FI/S2/06/28/M

28th Meeting, 2006 (Session 2)

Tuesday 14 November 2006

Present:

The meeting opened at 10.06 am.

1. Budget Process 2007-08: The Committee took evidence from—

John Scott MSP and Nora Radcliffe MSP, Members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body; Ian Leitch, Director of Resources and Governance; and Derek Croll, Head of Financial Resources, Scottish Parliament.

The witnesses agreed to provide supplementary written evidence to the Committee on:

• the criteria adopted by the SPCB for the selection of events held within the Parliament’s complex;
• whether there is a differential in costs charged to the voluntary and private sector for hosting events;
• how overhead costs incurred by the Parliament for these events are measured and a detailed breakdown of these costs;
• increases and decreases in staffing complements for various offices within the Parliament whilst the overall staffing complement remains unchanged; and
• the components of the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s bid for an increased staffing budget.

The Committee also invited the SPCB to undertake work in relation to the efficiency of commissioners’ and ombudsman working practices for the Committee’s consideration in the New Year.

2. Budget Process 2007-08: The Committee considered the Scottish Commission for Public Audit’s report on Audit Scotland’s expenditure proposals for 2007-08. The Committee agreed to invite evidence from the Convener of the SCPA at its next meeting, as provided for within the Written Agreement between the Committee and the Commission.

3. Budget Process 2007-08: The Committee considered issues to be included in its draft report. During this discussion the Committee noted Scottish Water’s projected underspend in 2006-07 and agreed to hold an evidence session on the progress of the implementation of Scottish Water’s Quality and Standards III (Q & S III) capital investment programme.

4. Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill: The Committee took evidence on the Financial Memorandum from—

Willie Pretswell, Finance and Business Services Director, Scottish Prison Service; Rachel Gwyon, Director of Corporate Services, SPS; and Eric Murch, Director of Partnerships and Commissioning, SPS.

And then from—

Jane Richardson, Head of Parole and Life Sentence Review Division, Scottish Executive; Brian Cole, Community Justice Services Branch, Scottish Executive; and Gery McLaughlin, Head of Knife Crime Branch, Scottish Executive.

The Committee requested supplementary information from representatives of the Scottish Prison Service on the cost differential between a private sector prison and a public sector prison over a 25 year period. The Committee also requested supplementary information from Executive officials on the year-on-year increases in funding for local authorities for community based disposals from 2005-06 and including the anticipated increase in 2007-08.

The meeting closed at 12.33 pm.

Susan Duffy
Clerk to the Committee
Room T3.60
Extn 85215