COVID-19 Recovery Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Official Report 442KB pdf

Interests

Good morning, and welcome to the first meeting of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee in the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament. I am convening the committee for the first two items because, as it turns out, I am the oldest member of the committee. I have to say that it was something of a shock to learn that, but there we are.

I welcome all members to the committee, and I look forward to working with you. For the benefit of new members, I find that committee work, including working with colleagues across the parties, our clerks and the advisers and experts who meet us, is among the most fulfilling things that I do in Parliament. I am looking forward to being part of the committee and to the months ahead.

I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones, or at least to switch them to silent. We have no apologies from members; all six are present.

We will move on to declarations of interests.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I will now go to each member in alphabetical order and ask them to make a declaration. I remind members that they do not need to touch their microphones—the sound will be handled by broadcasting. I will go to Siobhian Brown first.

Thank you, and good morning to the committee. As per my entry in the register of members’ interests, I am a councillor at South Ayrshire Council and, until I resigned on 7 May, I was a part-time caseworker for Allan Dorans, the member of Parliament for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock.

Good morning, committee members and anybody who is watching. I am delighted to be on the committee, and I have no registrable interests in respect of it.

Acting convener, you are doing a fine job so far.

As per my entry in the register of members’ interests, I am a member of the Law Society of Scotland, although I am not currently practising as a solicitor. I also own some property from which I derive rental income.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I, too, have no interests that are relevant to the committee.

Thank you, everyone.