Health and Sport Committee
4 March 2014
7th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.45 am in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/12)
Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/25)
National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/39)
3. Transitions between Paediatric and Adult Services: The Committee will take evidence, in round-table format, from—
Dagmar Kerr, Action for Sick Children Scotland Area, Action for Sick Children Scotland;
Yvonne Hughes, Public Affairs Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Trust;
Jane-Claire Judson, National Director, Diabetes UK Scotland;
Sheena Dunsmore, Manager, Kidney Kids Scotland;
Colin Young, Senior Policy and Outcomes Officer, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE);
Jean Davies, Strategic Paediatric Educationalists and Nurses in Scotland, RCN Scotland;
Dr Ishaq Abu-Arafeh, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health;
Dr Stan Wright, Fellow, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Lead Cancer Clinician, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh;
Scott Read, Development Worker, ARC Scotland – Scottish Transitions Forum;
Dawn Crosby, Head of Service Strategy and Policy, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Teenage Cancer Trust;
Margaret Kelman, Allergy Advisor, Children and Young Peoples Allergy Network Scotland.
4. Public petitions: PE1384, PE1466 and PE1499 The Committee will consider petitions on speech and language therapy services, the implementation and regulation of local authority charges for non-residential services and suitable respite facilities to support younger (aged between 21 and 45) disabled adults with life shortening conditions.
5. Access to new medicines: The Committee will consider the evidence heard at its meeting on 25 February 2014.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 11 March, the Committee expects to consider oral evidence on the Rapid Review Team Report on mortality rates at NHS Lanarkshire and its approach to the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill.
Education and Culture Committee
4 March 2014
6th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. Declaration of interests: Mary Scanlon will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private at this and future meetings.
3. My World of Work: The Committee will take evidence from—
James Corry, UNISON SDS Chairperson of Non Departmental Public Bodies Group, and Kate Lynch, UNISON SDS Branch Chair, UNISON Scotland;
Dr Cathy Howieson, Senior Research Fellow, and Sheila Semple, Associate, Centre for Educational Sociology, University of Edinburgh;
Danny Logue, Director of Operations, and Rob Doyle, Head of Partner Development and Integration, Skills Development Scotland.
4. Scotland's Educational and Cultural Future: The Committee will consider its approach to the inquiry.
5. Historic Environment (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 11 March, the Committee will take oral evidence from BBC Scotland in relation to its preparation for coverage of the Independence Referendum and Commonwealth Games later this year. The Committee will also take oral evidence from a number of organisations on the topic of cyber-bullying.
Justice Committee
4 March 2014
7th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 4
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.
2. EU engagement: The Committee will take evidence on the UK Government's 2014 EU opt-out decision from-—
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Neil Rennick, Deputy Director, Law Reform Division, Danny Jamieson, Policy Manager, Criminal Law and Licensing Division, and Alicia McKay, Legal Services, Scottish Government.
3. Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012: The Committee will take evidence on the operation of the Act from—
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Tom McMahon, Head of Community Safety Unit, and Gery McLaughlin, Head of Community Safety Law, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2014 (SSI 2014/26).
5. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 11 March, the Committee expects to take evidence on fire and rescue service reform.
Public Petitions Committee
4 March 2014
5th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 3
1. Consideration of a new petition: The Committee will consider—
PE1507 by Alex Orr and Sophie Pilgrim, on behalf of the Scottish Children's Services Coalition and Kindred, on funding for additional support for learning in Scotland.
2. Consideration of current petitions: The Committee will consider—
PE1098 by Lynn Merrifield, on behalf of Kingseat Community Council and PE1223 by Ron Beaty on school bus safety;
PE1351 by Chris Daly and Helen Holland on time for all to be heard;
PE1458 by Peter Cherbi on a register of interests for members of Scotland's judiciary;
PE1477 by Jamie Rae, on behalf of the Throat Cancer Foundation, on a gender neutral Human Papillomavirus vaccination;
PE1492 by Alan Kennedy on co-location of GP practices and community pharmacies;
PE1494 by W. Hunter Watson on mental health legislation.
3. Committee working practices: The Committee will consider a note by the clerk.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 18 March, the Committee expects to consider petitions on awareness of Strep B in pregnancy and infants, ATOS as a sponsor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, whistleblowing in local government, religious representatives on local authority education committees, public inquiries into self-inflicted and accidental deaths following suspicious death investigations and saving Ecurie Ecosse cars.
Welfare Reform Committee
4 March 2014
4th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Food banks: The Committee will take evidence, in round-table format, from—
Marie Hayes, Operations Director (West Scotland), British Red Cross;
Carol-Anne Alcorn, Interim CEO, Edinburgh Cyrerians, FareShare Edinburgh;
Dave Simmers, Chief Executive, Community Food Initiatives North East;
Denis Curran, Chairman, Loaves & Fishes;
Jo Roberts, Development Lead, Community Food Moray;
Ewan Gurr, Scotland Development Officer, The Trussell Trust;
and then from—
Dr Filip Sosenko, Research Associate, and Dr Nicola Livingstone, Teaching Fellow & Research Associate, Heriot-Watt University.
3. Fact-finding visit: The Committee will report back from a fact-finding visit to DeafBlind Scotland.
4. Food banks: The Committee will consider evidence it received on food banks at its round-table discussion.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 4 March, the Committee expects to take oral evidence from local authorities and the Minister for Housing and Welfare on the Scottish Welfare Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
4 March 2014
8th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 11.00 am in Committee Room 5
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private.
2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2014 [draft];
Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 [draft].
3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/35);
Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/31);
Council Tax (Discounts) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2014 (SSI 2014/37);
National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/38);
Home Energy Assistance Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/40);
Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/41 (C.4);
HIV Testing Kits and Services Revocation (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/42).
4. Tribunals (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill after Stage 2.
5. Report on instruments considered during the third quarter of the parliamentary year 2013-14: The Committee will consider a draft of its third quarterly report for the parliamentary year 2013-14.
6. Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 Remedial Order 2014 [draft]: The Committee will consider its approach to the draft Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 Remedial Order 2014.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 11 March, the Committee expects to consider subordinate legislation.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
5 March 2014
6th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.15 am in Committee Room 4
1. Declaration of interests: Richard Baker will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Scotland's Economic Future Post 2014: The Committee will take evidence from—
Paul Johnson, Director, Institute of Fiscal Studies;
Professor Jo Armstrong, Independent Economist and Researcher, Centre for Public Policy for Regions, University of Glasgow;
Dr. Angus Armstrong, National Institute of Economic and Social Research and Fellow of the ESRC Future of the UK and Scotland programme;
and then from—
Crawford Beveridge, Chair, and Professor Andrew Hughes Hallett, Member, Fiscal Commission Working Group;
and then from—
Professor David Bell, University of Stirling and Fellow of the ESRC Future of the UK and Scotland programme;
Professor David Simpson, Economist and Author;
Professor Charlie Jeffery, Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the ESRC Future of the UK and Scotland Programme.
3. Scotland's Economic Future Post-2014: Review of evidence heard The Committee will review the evidence heard at today's meeting.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 12 March, the Committee expects to take evidence on its inquiry on Scotland's Economic Future Post-2014 and to consider its draft report on the Draft Third National Planning Framework.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
5 March 2014
7th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 5
1. Draft Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill from—
Derek Mackay, Minister for Local Government and Planning, Alasdair McKinlay, Head of Community Planning and Community Empowerment Unit, and Jean Waddie, Bill Manager, Community Planning and Empowerment, Scottish Government.
2. Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) and Accounts Commission for Scotland (AC) work programme brief: The Committee will discuss with the AGS and AC their future work programme—
Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, Audit Scotland;
Douglas Sinclair, Chair, Accounts Commission for Scotland;
Fraser McKinlay, Director of Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.
3. Draft Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence from—
Jonathan Findlay, Councillor, Glasgow City Council;
Anna Whelan, Policy Co-ordinator, Orkney Islands Council;
Ritchie Johnson, Director of Housing and Social Work, Aberdeenshire Council;
Pamela Roccio, Community Engagement Co-ordinator, Edinburgh Partnership;
Pauline Nicholas, Senior Local Regeneration Manager, North Lanarkshire Council.
4. Draft Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence received.
5. Draft Third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and Review of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on the Draft Third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and Review of the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 12 March, the Committee expects to consider the Draft Community Empowerment (Scotland) bill; oral evidence from SCDC, DTAS, SCVO, SURF, Big Lottery Fund, HIE, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Police Scotland; a draft report on the Defective and Dangerous Buildings (Recovery of Expenses) (Scotland) Bill; and subordinate legislation.
Finance Committee
5 March 2014
7th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Elspeth Orcharton, Director, Corporate and International Taxation, and Charlotte Barbour, Head of Taxation, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland;
John Whiting, Tax Policy Director, Chartered Institute of Taxation.
2. UK Budget: The Committee will take evidence from—
Paul Johnson, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 12 March 2014, the Committee expects to continue to take evidence on its Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Bill.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
5 March 2014
7th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4, consideration of a draft report on NPF3 and future consideration of further draft reports on NPF3, in private.
2. Housing (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Councillor Harry McGuigan, Spokeperson for Community Wellbeing and Safety, Silke Isbrand, Policy Manager, Community Resourcing Team, Housing, David Brewster, Senior Environmental Health Officer, and Anil Gupta, Chief Officer, Community Wellbeing, COSLA;
Jim Hayton, South Lanarkshire Council, and Tony Cain, Head of Housing and Customer Service, Stirling Council, ALACHO.
3. Queensferry Crossing - Project team update: The Committee will take evidence from—
David Climie, Project Director, and Lawrence Shackman, Project Manager, Forth Replacement Crossing Team, Transport Scotland.
4. Draft Third National Planning Framework: The Committee will consider a draft report.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 12 Mar, the Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill and update on Queensferry Crossing. the Committee will also consider a report on Draft Third National Planning Framework.
Public Audit Committee
5 March 2014
4th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 3
1. Section 23 reports - NHS Financial Performance 2012/13; and Management of patients on NHS waiting lists - audit update (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence received at its meeting on 19 February 2014 and take evidence from—
Angela Canning, Assistant Director, Tricia Meldrum, Senior Manager, and Jillian Matthew, Project Manager, Audit Scotland.
2. Scotland Act 2012 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on a framework for auditing the Scottish Rate of Income Tax.
3. Section 23 report - Scotland's colleges 2013 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on the Auditor General for Scotland's report entitled "Scotland's Colleges 2013."
Proposed future business
At its next meeting it is expected that the Committee will take evidence on reports recently published by the Auditor General for Scotland.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
5 March 2014
6th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2
1. The Scottish Government’s implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and Scotland Rural Development Programme 2014-20: The Committee will take evidence from—
Andrew Midgley, Head of Policy, Scottish Land and Estates Ltd;
Peter Cook, independent adviser;
Professor Bill Slee, Researcher, Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute;
Davy McCracken, Professor in Upland Land Use Systems and Head of Hill and Mountain Research Centre, Scotland’s Rural College;
Pete Ritchie, Executive Director, Nourish Scotland;
James Graham, Chief Executive, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Limited;
Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive, Confor;
Vicki Swales, Scottish Environment Link;
Andy Tharme, Project Manager, Scottish Borders Land Use Strategy pilot, Scottish Borders Council.
2. Draft Third National Planning Framework (NPF3) (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.