At its meeting of Wednesday 17 September 2008, the Committee considered and agreed its work programme to June 2009.

Bills

Following the announcement of the Scottish Government's legislative programme for 2008-09, the Committee is expected to be the lead committee for the following proposed bills:

• Additional Support for Learning (Amendment)
• Rural Schools
• Children's Hearings

The Committee is also currently scrutinising the sections of the Scottish Budget for 2009-10 relevant to its remit. The Committee will then report its findings to the Finance Committee.

• The budget process - further information page

Inquiries

The Committee has agreed to hold an inquiry into prisoner education. Futher details will appear on this page once the Committee commences its scrutiny.

The Committee also agreed to hold a future inquiry, no earlier than September 2009, into the funding of education and children services through local authorities.

Evidence sessions

The Committee has also agreed to hold focused evidence taking sessions on key aspects of its remit. These evidence sessions include:

• Social work (17.09.2008)
• Scottish Broadcasting Commission (final report) (24.09.2008)
• COSLA and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to appear on probationary teachers
• Higher Education Taskforce (final report)
• BBC (Director General)
• OFCOM
• Risk management/aversion and child protection
• HMIe (annual report)
• Historic Scotland (annual report)
• Learning and Teaching Scotland (annual report)
• Scottish Government's free school meals pilot outcomes

Petitions

The following petitions are currently being considered by the Committee:

• PE853 - Children's Services (Special Needs)
• PE872 - Rural Schools (Closure)
• PE1022 - Foreign Languages Policy

For further information on the Committee's consideration of these petitions, please see the petitions homepage.

Secondary legislation

The Committee regularly considers and reports on Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs). Further details of SSIs currently being considered by the Committee can be found on its current business page.

• Scottish Parliament guidance - subordinate legislation

Committee Clerk

September 2008