Communities Committee
The Committee last week took evidence from Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, on the Executive's progress on homelessness.  The Minister recognised that there are challenges to face if the 2012 target of eradicating homelessness is to be met.  However, he reassured the Committee that these were being worked on and the Executive's drive to build 21,500 more homes was underway.  The Committee will pursue this issue further with the Minister.

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
Last week's meeting heard objections surrounding the airport rail link and decided on its approach to oral evidence at Preliminary Stage.

Education Committee
More evidence on the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill last week, with contributions from Adoption UK; Birthlink; The Fostering Network Scotland; and Foster Care Associates.  All of these bodies broadly welcome the Bill, but did raise some issues.  Many agree with Adoption UK that adopted children would benefit from a joined up services approach and that fostering allowances are to be welcomed.  Adoption UK call for a national scheme of fostering and adoption allowances, while The Fostering Network wants to see Ministers set national scales of minimum allowances, which would be binding on local authorities.  The Fostering Network also calls for a statutory limit on numbers of children in any one foster household.  Finally, Adoption UK would like to see better pre and post adoption support services, while Birthlink stresses the need for the Bill to emphasise that "adoption is for life" and that a contact service for birth families and adopted children should be put into legislation.

The Committee also considered a draft report of its Early Years Inquiry.

Environment and Rural Development Committee
Having spent recent weeks travelling around crofting areas, last week's meeting returned to the Parliament.  Much of the meeting was taken up with consideration of subordinate legislation, including one piece relating to the removal of restrictions on the export of British beef and cattle within the EU.

The Committee also considered a draft Stage 1 report on the Crofting Reform etc Bill.

Equal Opportunities Committee
The Committee continued its disability inquiry with evidence from organisations including the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland; the Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland; and CoSLA.  This inquiry is due to come to a close by the summer recess.

European and External Relations Committee
The Committee took evidence on its inquiry into the Scottish Executive’s plans for future structural funds programme 2007-13 and the Europeans Commission’s Energy Green Paper inquiry.  The Committee continues to keep a watching brief on the European Commission’s work programme for 2006 and the Convenor gave an update on the House of Lords European Union Select Committee inquiry into further enlargement of the EU.

Finance Committee
For its accountability and governance inquiry, the Committee took evidence from the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Standards Commission for Scotland and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.  Discussion by members involved locations of various parts of the organisations and how decisions were arrived at.

The Committee considered the Scottish Executive’s response to the Committee’s report on the Cost of the Local Authority Single Statement Agreement. Whilst the majority of the Committee’s recommendations are for local authorities, the Executive indicated that it would encourage councils to act promptly on them.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee
The Committee heard evidence from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); SEPA; Strathclyders Against Detrimental Development; Paisley North Community Council; the Transport Minister; and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Health Committee
The Committee received a briefing from the Bill team on the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill.  A number of legal points were raised and these are likely to be covered during Stage 1.  The Committee also considered a draft report on its care inquiry.

Justice 1 Committee
A bad tempered evidence session on the Scottish Criminal Records Office inquiry heard evidence from Shirley McKie and her father Iain who were assisted by Andrew Smith QC.  Ms McKie maintained that she had been the victim of "arrogant liars" and was disappointed that evidence from others had been published on the Justice 1 Committee web pages.  She also accused Des McNulty (LAB) and Ken Macintosh (LAB) of trying to put her back on trial.  The Committee also took evidence from Hugh Ferry, a former Director of the SCRO.

The Committee also met the following day to take Stage 1 evidence on the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill and considered the drafting of its Stage 1 report thereon.

Justice 2 Committee
The Committee considered the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill, with evidence last week from representatives of the Scottish Consumer Council, the Scottish Legal Aid Board and Royal and Sun Alliance Insurers.  This was followed by evidence from a number of individuals who have disputes against lawyers and the meeting became fairly heated, with some cross words between one of the individuals and John Swinney (SNP).

One issue which was raised was that of insurance.  The Bill's proposals are that negligence claims up to £20k will in future be dealt with by the Commissioner; claims over this sum will be referred to the courts.  Insurers have major concerns over how this aspect of the Bill will work.

Local Government and Transport Committee
Members considered a European Commission consultation document on strengthening the protection of the rights of passengers (particularly disabled passengers) travelling by sea or inland waterway in the European Union.  The Committee was committed to collating evidence for this consultation and invited various organisations to submit evidence in writing on the issue.  Six consultation responses were submitted by various transport user groups and the Committee will forward these responses to the European Commission for consideration.

Procedures Committee
The Committee considered a number of relatively uncontroversial issues including the ongoing review of parliamentary time which centres on issues around the sitting hours of the Parliament.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
The Committee looked the delegated powers in the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill.  The Committee had asked the Executive for comment on a number of issues including the fact that the terms "electronic complaints" and "electronic communication" were not defined Bill.  The Executive agreed that the terms were not defined and is giving further consideration to whether such references should be more fully explained.

The Committee also considered the aspects of the delegated powers in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill which been changed at Stage 2 to reflect the Committee's recommendations.

Standards Committee
Last week's meeting considered a request from the Cross-Party Group on Renewable Energy to revise its title and remit to cover energy efficiency.  The Committee agreed to a change of name and to expand the existing remit, rather than replace the group.

The Committee also considered a petition calling on for there to be an appeal mechanism for complainants whose complaints to the Standards Commissioner have been rejected; providing adequate resources for the Standards Commissioner to carry out these functions properly; and amending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to ensure that the Standards Commissioner is subject to its provisions.  The Committee decided it was the wrong time to discuss the remit of the Commissioner and rejected the petition.

Other Committee Homepages:

Audit Committee
Enterprise & Culture Committee
Public Petitions Committee