European and External Relations Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Official Report 220KB pdf

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Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry

Agenda item 3 is the Executive's response to the promoting Scotland worldwide inquiry. The clerks received the response late on Thursday afternoon but, although copies were issued in the mail on Thursday, I understand that they either did not reach a number of members or did not reach them until very recently.

We can note the Executive's response to the committee's report, on which there is to be a debate in the Parliament on 18 May—the debate will last from 3.45 until 5 pm. I propose to open the debate on behalf of the committee and Irene Oldfather will close it as deputy convener. I hope that members will make their contribution about the contents of the report.

Once we have had the debate, perhaps we should have a formal discussion to reflect on the points that the Executive has raised and then make any further representations that we have. The Executive wholly accepts or is sympathetic to several of the committee's points, although it takes a different view from ours on other points. Perhaps we should listen to the views of the minister in the debate and then have a committee discussion about them in due course. Is that acceptable?

Members indicated agreement.