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.
Equal Opportunities Committee
11 May 2015
9th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle, Islay
1. Age and Social Isolation: The Committee will take evidence from—
Alison McGrory, Health Improvement Principle, Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership;
Lorraine Paterson, NHS Locality Manager, Mid Argyll, Kintyre & Islay, NHS Highland;
Anne Tait, Community Senior Charge Nurse, District Nursing, NHS Highland;
Lloyd Wells, Team Leader, Islay & Jura Generic Social Work Team;
and then from—
Mairi MacCuaig, Chairperson, Islay & Jura Youth Action;
Petra Pearce, Manager, Islay & Jura Council of Voluntary Service (IJCVS);
Joan Richardson, Chairperson, Jura Care Centre Group;
Katherine Wells, Community Resilience Officer, Timebank.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 28 May, the Committee expects to consider subordinate legislation on the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 and its work programme.
Health and Sport Committee
12 May 2015
15th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 9.45 am in the Robert Burns Room (CR1)
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 6 in private.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/160)
Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (Authorisation of Cremation – Death Outwith Scotland) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/162)
Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (Application for Review) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/163)
Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2015 (SSI 2015/164)
Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011 (Post-Mortem Examinations – Death Outwith United Kingdom) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/165)
Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 (Prohibition on Disposal of a Body without Authorisation) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/166)
3. Carers (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence, in a round-table discussion, from—
Sarah Davies, Director, East Lothian Young Carers, East Lothian Young Carers;
James Marshall, Development Manager, Young Carers Service, Stirling Carers Centre;
Louise Morgan, Co-ordinator, Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance, Carers Trust;
Margaret Murphy, Chief Executive, and Lois Ratcliffe, 16-20 Young Adult Carer Development Worker, Edinburgh Young Carers Project (EYCP).
4. Carers (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence, in a video conference, from—
Marjory Jagger, Manager, Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers.
5. Petition PE1550: The Committee will consider a petition by Andrew Muir, on behalf of Psychiatric Rights Scotland, calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to set up a public inquiry into historical cases of abuse of people detained under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
6. NHS Boards Budget: The Committee will consider its approach to its scrutiny of NHS Board Budgets.
7. Alcohol (Licensing, Public Health and Criminal Justice) (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 19 May, the Committee expects to consider the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill at stage 2.
Education and Culture Committee
12 May 2015
11th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the James Clerk Maxwell Room (CR4)
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.
2. Attainment (sensory impairment): The Committee will take evidence from—
Dominic Everett, Education and Family Services Manager, Royal National Institute of Blind People;
Dr John Ravenscroft, Head, Scottish Sensory Centre;
Sally Paterson, Chair, Scottish Association for Visual Impairment Education;
Tracy Christie, Chairperson, Hazelwood School Parent Council;
and then from—
Heather Gray, Director - Scotland, National Deaf Children’s Society;
Rachel O’Neill, Lecturer, Moray House School of Education;
Dr Audrey Cameron, Research Fellow, Child Protection Research Centre;
Catherine Finestone, Chairperson, British Association of Teachers of the Deaf Scotland.
3. Public petitions: PE1530: The Committee will consider the following petition—
PE1530 by Spencer Fildes, on behalf of the Scottish Secular Society, on Guidance on how creationism is presented in schools.
4. On-going financial scrutiny: The Committee will consider an approach paper.
5. Educational attainment gap: The Committee will consider a letter to the Scottish Government.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 19 May, the Committee will take evidence on its inquiry into attainment of school pupils with a sensory impairment.
Justice Committee
12 May 2015
15th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Mary Fairfax Somerville Room (CR2)
1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Constables in Scotland: Code of Practice) Order 2015 [draft] from—
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Lee-Anne Barclay, Policy Officer, Organised Crime and Police Powers Unit, and Carla McCloy-Stevens, Solicitor, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government.
2. Subordinate legislation: Michael Matheson (Cabinet Secretary for Justice) to move—
S4M-13076—That the Justice Committee recommends that the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Constables in Scotland: Code of Practice) Order 2015 [draft] be approved.
3. Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Jake Molloy, Regional Organiser, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers;
Ian Tasker, Assistant Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress;
and then from—
Alistair McNab, Head of Operations in Scotland, Health and Safety Executive;
Dr Gary Morrison, Executive Director (Medical), Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland;
Cathy Asante, Legal Officer - Human Rights Based Approach, Scottish Human Rights Commission;
and then from—
Stephen McGowan, Procurator Fiscal, Major Crime and Fatalities Investigation, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;
Iain Miller, Executive Legal Manager, Glasgow City Council;
Detective Chief Superintendent Robbie Allan, Police Scotland.
4. Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill - witness expenses: The Committee will be invited to delegate to the Convener responsibility for arranging for the SPCB to pay, under Rule 12.4.3, any expenses of witnesses on the Bill.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 19 May, the Committee expects to continue taking evidence on the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Public Petitions Committee
12 May 2015
10th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the David Livingstone Room (CR6)
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.
2. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider—
PE1560 by John Buston on local authority planning appeals procedure
and take evidence from—
John Buston;
and will then consider—
PE1561 by Karen Gray, on behalf of Rabbits Require Rights (Scotland), on pet rabbit welfare
and take evidence from—
Karen Gray;
and will then consider—
PE1567 by Donna O’Halloran on investigating unascertained deaths, suicides and fatal accidents.
3. Consideration of continued petitions: The Committee will consider—
PE1098 by Lynn Merrifield, on behalf of Kingseat Community Council, on school bus safety;
PE1105 by Marjorie McCance on St Margaret of Scotland Hospice;
PE1458 by Peter Cherbi on a register of interests for members of Scotland’s judiciary;
PE1513 by Ron Park on equal rights for unmarried fathers and PE1528 by John Ronald on child court reform;
PE1517 by Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy, on behalf of the Scottish Mesh Survivors - "Hear Our Voice" campaign, on polypropylene mesh medical devices;
PE1539 by Anne Booth on housing associations to come under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002;
PE1542 by Evelyn Mundell, on behalf of Ben Mundell and Malcolm and Caroline Smith, on human rights for dairy farmers;
PE1552 by Peter Campbell on choice of treatment for cancer patients.
4. External research: The Committee will consider options.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 26 May, the Committee expects to consider petitions on American Signal Crayfish, sewage sludge spreading, save Loch Ness and the Great Glen, Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness, awareness of Strep B in pregnancy and infants, removing charitable status from private schools, residential care provision for the severely learning disabled, national guidance on restraint and seclusion in schools and mandatory reporting of child abuse.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
12 May 2015
16th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.15 am in the Sir Alexander Fleming Room (CR3)
1. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Part 2 Extension) Order 2015 [draft].
2. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Outer Hebrides (Landing of Crabs and Lobsters) Order 2015 (SSI 2015/183).
3. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Scotland) Amendment Order 2015 (SSI 2015/186).
4. Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1 with a view to agreeing the contents of a report to the Health and Sport Committee.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
13 May 2015
14th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Robert Burns Room (CR1)
1. Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2 (Day 1).
Public Audit Committee
13 May 2015
9th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Mary Fairfax Somerville Room (CR2)
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3, 4, and 5 in private.
2. Section 22 report - The 2013/14 audit of NHS Highland: Financial management: The Committee will take evidence on the Auditor General for Scotland report entitled "The 2013/14 audit of NHS Highland: Financial management" from—
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive, Garry Coutts, Chair, and Nick Kenton, Director of Finance, NHS Highland.
3. Section 22 report - The 2013/14 audit of NHS Highland: Financial management: The Committee will consider the evidence received at agenda item 2 and take evidence from—
Fraser McKinlay, Director of Performance Audit and Best Value, Stephen Boyle, Assistant Director, and Angela Canning, Assistant Director, Audit Scotland.
4. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to its future work programme.
5. Annual report: The Committee will consider a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 11 May 2014 to 10 May 2015.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 27 May, the Committee expects to take oral evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy on the audit arrangements for the Further Devolution of Powers.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
13 May 2015
17th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Adam Smith Room (CR5)
1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/161);
Common Agricultural Policy Non-IACS Support Schemes (Appeals) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/167)
2. Mandatory public sector climate reporting (in private): The Committee will consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 20 May, the Committee expects to consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government on mandatory public sector climate reporting and its Annual Report.
Devolution (Further Powers) Committee
14 May 2015
14th Meeting, 2015
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Mary Fairfax Somerville Room (CR2)
1. Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 21 May, the Committee expects to consider a draft work programme.
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