland) Order 2005 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (Payments out
of Grants for Housing Support Services) Amendment Order 2005. The Committee
had no recommendations to make on either of the items discussed.
Health
Committee
The Committee discussed the outcomes
from its Care Inquiry participation event and agreed to consider the
contents of the remit for its inquiry on 27th September.
The Committee also considered its approach to its consideration of the 2006-07 Budget Process. Members agreed that the primary focus of their budget scrutiny would be specific programmes from the Scottish Executive’s Efficient Government initiative - namely on NHS logistics reform; improved prescribing of drugs; and efficiency savings in the Care Commission. The Committee agreed to invite oral evidence from Executive Officials on the Efficient Government initiative at its meeting on 20th September and from the Minister for Health on 3rd October.
The Human Tissue (Scotland) Bill was discussed in private, where the Committee considered the main themes arising from the briefing to inform the drafting of its stage 1 report. It was further agreed that additional witnesses would give oral evidence at Stage 1, based on the responses received to the call for written evidence.
Justice
2 Committee
Subordinate legislation matters
which members considered surrounded the the False Monetary Instruments Order;
the Advice and Assistance Amendment Regulations; the Fire (Additional
Function) Scotland Order; the Fire (Charging) Scotland Order; the Fire
(Scotland) Act 2005; and the Scottish Administration (Offices) Order 2005.
All items were noted.
Local
Government and Transport Committee
The Committee took Stage 1 evidence on the Council
Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill from
representatives of the Poverty Alliance, Citizens Advice Scotland and Age
Concern. Members also heard from Professor David Bell, Head of Department of
Economics, University of Stirling, who highlighted the economic risks involved
in a flat rate tax system.
Public
Petitions Committee
Six new petitions were considered, including a
petition calling for the Scottish Executive to review its policies on the provision
of affordable housing. Members agreed that it was necessary to write to
Communities Scotland, the Scottish Tenants’ Organisation, Fife Council and the
Scottish Executive.
The Committee also heard from Paul Martin (LAB) on behalf of Margaret Ann Cummings, whose son Mark was killed by a convicted sex offender living in the same block of flats. Ms Cummings has submitted a petition calling on the Scottish Executive to conduct a full review of the current system for dealing with and monitoring convicted child sex offenders. The Committee has passed a copy of the petition to the Justice 2 Committee for information at this stage only and has written to the Scottish Executive on the issue.
Subordinate
Legislation Committee
The Committee considered the Draft Criminal
Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Scotland Order 2005. The Draft
Order consolidates two previous orders made under the Criminal Justice Act
1988 which proscribe the manufacture and sale of certain weapons. Two
new weapons were added to the proscribed list: sheath knives and batons.
The Committee went on to consider the Mental Health (Scotland) Regulations 2005. During the summer recess, the legal department had taken the opportunity to scrutinise a number of aspects of the mental health Regulations and had brought recommendations back to the Committee. The Committee will be approaching the Executive for clarification on a number of points raised.
Other Committee Homepages:
Audit Committee
Education Committee
Enterprise & Culture Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Finance Committee
Justice 1 Committee
Procedures Committee
Standards Committee
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