All proceedings in the Debating Chamber and committee rooms can be viewed, or listened to, live in the Parliament TVsection of our website.
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) produced one new briefing this week:
Finance Committee
1 December 2014
31st Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 11.45 am in Arran High School, Lamlash, Isle of Arran
1. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16: Members will report back on the outcomes of the workshop sessions involving local organisations held before the start of the meeting.
Not before 1:00 pm—
2. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16: The Committee will take evidence on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16 from—
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, Andrew Watson, Deputy Director for Financial Strategy, Graham Owenson, Head of Local Government Finance Unit, Alison Cumming, Head of Tax Policy, and Terry Holmes, Principal Accountancy Adviser, Finance Directorate, Scottish Government.
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Budget (Scotland) Act 2014 Amendment Order 2014 [draft] from—
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and Terry Holmes, Principal Accountancy Adviser, Finance Directorate, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy to move S4M-11716 - That the Finance Committee recommends that the Budget (Scotland) Act 2014 Amendement Order 2014 [draft] be approved.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 December, the Committee expects to take evidence on its Further Fiscal Devolution inquiry.
Devolution (Further Powers) Committee
2 December 2014
4th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.00 am in the Robert Burns Room (CR1)
1. Declaration of interests: Alison Johnstone and Mark McDonald will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. The Smith Commission: The Committee will take evidence from—
Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chair, and Jenny Bates, Head of Secretariat, The Smith Commission.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 4 December, the Committee expects to consider the report of The Smith Commission and take oral evidence from the UK and Scottish Governments.
Health and Sport Committee
2 December 2014
32nd Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.45 am in the James Clerk Maxwell Room (CR4)
1. Declaration of interests: Mike MacKenzie and Dennis Robertson will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments—
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Monitoring Committees) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI2014/281)
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Local Authority Officers) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/282)
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Prescribed Consultees) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/283)
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Prescribed Days) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/284)
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/285)
3. Mental Health (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport and Health Improvement, Penny Curtis, Acting Head of Mental Health and Protection of Rights Division, Carol Sibbald, Mental Health (Scotland) Bill Team Leader, and Stephanie Virlogeux, Solicitor, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government.
4. Health Inequalities: Early Years : The Committee will take evidence, round-table format, from—
Dr Charles Saunders, Chair, Scottish Public Health Committee, BMA Scotland;
Dr Ron Gray, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde;
Jayne Sellers, Nurse Team Leader, Homeless and Asylum, Homeless Health services;
Dr Anne Mullin, General Practitioner, Lothian Deprivation Interest Group;
Dr Lucy Reynolds, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal college of Paediatrics and Child Health Scotland;
Theresa Fyffe, Director, Royal College of Nursing Scotland.
5. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 9 December, the Committee expects to consider oral evidence from the Scottish Government on Health Inequalities and Subordinate Legislation.
Justice Committee
2 December 2014
31st Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the David Livingstone Room (CR6)
1. Declaration of interests: Gil Paterson will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will consider whether consideration of its work programme should be taken in private at its next meeting, and whether consideration of its draft reports on the Draft Budget 2015-16 and on the legislative consent memorandum on the Serious Crime Bill should be taken in private at future meetings.
3. Serious Crime Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will take evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S4) 35.1 from—
Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, and Dr Lucy Smith, Head of Organised Crime Strategy, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Public Services Reform (Inspection and Monitoring of Prisons) (Scotland) Order 2014 [draft] from—
Bruce Adamson, Legal Officer, Scottish Human Rights Commission;
Joan Fraser, Member of the Executive, Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments;
Lisa Mackenzie, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Howard League Scotland;
Pete White, National Co-ordinator, Positive Prison? Positive Futures;
and then from—
Professor Andrew Coyle, Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies, King's College London;
Dr James McManus, Member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture;
David Strang, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 9 December, the Committee expects to consider draft reports on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16 and on the legislative consent memorandum on the Serious Crime Bill; and its work programme.
Welfare Reform Committee
2 December 2014
19th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Adam Smith Room (CR5)
1. Declaration of interests: Clare Adamson, Joan McAlpine and Christina McKelvie will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Choice of Deputy Convener: The Committee will choose a Deputy Convener.
3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 7 in private.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments - Discretionary Housing Payments (Limit on Total Expenditure) Revocation (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/298)
5. Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report.
6. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report to the Finance Committee on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16.
7. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting on 9 December the Committee shall conduct a 'Your Say' oral evidence session. It will hear from a variety of welfare benefit recipients on the impact of the welfare reforms on mental health.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
2 December 2014
34th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 11.30 am in the Sir Alexander Fleming Room (CR3)
1. Declaration of interests: John Mason will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 9 and 10 in private.
3. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Public Services Reform (Inspection and Monitoring of Prisons) (Scotland) Order 2014 [draft].
4. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Marriage Between Persons of Different Sexes (Prescribed Bodies) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/304);
Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/312);
Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Ancillary Provision) (No. 2) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/315);
Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/316);
Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/317);
Education (Disapplication of section 53B) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/318);
Environmental Regulation (Relevant Offences) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/319);
Controlled Waste (Fixed Penalty Notices) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/320);
Litter (Fixed Penalty Notices) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/321);
Environmental Regulation (Liability where Activity Carried Out by Arrangement with Another) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/323);
Environmental Regulation (Significant Environmental Harm) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/324);
Common Agricultural Policy (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/325);
Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Content of Performance Reports) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/326).
5. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following—
Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/314).
6. Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Scottish Government's response to its Stage 1 report.
7. Food (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill after stage 2.
8. Modern Slavery Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation conferred on Scottish Ministers in the Modern Slavery Bill (UK Parliament legislation).
9. Serious Crime Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation conferred on Scottish Ministers in the Serious Crime Bill (UK Parliament legislation).
10. Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider a draft report to the Justice Committee.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 9 December 2014, the Committee will consider Scottish Statutory Instruments.
Local Government and Regeneration Committee
3 December 2014
32nd Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in the Mary Fairfax Somerville Room (CR2)
1. Decision on taking business in private The Committee will decide wether to take item 4 and 5 in private —
2. Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Dr Michael North, Gun Control Network;
Jennifer Dunn, Senior Public Affairs Officer, League Against Cruel Sports;
Chief Superintendent Michael Flynn, Scottish SPCA;
and then from—
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, Head of Policing, West of Scotland, Superintendent Alick Irvine, Licensing and Violence Reduction Division, and hief Inspector Fraser Lamb, Firearms and Explosives Licensing, Police Scotland.
3. Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence received at Stage 1.
4. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16 The Committee will consider its report on the Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 December 2014, the Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee
3 December 2014
31st Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in the David Livingstone Room (CR6)
1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether its consideration of its draft Budget 2015-16 report should be taken in private at future meetings.
2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments-
South Arran Marine Conservation (Amendment) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/297).
3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014 from—
Aileen McLeod, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Sue Petch, Deputy Director, Drinking Water Quality Division, Lynne McMinn, Policy Manager, Drinking Water Quality, and Mark Eggeling, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
4. Subordinate legislation: Aileen McLeod (Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform) to move—S4M-11703—
That the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee recommends that the Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014 be approved.
5. Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Jon Hollingdale, Chief Executive, Community Woodlands Association;
Simon Fraser, Solicitor, Anderson MacArthur;
Malcolm Combe, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Aberdeen;
Rory Dutton, Development Officer, Development Trusts Association Scotland;
Sarah-Jane Laing, Director of Policy and Parliamentary Affairs, Scottish Land and Estates;
and then from—
Wendy Reid, Development Manager, Development Trusts Association Scotland;
John Mundell, Chief Executive, Inverclyde Council;
Dr Colleen Rowan, Membership and Policy Officer, Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations;
David Cruikshank, Executive Director, Lambhill Stables Development Trust;
Susan Carr, Community Alliance Trust;
Professor Alan Miller, Chair, Scottish Human Rights Commission.
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
3 December 2014
29th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the James Clerk Maxwell Room (CR4)
1. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16 (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report to the Finance Committee on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16.
Not before 11.00 am
2. Declaration of interests: Patrick Harvie MSP, Gordon MacDonald MSP and Richard Lyle MSP will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 7 in private.
4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Scottish Regulators’ Strategic Code of Practice(SG 2014/236) from—
Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Joe Brown, Head of Better Regulation and Industry Engagement, and Sandra Reid, Better Regulation Policy Advisor, Scottish Government.
5. Subordinate legislation: The Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism to move—
S4M-11680—That the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee recommends that the Scottish Regulators' Strategic Code of Practice be approved.
6. Infrastructure Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will take evidence on legislative consent memorandum LCM(S4) 34.1 from—
Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Suzanne Le Miere, Head of Heat Policy, and Joyce Whytock, Heat Policy Manager, Scottish Government.
7. Creative Industries Inquiry The Committee will consider its approach to the inquiry.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 December 2014 the Committee expects to consider its draft budget 2015-16 report.
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
3 December 2014
28th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Robert Burns Room (CR1)
1. Declaration of interests: James Dornan and Mike MacKenzie will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Choice of Convener: The Committee will choose a Convener.
3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 6 in private.
4. Transport: The Committee will take evidence from—
Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Cities, Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and Islands, Ainslie McLaughlin, Director, Major Transport Infrastructure Projects, Donald Carmichael, Director, Transport Policy, Roy Brannen, Director, Trunk Roads and Bus Operations, and Stewart Leggett, Strategic Impacts Manager in Trunk Road and Bus Operations, Scottish Government.
5. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—
Notice of Potential Liability for Costs (Discharge Notice) (Scotland) Order 2014 (SSI 2014/313)
6. Draft Budget Scrutiny 2015-16: The Committee will consider a draft report to the Finance Committee on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2015-16.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 10 Dec the Committee expects to take oral evidence on Scottish Housing Regulator annual report 2013-14.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
4 December 2014
15th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in the David Livingstone Room (CR6)
1. Declaration of interests: Dave Thompson will be invited to declare any relevant interests.
2. Inquiry into lobbying (in private): The Committee will consider an options paper.
3. Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 (in private): The Committee will consider a note by the Clerk.
Proposed future business
At its next meeting, on 18 December, the Committee expects to a draft report and Bill on the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006.
Equal Opportunities Committee
4 December 2014
20th Meeting, 2014
The Committee will consider a draft report on the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2015-16.
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