Committee News Release
CHEAL 01/2003
Thursday 21 August 2003
PARLIAMENT PHOTO CALL:
HEALTH COMMITTEE HOLD ‘OPEN HOUSE’ AT THE LOCH MELFORT HOTEL
The Scottish Parliament’s newly formed Health Committee will be meeting with local residents at the Loch Melfort hotel, near Kilmelford, Argyll, at 12.30pm on Friday 29 August 2003.
Members of the public and local health professionals are being invited to personally express any views or concerns they have on Scottish health policy to Committee members.
Press photographers, TV cameras and reporters are welcomed. Please liaise with the Parliament’s Press Office in advance – details at end.
All local residents are welcome to attend. Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to give advance notice by contacting Hannah Reeve (telephone 0131 348 5410; email Hannah.reeve@scottish.parliament.uk ).
The Committee is meeting in Argyll to determine the key areas of focus for its work programme in the forthcoming session.
Christine Grahame, who has been chosen by the Committee as its Convener, said:
“We are aware that our Committee will have a busy legislative programme with Executive Bills on primary medical services and the reform of the NHS in Scotland. However, it is important that the committee sets it own agenda for the coming four years.
“Inviting members of the public to express their views will help us draw up a work programme that reflects the priorities of people on the ground.
“Hearing about issues of concern in North Argyll would be particularly helpful for the committee. We know that the challenges facing the health service in rural areas are often very different from those faced in cities.”
The other eight members of the Committee are:
David Davidson
Helen Eadie
Janis Hughes (Deputy Convener)
Kate Maclean
Duncan McNeil
Shona Robison
Mike Rumbles
Dr Jean Turner
BACKGROUND
The Health Committee is responsible for considering and reporting on matters relating to health policy, the National Health Service in Scotland and other responsibilities of the Minister for Health and Community Care.
The Scottish Parliament’s Committees are responsible for scrutinising Scottish Executive policy and holding Ministers to account. They combine the roles of Westminster Standing and Select Committees. In addition to scrutinising and amending draft legislation, they can conduct their own chosen inquiries into policy areas and report to the Parliament. Unlike Westminster Committees, they are also able to introduce Bills into the Parliament.
A full biography and JPEG image of the Convener are available from the
Media Office on request, along with an information sheet on ‘What
are the Committees’.
For further information, the media contact is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6269
Out of hours: 07699 717177
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific committee information contact:
Jennifer Smart: 0131 348 5210
email: jennifer.smart@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local
call rate)
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk