Communities Committee
The Committee last week heard from representatives of Heriot-Watt University on their report on local housing need and affordability model.

Education Committee
The Committee noted the Children’s Commissioner’s annual report and took evidence from her and members of her staff.  She repeated her call to radically rethink the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill and disclosure legislation.

The Committee then moved on to consider a petition on the provision of lockers in schools and agreed to invite the petitioner to give evidence.  It was also agree to keep the petitions on school closures (including the closure of schools and facilities for children with special needs) open.

An update from the Executive on the child protection reform programme was welcomed and the Committee considered a draft report on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill.  It was agreed to consider a revised draft at the next meeting.

Equal Opportunities Committee
In his capacity as convener of the Public Petitions Committee, Michael McMahon (LAB) gave evidence on his Committee's Equalities Report.  Mr McMahon spoke about how the Petitions Committee reviews and monitors its procedures regularly to ensure the Committee is doing the job for which it was designed - giving a voice to all sections of Scottish communities.

The Committee then considered budgetary issues to be included in its legacy paper for the future Committee.  It agreed that the paper produced by its Budget Adviser on this issue could help to inform a seminar, to be held in the New Year, examining how the budget process works at present and how it could be improved in the next parliamentary session.  The Committee agreed to give further consideration as to which points raised in the paper could be incorporated into its legacy paper after the seminar has taken place.

Health Committee
Stage 2 of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill began.

Justice 1 Committee
Evidence on the Rights of Relatives to Damages (Mesothelioma) (Scotland) Bill continued.  Deputy Minister for Justice, Johann Lamont, announced that the Executive intended to amend the Bill so that Mesothelioma victims will be freed from the invidious dilemma of choosing between making their last few months more comfortable by settling their own claim while alive, or not claiming so that their relatives can secure a greater award.  The Bill will allow mesothelioma sufferers and their families to claim full compensation for their grief and suffering and this amendment means they can benefit from the Bill’s provisions from 20^th December 2006, rather than waiting until it becomes law.  In effect, from tomorrow, Mesothelioma sufferers will now be free to proceed with their own claim in the knowledge that their families will not be disadvantaged.

Mary Mulligan (LAB) also presented her Report on Family Support Services which was adopted by the Committee.  The Committee now intends to seek a parliamentary debate on the issue.

Public Petitions Committee
Two petitions attracted particular attention last week.  The first concerned the overwhelming chemical smells and environmental impact of burning and rendering animal carcasses.  Members agreed to raise the petitioners' concerns with SEPA and the Scottish Executive.  The second significant petition was on the misuse of disabled parking bays.  Some members highlighted that a number of the issues raised in this petition and a number of other petitions would be covered in Jackie Baillie's (LAB) members bill consultation, which is seeking views on regulating disabled parking bays.  Oddly, Sandra White (SNP) used this as an opportunity to seek to accuse Jackie Baillie of misleading the public into thinking that something was being done on the issue.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
In a short meeting, the Committee considered the response from the Executive on the points it had made regarding the Regulation of Scallop Dredges Revocation Order 2006.  The Committee had asked the Executive 5 questions about this Order, which sought to lay down technical standards required for scallop dredges used in Scottish waters.  After due consideration, the Executive has agreed with the Committee and has made an order revoking the SSI.  While welcoming the Executive's admission of its error, the Committee noted that the defective order had been in place for more than a year.

Audit Committee
Enterprise & Culture Committee
European and External Relations Committee
Procedures Committee
Standards Committee