Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee, 16 Feb 2000

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 16, 2000

Official Report 210KB pdf

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Correspondence

I asked Rodger Evans to trawl through the correspondence. We receive many invitations to visit a range of organisations and agencies—not necessarily on formal committee visits—that want to bring their work to our attention and want this part of the Parliament to know that they exist. I am concerned that we are saying, "Thanks very much," but not following up some of those invitations. I am worried that we are getting a wee bit lost. I would like the committee's view on the idea of having some members of the committee undertaking visits, out of courtesy if nothing else. There may be times when, as Keith Raffan said, those visits could be part of a formal inquiry; at other times, the whole committee may want to undertake a visit.

Keith has mentioned before—in the context of attending conferences and such like—that it is appropriate for at least one member of the committee to take responsibility. If there is a reporter, we tend to refer the visit specifically to them. It might be worth while for members to volunteer to visit a project or pursue a particular line of correspondence. We can organise that through Martin Verity. At the moment, we fall between two stools.

There are many requests on the list, representing a variety of interests. It would be impossible for us to take up all the invitations. Cathie has already agreed to visit Donaldson's College.

We have arranged a visit for the 29th.

The priority should be visits to organisations that relate to current inquiries, of which there are several, including Airborne Initiative and ERGO. Obviously, the Scottish Parliamentary Churches Office is directly or indirectly related to the drugs inquiry.

We must be selective. Some organisations are geographically close, such as those in Dundee, where it might be worth spending a day. I mentioned to the clerk our visit there on Monday. I visited the Corner, in Dundee, which is similar to Off the Record. It was a fascinating visit, and an hour was quite sufficient. If a group of us made such a visit, an hour would not be sufficient. However, we might try to shorten our visits, so that we can cover more ground.

Locals Against Drugs in Alloa, might be combined with Off the Record—but that might not work. I usually try to pack too much in, so I am probably not the one to ask.

Convener, could you, with Martin and Keith, report back next week with suggestions of organisations that we should visit officially, and of members who might be interested in undertaking those visits?

Okay, I will do that. John McAllion can do the same for housing.

Three organisations spring immediately to mind. Dundee City Council, which is not as far down the list as Dumfries and Galloway Council, has some interesting insights to offer into the possibility of stock transfers. Perhaps Fiona Hyslop and I could visit that council, as well as the organisations in Blairtummock, in Easterhouse, and in Fife. The housing reporters could try to visit the housing organisations.

We could delegate responsibility. Even if members decide that they cannot manage a visit, they can write to the organisations, asking them to submit evidence to the committee.

Fiona and I could arrange something before the next meeting.

I am looking forward to going.

There is nothing to stop you.

While we are there, we could also visit ERGO. ERGO is worth visiting; I have already been there.

Do you want me to consider doing the same for social inclusion, convener? The Glasgow colleges group arguably relates to stock transfer, the economic implications and the construction industry. There are one or two related issues that we could pursue with that group.

When we decided on our four priorities, they were housing stock transfer, a national anti-poverty strategy, drugs, and fuel poverty. We agreed that fuel poverty could be dealt with in tandem with the national anti-poverty strategy, which has evolved into the social inclusion report. One contact on the list has been made in the context of fuel poverty—an issue that we are in danger of overlooking. As we agreed fuel poverty as a priority, I am anxious that it should not be left.

You are absolutely right.

We are going to have an informal meeting this afternoon on social inclusion issues, at which we could address that.

It would make sense for only two or three of us to make these visits, as they can be disruptive to some organisations. The Corner is quite small, and I went after hours. A certain minister and his entourage had visited when the place was full of kids, which had disrupted the people there for two or three hours. To see some of these youth places working, it would be better if only two or three of us went—otherwise, we would disrupt what goes on, and we would not get a clear idea of the work that they are doing.

That is a useful suggestion, but we also need a brief report, filtered through the clerks, to give us an idea of what is going on if we do not make such visits—nothing bureaucratic, just a note of value for future reference.

I ask the reporters to ensure that these invitations are followed up, and to report back to the committee as appropriate.

We will now move into private session to consider our work programme, progress on the housing stock issue and any other business.

Meeting continued in private until 12:45.