Education, Culture and Sport Committee,
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 1, 2001
Official Report
109KB pdf
Children's Commissioner
We move to item 4 on the agenda. Members have received an e-mail confirming that we have decided not to hold the event that was scheduled for Monday 4 June on that date, as members' diaries could not be committed that week. Because of the nature of the event, attendance by a maximum of members is desirable. I have therefore asked the clerks to reschedule the event for Monday 25 June, which is in the last week before the recess. That will give the clerks and those who are involved in making the film more time.
I have submitted a paper to the conveners' group, which will meet on 8 May, outlining our proposal and asking for financial support. I do not foresee any difficulties. However, if members could make committee conveners in their political party groups aware of the proposal and ask for their support, that would be helpful.
I visited Cardiff on 10 April and had a useful meeting with the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning and the chair of the Health and Social Services Committee. They took me through exactly what had happened in Wales. They received a great deal of support from ministers and civil servants. As we progress with our inquiry, I shall ask the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs whether there would be any merit in our receiving civil service support in the drafting of legislation, if appropriate, in future.
It emerged from that meeting—and this may be relevant to the Parliament, should we decide to appoint a commissioner—that there will be an amendment to Welsh legislation to enable the Welsh commissioner to deliberate and take action on reserved matters, in relation to children in Wales. Although those powers are not devolved to the Welsh Assembly, the Welsh commissioner will still be able to address them. That is a useful precedent to set, and I am sure that we would be afforded the same rights if we decided to appoint a commissioner in Scotland.
I shall meet the Centre Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 14 May to discuss how it is proceeding with the proposal for a children's commissioner. I shall report back to the committee after that meeting. I am also copying the papers that I brought back from Wales, which I shall circulate to members, along with a report.
At the previous committee meeting, we decided that we would launch the findings of the consultation report at the same time as the film event. Should that also be deferred until 25 June?
It would be helpful if we could deal with those matters together. People from all over Scotland will be at that meeting; it would be the right forum at which to launch the findings of the report.
Thank you. I asked only for clarification.
Are we agreed to do that?
Members indicated agreement.