Meetings of Committees
All meetings take place in the Scottish Parliament, unless otherwise specified. Contact details for Committee Clerks are provided at the end of the Bulletin.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
16th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 4
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private.
2. Business Gateway inquiry - contract renewals: The Committee will consider responses to its report, published in October.
3. Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
12th Meeting, 2011
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6
1. Broadband infrastructure in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from—
Richard Rumbelow, Head of Corporate Affairs, Everything Everywhere;
Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland;
Matt Rogerson, Head of Public Affairs and Policy, Virgin Media;
Julie Minns, Head of Regulatory and Public Policy, Three.
2. Homelessness: The Committee will take evidence from—
Robert Aldridge, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Single Homeless;
Gordon MacRae, Head of Communications & Policy, Shelter Scotland;
David Ogilvie, Policy and Strategy Manager, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
3. Petition PE1115: The Committee will consider a petition by Caroline Moore on behalf of the Campaign to Open Blackford Railway-station Again calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that national and regional transport strategies consider and focus on public transport solutions such as the reopening of Blackford railway station which is identified as a priority action in the latest Tayside and Central Regional Transport Strategy, and in doing so, recognises and supports the positive environmental, economic and social impacts of such local solutions.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/410)
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
14 December 2011
14th Meeting, 2011
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 in private.
2. Inquiry on a living wage in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence, in a video conference, from—
Jeremy Skinner, Senior Manager, Policy and Projects, Greater London Authority;
Julie Amory, Head of Equality and Inclusion, and Loraine Martins, Former Head of Equality, Inclusion, Employment and Skills, Olympic Delivery Agency;
and then, in a round-table discussion, from—
Councillor Michael Cook, Strategic Human Resource Spokesperson, COSLA;
Caroline Innes, Deputy Chief Executive, East Renfrewshire Council;
David Coyne, Head of Business and the Economy, Development and Regeneration Services, Glasgow City Council;
Elma Murray, Chief Executive, North Ayrshire Council;
Kay McVeigh, Head of Personnel Services, South Lanarkshire Council;
Paul McGowan, Human Resource Business Partner, West Dunbartonshire Council.
3. Inquiry on a living wage in Scotland (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence received on a living wage in Scotland.
4. Public services reform and local government: strand 1 – partnerships and outcomes: The Committee will consider a draft remit and person-specification for the post of adviser in connection with its forthcoming inquiry.
Public Audit Committee
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" .
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
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;
Alastair 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.
Meeting of the Parliament
Subject to the Parliament’s approval of revised Business Motion S4M-01578, today’s business is as follows—
2.00 pm Time for Reflection – Peter Ross, volunteer, Dumfries and Galloway Third Sector Forum and Scottish Parliament Community Partnership Project
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
S4M-01578 Bruce Crawford on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Business Motion—That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business for Wednesday 14 December 2011—
delete
6.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
and insert
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
S4M-01571 Bruce Crawford: Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, debate on groups of amendments shall, subject to Rule 9.8.4A, be brought to a conclusion by the time limit indicated, that time limit being calculated from when the stage begins and excluding any periods when other business is under consideration or when a meeting of the Parliament is suspended (other than a suspension following the first division in the stage being called) or otherwise not in progress:
Groups 1 to 3: 40 minutes
Groups 4 to 6: 1 hour 10 minutes.
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Ministerial Appointment
S4M-01575 Alex Salmond: Appointment of Junior Scottish Minister—That the Parliament agrees that Derek Mackay be appointed as a junior Scottish Minister.
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill
S4M-01524 Roseanna Cunningham: Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees that the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill be passed.
followed by Business Motion
S4M-01579 Bruce Crawford on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Business Motion—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 21 December 2011
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Delivery and Legacy of the Commonwealth Games
followed by Education and Culture Committee Debate: National Gaelic Language Plan
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 22 December 2011
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Welfare Reform Bill
11.40 am General Question Time
12.00 pm First Minister’s Question Time
12.30 pm Members’ Business
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Rural Affairs and the Environment;
Justice and the Law Officers
2.55 pm Finance Committee Debate: Report on the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Wednesday 11 January 2012
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 12 January 2012
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12.00 pm First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy
2.55 pm Scottish Government Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
S4M-01580 Bruce Crawford on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Business Motion—That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 29 February 2012.
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
S4M-01582 Bruce Crawford on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: Approval of SSI—That the Parliament agrees that the Student Fees (Specification) (Scotland) Order 2011 [draft] be approved.
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Debate on the subject of—
S4M-01340 Stuart McMillan: Commending Petrol and Diesel Watch—That the Parliament commends the Greenock Telegraph’s Petrol and Diesel Watch feature, which advises motorists on a daily basis of the fuel prices at filling stations throughout Inverclyde and the west of Scotland; acknowledges that this was established in response to public outcry at rising fuel prices and also reported disparities of as much as 7p per litre between filling stations in nearby towns, and is concerned that dramatically rising fuel prices threaten to exacerbate an already challenging economic situation for households and business operations in Inverclyde, the west of Scotland and across the country as a whole.