Present:

Shiona Baird (Committee substitute)	Scott Barrie
Cathie Craigie	Donald Gorrie (Deputy Convener)
Johann Lamont (Convener)	Campbell Martin
Mary Scanlon	Elaine Smith
Stewart Stevenson

Also present: Mark Ruskell.

The meeting opened at 10.35 am.

Apologies were received from Patrick Harvie.

1. Item in private: The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee considered the following negative instruments and agreed to report to Parliament that it had no recommendations to make-

the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (Alteration of Housing Finance Arrangements) Order 2004, (SSI 2004/105);

the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (Payments out of Grants for Housing Support Services) Amendment Order 2004, (SSI 2004/108).

3. Petitions: The Committee considered the following petitions-

PE447 by Mr Gregor McIntyre on local community projects. Johann Lamont and Elaine Smith declared interests in Greater Pollok and South Coatbridge Social Inclusion Partnerships respectively. The Committee agreed to write to the Executive inviting comments on the issues raised in the petition.

PE650 by Alison Mackay (on behalf of NO 2 TETRA) on TETRA communication masts in Scotland. Mark Ruskell spoke in support of the petition. The Committee agreed to write to the Executive to request an update on the status of its research report on the effectiveness of current regulations. The Committee also agreed to write to police organisations to obtain their views and comments on issues relating to TETRA masts. The Committee further agreed to write to the Environment and Rural Development Committee and the Health Committee on the issues raised on the petition.

PE541 by Dr James S. Buchanan (on behalf of the Roslin Community Action Group) on landfill and waste management and PE543 by Karen Whitefield MSP on landfill and waste management. The Committee agreed to write to the Executive requesting further information on whether it has any plans to address the planning issues raised in any forthcoming legislation. The Committee also agreed to write to the Health Committee to seek its comments on the health concerns raised in the petitions.

The meeting was suspended from 11.05 am to 11.12 am.

4. Budget process 2005-2006: The Committee considered a briefing from Professor Arthur Midwinter, Budget Adviser to the Finance Committee.

The meeting was suspended from 12.18 pm to 12.21 pm.

5. Work programme (in private): The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to publish its work programme on its webpage.

The meeting closed at 12.39 pm.

Steve Farrell

Clerk to the Committee

Tel: 0131 348 5211

email: steve.farrell@scottish.parliament.uk