Section C – Future Committee Meetings

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 at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/index.htm

Equal Opportunities Committee
2 June 2009
9th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1

1. Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser: The Committee will consider whether to seek approval for the appointment of a budget adviser.

2. Female offenders in the criminal justice system inquiry: The Committee will take evidence from—

Aileen Macdonald, Depute Director of Operations, APEX Scotland;

Tim Richley, Criminal Justice Advisor, Sacro;

and then from—

Douglas Edwardson, Head of Strategic Development & Support Services, Aberdeenshire Council;

Jane Martin, Manager, Criminal Justice Services, Dundee City Council;

Dr Linda Treliving, Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy, NHS Grampian;

and then from—

Pamela Ferguson, Lorna Lumley, and Paula McGuigan, clients of Circle’s family support project;

Anna Flaherty, Julie King, and Marina Shaw, Family Support Workers, Circle.

3. Female offenders in the criminal justice system inquiry (in private): The Committee will review the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 9 June, it is expected that the Committee will take oral evidence on its inquiry into female offenders in the criminal justice system. The Committee will also take evidence from the Minister for Housing and Communities on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Government’s Equality Bill.

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Justice Committee
2 June 2009
17th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 6

1. Declaration of interests: Dr Richard Simpson will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Proposed Damages (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the proposer’s statement of reasons why a case for the proposed Bill has already been established and take evidence from—

Bill Butler MSP;

Sarah Robertson, Non Executive Bills Unit.

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—

the Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) Revocation Order 2009 (SSI 2009/180);

the Parental Responsibilities and Parental Rights Agreement (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/191).

4. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Alan McCreadie, Deputy Director Law Reform, and Bill McVicar, Convener of the Criminal Law Committee, Law Society of Scotland;

Ian Duguid QC, Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, and Ronnie Renucci, Faculty of Advocates;

and then from—

Professor James Fraser, Director of the Centre for Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde;

Tom Nelson, Director of Forensic Services, Scottish Police Services Authority;

and then from—

The Rt Hon Lord Coulsfield, author, Independent review of the law and practice of disclosure in criminal proceedings in Scotland;

and then from—

Professor Neil Hutton, and Dr Cyrus Tata, Centre for Sentencing Research, University of Strathclyde;

James Chalmers, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Edinburgh;

Dr Sarah Armstrong, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Law, Business and Social Sciences, University of Glasgow.

5. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider whether to accept into evidence a further written submission received after the deadline for responses to the call for evidence.

6. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the main themes arising from the evidence session.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 3 June, it is expected that the Committee will consider items of subordinate legislation. For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

European and External Relations Committee
2 June 2009
9th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 10.30 am in Committee Room 2

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Special Edition of the Brussels Bulletin: The Committee will consider a special edition of the Brussels Bulletin.

3. Brussels Bulletin: The Committee will consider the latest edition of the Brussels Bulletin.

4. EU’s response to the financial crisis inquiry: The Committee will consider a revised draft report.

5. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to developing its international work programme.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 16 June, it is expected that the Committee will take further evidence on its China Plan inquiry.

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee
2 June 2009
15th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 1.30 pm in Committee Room 2

1. Climate Change (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2 (Day 2).

2. Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser: The Committee will consider whether to seek approval for the appointment of a budget adviser.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 9 June, it is expected that the Committee will continue to consider the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2.

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Finance Committee
2 June 2009
15th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 4

1. Marine (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Financial Memorandum of the Marine (Scotland) Bill from—

Phil Alcock, Policy Officer, Marine Biodiversity Policy & Sustainable Management Branch, Wendy Greary, Marine Strategy Branch, David Palmer, Branch Head, Marine Strategy Branch, and Linda Rosborough, Deputy Director, Marine Planning and Policy, Scottish Government;

Philip Robertson, Senior Inspector of Marine Archaeology, Historic Scotland.

2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether its consideration of a draft report on the Financial Memorandum of the Marine (Scotland) Bill at a future meeting should be taken in private.

3. Strategic budget scrutiny inquiry (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.

Proposed future business

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Public Petitions Committee
2 June 2009
10th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 1

1. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions—

PE1253 Compensation scheme for pre-NHS negligent treatment

PE1254 Amendment to Section 51 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

2. Consideration of current petitions: The Committee will consider the following current petitions—

PE1056 Diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis

PE1155 Young offenders

PE1159 Healthcare for gulf war veterans

PE1162 National Concessionary Travel Scheme

PE1169 Display of sexually graphic magazines and newspapers

PE1185 Inclusion of sewers and drains in road bonds

PE1198 , PE1199 & PE1200 Role of health visitors

PE1219 Support for talented athletes

PE1220 GP Dispensing

PE1224 Flag of Scotland in the Chamber

PE1228 Referendum on assisted dying

3. Notification of new petitions: The Committee will consider a paper indicating new petitions lodged since the last Committee meeting.

4. Forthcoming work programme The Committee will consider a paper from the Clerk.

5. Inquiry into the public petitions process The Committee will consider a draft report.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 16 June it is expected that the Committee will consider new petitions on guidelines on Vitamin D supplements; implementation of asbestos management plan in school buildings; Rosyth Bypass; solicitors acting as court reporters; sport facilities for primary schools; fairer funding framework for the voluntary sector and the future of prison officers social clubs. The Committee is also expected to further consider current petitions on promoting the services of independent midwives; Catholics in prison, local museums; mandatory fitting of seatbelts on school buses; school bus safety; violence against women; review of the Stewart Committee report; review of guidelines to allow healthy gay and bisexual men to donate blood; review of fire service boards; support for community prisons; cuts in public and voluntary sector services; befriending services; standards of social rented housing; A90/A937 safety improvements; situation in the Middle East; same sex marriage; welfare of Siamese fighting fish; international development and the G20 summit and healthcare provision in rural areas.

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Subordinate Legislation Committee
2 June 2009
19th Meeting, 2009

The Committee will meet at 2.15 pm in Committee Room 6

1. Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill after Stage 2.

2. Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill : The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1.

3. Equality Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation conferred on Scottish Ministers in the Equalities Bill (UK Parliament legislation).

4. Draft instruments subject to approval: The Committee will consider the following—

the Licensing (Mandatory Conditions) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/draft);

the Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/draft).

5. Instruments subject to annulment: The Committee will consider the following—

the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/183);

the Police Pensions Amendment (Increased Pension Entitlement) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/185);

the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/187);

the University of the West of Scotland Order of Council 2009 (SSI 2009/194);

the Non-Domestic Rating (Valuation of Utilities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/196).

6. Instruments not laid before the Parliament: The Committee will consider the following—

the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (Commencement No.2) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/192);

the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/197).

7. Annual report: The Committee will consider a draft annual report for the Parliament year from 9 May 2008 to 8 May 2009.

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 9 June, it is expected that the Committee will consider Scottish statutory instruments and other documents subject to parliamentary procedure.

For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.

Public Audit Committee
3 June 2009
11th Meeting, 2009

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 4, 5 and 6 in private.

2. Section 22 report: 2007/2008 accounts of Stow College The Committee will receive a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland on his report entitled "2007/2008 accounts of Stow College".

3. Scotland’s colleges - financial position 2007/08: The Committee will receive a briefing from the Auditor General for Scotland on his report entitled "Scotland’s colleges - financial position 2007/08".

4. Consideration of approach The Committee will consider its approach to the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "2007/2008 accounts of Stow College".

5. Consideration of approach The Committee will consider its approach to the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "Scotland’s colleges - financial position 2007/08".

6. Section 23 report: The Committee will consider a draft report on the Auditor General for Scotland’s report entitled "The First ScotRail passenger rail franchise".

Proposed future business

At its next meeting on 17 June, it is expected that the Committee will receive briefings from the Auditor General for Scotland on the Audit Scotland annual report for 2008-09 and information management and data collection issues in the NHS. The Committee will also consider responses from the Accountable Officers on the Auditor General for Scotland’s reports entitled "Drug and alcohol services in Scotland"; "Managing the use of medicines in hospitals"; "Central government’s use of consultancy services"; and "The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer 2006/07 and 2007/08 Accounts". For further details, contact the Clerk to the Committee, whose details are provided at the end of the Bulletin.