Audit Committee
The Committee heard from the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) on his reports into the performance management in Scottish Enterprise and council housing transfers. 

On the former, the AGS found that measuring the impact of an economic agency is a highly complex task and that agencies throughout the world struggle with these issues.  It concluded that Scottish Enterprise's approach is progressing and a range of positive changes have been introduced, but that there is further scope for improvement.  He recommended that Scottish Enterprise should work with the Executive to focus its contribution to a Smart, Successful Scotland; improve how it develops, monitors and evaluates its work; and continue working to ensure that positive changes at management level are communicated to the rest of the organisation.

On the housing transfers, the AGS report found that tenants are benefiting from housing transfers and that, while the management of such transfers is improving, better and clearer measures are needed to assess impact and value for money.

Communities Committee
The Committee agreed not to proceed with a petition on behalf of the Old Musselburgh Club asking parliament to debate the process of local engagement and consultation in local planning issues.  Members highlighted that the issues raised are and will be covered in the Committee's report on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Scott Barrie (LAB) was chosen as Committee Convener and Jamie McGrigor (CON) was chosen as Deputy Convener.

The Committee then considered a paper on its approach to Preliminary Stage and it agreed, amongst other things:

Education Committee
Last week, the Committee dealt with subordinate legislation governing how long children under 16 should work in part time jobs per week.  They also looked at regulations under the Joint Inspection of Children's Services and Inspection of Social Work Services (Scotland) Act 2006.

Last week also saw the publication of the Committee's report on pupil motivation. It can be accessed here.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
A 4-hour session on the Crofting Reform etc Bill saw the Committee discuss the nature of crofting in the 21st century: what shape should it take and how can it be supported?  There was much discussion about the relationship between crofting, planning, housing and land reform.  The crux of the debate centred on the extent to which crofting should be regulated or opened up.  The Committee heard evidence from ex-MP Brian Wilson, the former head of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Crofters Foundation, who raised their concerns that elements of the Bill will set crofting back rather than advance it.  There was also dissatisfaction aired regarding the work of the Crofter's Commission, with the claim that it is not protecting the interests of crofters.  However, there was support for some aspects of the Bill, notably the provision of new crofts.  Over the next 4 weeks, the Committee will visit Stornoway, Oban, and Inverness before hearing from the Minister in a final evidence session on the Bill.

The Committee also agreed its work programme.  It has decided that it will revisit its food chain inquiry once it receives a reply from the OFT and DTI; it will take evidence on the third annual report of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003; it will hear from Scottish Natural Heritage on its proposals for a national marine park; and finally, the Committee plans to do further work on sustainable development and look at how best to follow up on its climate change agenda.

Equal Opportunities Committee
Evidence on the disability inquiry continued, this week in the form of a round table discussion from representatives of art and leisure projects for people with various disabilities.  The Committee is expected to stop taking evidence on the inquiry by the summer recess, when it will begin its report.

Finance Committee
The Committee took evidence on the Financial Memorandum for the Criminal Proceeding etc (Reform) (Scotland) Bill from Scottish Executive officials.  The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Justice, regarding the transfer of the safety camera partnership from local authorities to the Scottish Court Service.

In consideration of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill, the Committee agreed its approach to the scrutiny of the Financial Memorandum. It agreed to adopt level 2 scrutiny, i.e. that it should take oral evidence from Scottish Executive officials and also seek written evidence from relevant organisations.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
The Committee met last week and agreed to judge the 47 objections, to the rail link once it has taken sufficient evidence on the Bill at Preliminary Stage.  The Committee agreed that it would be in a better position to judge whether the objectors' interests are clearly adversely affected once this has been done.  The Committee Convenor, Margaret Jamieson, noted that all objections had been passed to the Bill's promoter - Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive - who will be in discussions with the objectors throughout the Preliminary Stage.  The Committee has requested regular updates on these negotiations.

Health Committee
In early 2005 the Health Committee agreed to examine the case for a public inquiry into the infection of people with Hepatitis C through NHS treatment.  This examination was at the request of the Scottish Haemophilia Forum, who indicated that new evidence had come to light as a result of the Freedom of Information Act.  Last week, the Committee considered the evidence it had received on this issue and is now calling for a public enquiry into Hepatitis C infections caused by NHS treatment.  In a narrow vote, the Committee ruled that many questions remain unanswered despite their own investigation.  The vote was controversially decided by the Committee’s convener, Roseanna Cunningham (SNP) after she ruled that substitute member, Euan Robson (LD), could not vote.  MSPs expressed concern about ineffective efforts to trace and warn those who might have been infected by suspect blood products.

The Committee also took evidence from Dr Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland on health inequalities in Scotland.

Justice 1 Committee
The Committee continued its evidence taking on the Criminal Proceeding etc (Reform) (Scotland) Bill.  There was a great deal of evidence from the Bill Team which, although time consuming, was not controversial.

Justice 2 Committee
Stage 2 of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill continued, with consideration of a number of Executive amendments. 

The Committee also looked at a number of pieces of subordinate legislation regarding the police grant; rules in prisons and young offenders' institutions; and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Local Government and Transport Committee
The Committee continued taking evidence on its freight transport inquiry. SPT and HITRANS were among those giving evidence on the work they are doing to develop the freight transport network.

Also on last week's agenda was subordinate legislation on Non-Domestic Rates, which Brian Monteith (IND) was pushing to scrap, despite evidence that they generate £300 million in revenue.  His bid failed.

The Committee also agreed its supplementary report to the Communities Committee on the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill, which will be published as part of the Communities Committee's report in due course.

Public Petitions Committee
Two of last week's petitions concerned the guidance on consultation with parents and pupils in the event of school closures.  Both petitions were raised by parents and pupils involved in current school closures.  The Committee linked the petitions and agreed to invite the Minister for Education, EIS, CoSLA and the Scottish Parent Teacher Council to give further evidence on the issue.

The petition asking for a full review of the current system for dealing with and monitoring convicted child sex offenders was again before the Committee.  Members agreed to refer the petition to the Justice 2 Committee for further consideration.

Another petition before the Committee was raised on behalf of the Scottish Dementia Working Group, urging the Scottish Parliament & Scottish Executive to ensure continued availability of specific prescription medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.  Members agreed to write to NICE, NHS Quality Improvement and Convener of the Short Term Working Group on Alzheimer's, Irene Oldfather (LAB).

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee continued consideration of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.  This Bill establishes the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and provides for its main function to be to handle consumer complaints about the service provided by legal practitioners. One aspect of the new Bill allows for the abolition of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman, whose function would be taken over by the Commission. On reserved issues, these would either be abolished by legislation or taken over by the UK Parliament.  The Committee's legal advisors had no comment to make on this power.  In the area of Legal Aid, the regulation making power will allow Scottish Ministers to extend the provision of publicly funded advice and assistance on matters of Scots law where normally lawyers do not become involved.  This power will allow the system more flexibility to include further categories as they become identified.  The Committee also considered a short Bill to rename the Scottish Tourist Board "VisitScotland", to increase the maximum number of members of that body from 6 to 11 and to abolish area tourist boards.

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