Equal Opportunities Committee, 26 Sep 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 26, 2000

Official Report 112KB pdf

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Reporters

As agreed, we will take the reports from the reporters groups now, as some members have to leave early. Do any reporters have an update since our previous meeting?

The group on gender issues met last Tuesday. We have set a series of dates for meetings in alternate weeks until October.

We discussed the impact on the group's work of the legislative programme, and in particular of proposals relating to the cross-examination of witnesses, stalking and family law. We thought that we could make a useful input into those.

Following on from our work before the summer recess on the treatment of women in the justice system, from which the debate on cross-examination of witnesses emerged, we thought that we could do useful further work on the treatment of women once they enter the justice system as offenders.

I note that one of the committee papers mentions the housing bill. We thought that the convener should discuss with the convener of the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee the taking of evidence on the bill from women's organisations. I understand that that is being done, but we want to offer our support.

We discussed mental health, which is one of the key health priorities. We wondered about the extent to which the women's dimension to mental health is being addressed, and thought that some useful work could be done on that.

In view of the fact that I have joined the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, it will be impossible for me to continue as convener of the group on gender issues. Subject to the committee's agreement, Elaine Smith has agreed to take over that responsibility.

What did you say about me meeting the convener of the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee? I was listening, but—

I suggested that you should meet the convener of the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee to discuss whether we could support the gathering of evidence from women's organisations on the housing bill. I think that that committee is taking evidence from such groups, but we should ensure that there is liaison between the committees.

As Johann Lamont is unable to continue as reporter on gender issues, it has been suggested that Elaine Smith take over from her. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Members have copies of Irene McGugan's report on disability issues.

Last week, I met representatives of the Disabled Persons Housing Service. Two main issues were on the agenda. Following the evidence that the DPHS gave us some time ago, we raised issues with three ministers, and have now received responses. The issues that were covered in the responses are fairly complex, so we have asked the DPHS to read them and get back to us if there is anything that it would like to address further.

The main issue that we discussed was building regulations. The DPHS feels strongly that the regulations fall short of what is required to make housing properly barrier free. The DPHS's representatives alerted us to the fact that the regulations are reviewed every three years and advised us, helpfully, that in England and Wales a comparative study has been done of control and promotion of quality in housing in Europe. It is short-sighted to make adjustments and amendments to building control without considering the wider, European context. We also discussed the housing bill.

We have three recommendations for the committee. First, the committee should undertake to equality proof the housing bill; that is on the agenda for today. Secondly, the committee should write to the Scottish Executive to request that it consider commissioning a similar comparative study to the one that was done in England and Wales. Thirdly—given that we now know that building regulations are reviewed every three years and that the next review is due in 18 months—the committee should include the review in its future work plan, so that we will be in a better position to make an input to the process next time.

Are there any questions or comments? We can deal with recommendation 9, on the housing bill, when we consider the housing bill. Are the other two recommendations agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Marilyn, do you want to give an update on the cross-party group that you mentioned at the previous meeting?

The first meeting of the proposed cross-party working group on survivors of childhood sexual abuse took place on Thursday. We have set a date for a future meeting and we will consider the group's remit and priorities. We have agreed that we will examine this issue from cradle to grave and look at childhood sexual abuse and adult survivors. Funding and legal issues were among the matters that we discussed. Some of the groups that were represented said that they would like to make representations to this committee at a later stage. I said that I would raise that this morning. However, first, the group would like to get further down the road of addressing how the Parliament could help it with what it wants to do. I told the group that I would raise that with the committee and, perhaps at the beginning of January or February, the group would like to give evidence to the committee. Also, a petition is going to the Public Petitions Committee next week, to raise awareness and to look at core funding for the bodies that are involved in the group.

Are there any questions or comments for Marilyn?

I attended the meeting that Marilyn mentioned. One group that came along expressed concern that people are approaching it as a rape crisis centre. There are issues around the kind of provision that is available for counselling and helping people who have been victims of rape. That was also discussed at the gender reporters group. We need to be aware of the support for victims of rape in Scotland.

That issue was raised in the group and I am dealing with it in my locality. The group will look at it, but it wants to determine the priorities and discuss the issues that were raised before it comes to this committee. We thought that the group should come here early in the new year.

Are there any other reporters' reports?

Before we move to item 4, I welcome four politicians from Azerbaijan who are visiting political parties in the UK through the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. I welcome them to the committee and hope that they enjoy the business.