This section includes the agendas of the forthcoming committee meetings and outlines proposed future business, which may be subject to change. Committees have the right to take items in private and this will be notified as far in advance as possible.
Many committees include details of their future business on their webpages, which can be accessed on the committee hub page.
Education and Culture Committee
13 December 2011
15th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1
1. National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
2. Work programme (in private): The Committee will review its work programme.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 20 December, the Committee expects to consider a number of subordinate legislation and its work programme.
Justice Committee
13 December 2011
18th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3 and 4 in private.
2. The Carloway Review: The Committee will take evidence from—
Brian McConnachie QC;
James Chalmers, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh;
Fiona Raitt, Professor of Evidence and Social Justice, University of Dundee;
and then from—
Peter Duff, Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Aberdeen;
Chief Constable David Strang, Lothian and Borders Police, and Chief Superintendent Paul Main, Strathclyde Police, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland;
Gerard Sinclair, Chief Executive, Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
3. Criminal Cases (Punishment and Review) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will further consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
4. Female Offenders: The Committee will review its fact-finding visits to HMP and YOI Cornton Vale, HMP Edinburgh and the 218 Centre for Women Offenders in Glasgow and consider any future work.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 20 December, the Committee expects to take further evidence on the Carloway Review.
Health and Sport Committee
13 December 2011
18th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 11.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 6 and 7 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Advertising and Trading) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/draft) from—
Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Odette Burgess, Senior Policy Officer, Games Delivery Team, and Mark Eggeling, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: Shona Robison MSP to move S4M-01536—
That the Health and Sport Committee recommends that the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Advertising and Trading) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 [draft] be approved.
4. Ministerial Priorities: The Committee will take evidence from—
Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Derek Grieve, Team Leader, Sport and Physical Activity Policy, Karen Lax, Head of Games Legacy and Benefits Team, and Fergus Millan, Team Leader, Healthy Living, Scottish Government.
5. Petition PE1378: The Committee will consider a Petition by Mairi Johnston calling on the Scottish Parliament to ask the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the dangers of silicone breast implants and to urge the UK Government to ban the use of such implants and review the 3-year time bar rule for medical injury.
6. Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
7. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 January 2012, the Committee expects to begin taking oral evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, and expects to continue to take oral evidence at subsequent meetings.
Equal Opportunities Committee
13 December 2011
10th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 4
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.
2. Mobility and Access Committee Scotland: The Committee will take evidence on the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland’s annual report and recommendations from—
Anne MacLean, Convener, Bob Benson, Member, and Annette Monaghan, Member, Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
3. Community transport: The Committee will take evidence from—
Gordon Muir, Managing Director, The Rural Development Trust;
Rachel Milne, General Manager, Buchan Dial-a-Community Bus.
4. Homelessness and young people: The Committee will consider its approach to conducting an inquiry into homelessness and young people.
5. Draft Budget 2012-13 and Spending Review 2011 scrutiny: The Committee will consider a draft report on the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2012-13 and Spending Review 2011.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 January 2012, the Committee will look at a report on public appointments, Diversity Delivers, and petitions.
European and External Relations Committee
13 December 2011
8th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 2
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 8 and 9 in private.
2. EU Structural Funds: The Committee will take evidence in a round-table discussion from—
Lesley Cannon, EU Funding Manager, Scotland Europa;
Malcolm Leitch, Principal Officer, Glasgow City Council (representing West of Scotland European Forum (WOSEF));
Ingrid Green, Policy Officer, East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC);
Morag Keith, Business Manager, West of Scotland Colleges’ Partnership (WoSCoP);
Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC);
Serafin Pazos-Vidal, Head of Brussels Office, COSLA;
Linda Stewart, Head of European Development, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
3. Brussels Bulletin: The Committee will consider the latest edition of the Brussels Bulletin.
4. Visit to Brussels: The Committee will consider a report of its visit to Brussels.
5. Horizon 2020: The Committee will consider a report on a conference regarding Horizon 2020 from the Committee’s reporter, Aileen McLeod MSP.
6. Commission Work Programme (CWP) 2012: The Committee will consider a first stage report on the Scottish Parliament committees’ engagement with the CWP 2012.
7. Committee of the Regions (CoR): The Committee will consider a proposal reporting system for the Scottish Parliament’s CoR members.
8. Horizon 2020: The Committee will consider a report from its meeting on 15 November of its round table discussion with stakeholders regarding Horizon 2020.
9. EU Structural Funds: The Committee will consider the evidence taken earlier in the meeting.
Proposed future business
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.
Public Petitions Committee
13 December 2011
9th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 6
1. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions—
PE1409 Bridging the Training Gap - Training for education staff on learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders
The Committee will take evidence from-
Linda Whitmore, Development Officer, Children and Young People, Nigel Over, Trustee and Amanda Bradley, Member, ENABLE Scotland.
PE1410 Developing a fruitful future for all young Scots
The Committee will take evidence from-
John Hancox, Chair of Scottish Orchards and Director of the Children’s Orchard;
Mike Hyatt, Landscape Architect;
Jim Paterson, Tarbert and Skipness Development Trust.
2. Consideration of current petitions: The Committee will consider the following current petitions—
PE1098 and PE1223 School bus safety
PE1236 A90/A937 safety improvements
PE1351 Time for all to be heard
PE1369 Having regard to young people when considering changes to leisure and cultural facilities
PE1383 Better protection for wild land
PE1389 Adverse impact of coastguard station closures
PE1398 Access to therapy for orphan diseases
PE1399 Equitable access to therapy for Pompe disease
PE1401 Access to therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
PE1402 A strategy and policy for diagnosing and treating adult ADHD in Scotland
PE1403 Improve support and assistance to victims of crime and their families
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 January 2012, the Committee expects to consider petitions on St Margaret’s Hospice and youth football.
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
13 December 2011
10th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.15 pm in Committee Room 5
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private.
2. Cross-Party Group: The Committee will consider an application for recognition from the proposed Cross-Party Group on Asthma.
3. Commission for Ethical Standards: The Committee will consider a letter from the SPCB.
4. European strategy (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
5. Reform of parliamentary business: remodelling the parliamentary week (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 17 January 2012, the Committee expects to consider its approach to its review of Cross-Party Groups.
Scotland Bill Committee
13 December 2011
15th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.30 pm in Q1-04
1. Scotland Bill (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
Proposed future business
For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.
Subordinate Legislation Committee
13 December 2011
15th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 2.30 pm in Committee Room 3
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore and Offshore Regions) Amendment Order 2012 [draft]
3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Control of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petrol Vapour Recovery) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/418);
Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles (Scotland) Amendment Revocation Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/429).
4. National Library of Scotland Bill: The Committee will consider the contents of a draft report.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 20 December, the Committee expects to consider Scottish statutory instruments.
Public Audit Committee
14 December 2011
9th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 6 and 7 in private and consideration of its draft report on "An overview of Scotland’s criminal justice system" in private at future meetings.
2. Section 23 report - Reducing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions: The Committee will take evidence on the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "Reducing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions" from—
Mr Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland;
Barbara Hurst, Director, Angela Canning, Assistant Director, Mark Roberts, Portfolio Manager, and Douglas Black, Project Manager, Performance Audit Group, Audit Scotland.
3. Section 22 reports: The Committee will take evidence on the Auditor General for Scotland’s reports entitled "The 2010/11 audit of Registers of Scotland", "The 2010/11 audit of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service" and "The 2010/11 audit of Disclosure Scotland" from—
Mr Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland;
Bob Leishman, Portfolio Manager, Best Value and Scrutiny Improvement Group, Audit Scotland.
4. Section 23 report - A review of telehealth in Scotland: The Committee will consider correspondence from the Scottish Government on the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "A review of telehealth in Scotland".
5. Section 22 report - The 2010/11 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts: The Committee will consider correspondence from the Scottish Government on the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "The 2010/11 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts".
6. Consideration of approach - Reducing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions: The Committee will consider its approach to the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "Reducing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions".
7. Consideration of approach - Section 22 Reports: The Committee will consider its approach to the Auditor General for Scotland’s reports entitled "The 2010/11 audit of Registers of Scotland", "The 2010/11 audit of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service" and "The 2010/11 audit of Disclosure Scotland" .
Proposed future business
At its next meeting it is expected that the Committee will take evidence from the Auditor General for Scotland in relation to reports he has recently published.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
14 December 2011
15th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 2
1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Crofting Commission (Elections) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/draft) from—
Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Michael Anderson, Directorate for Legal Services, and Iain Dewar, Land Tenure Branch, Scottish Government.
2. Subordinate legislation: Stewart Stevenson to move S4M-01522—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Crofting Commission (Elections) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 [draft] be approved.
3. Guidance subject to approval: The Committee will take evidence on the Scottish Natural Heritage Code of Practice on Deer Management from—
Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Andrew Taylor, Natural Resources Division, and Andrew Crawley, Solicitor, Solicitors Communities and Education, Directorate for Legal Services, Scottish Government;
Arthur MacGugan, Deer Officer, Scottish Natural Heritage.
4. Guidance subject to approval: Stewart Stevenson to move S4M-01540—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Scottish Natural Heritage Code of Practice on Deer Management be approved.
5. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/412);
The Seed Fees (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/413);
The Seed Potatoes (Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/414);
The Common Agricultural Policy Schemes (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/415);
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Farm Payment and Support Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/416);
The Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/417); and
The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (Authorised Operations) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/419).
6. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following instrument which is not subject to any parliamentary procedure—
The Pollution Prevention and Control (Designation of Industrial Emissions Directive) (Scotland) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/423).
7. Common Fisheries Policy (in private): The Committee will consider draft correspondence.
8. Post legislative scrutiny of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (in private): The Committee will consider draft correspondence.