Finance Committee, 04 Jul 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, July 4, 2000

Official Report 177KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Finance Committee Tuesday 4 July 2000 (Afternoon)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 12:51]

I open the meeting with the usual message about pagers and mobile phones. This will be our last meeting this term or session—I am not sure which is correct—before the summer recess, so we have a fairly lengthy agenda. Before we start, I report that I have received apologies from George Lyon and Richard Simpson.

I ask members to agree to take items 2, 3 and 4 of the agenda in private.

I do not know whether you want to discuss this now, convener, but—

Before you say anything, Ken, do members agree to hold items 2, 3 and 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I have looked at the timing of the agenda and there might be a big gap between items 4 and 5. I suggest that we move items 6 and 7 into that gap. I thought that I would have to go to another committee meeting, but that committee will meet in this room after the Finance Committee's meeting, so I will not have to leave. However, the Finance Committee will have to finish on time and I would like to fit items 6 and 7 in.

That suggestion makes sense—there is the possibility at least that there will be a gap between items 4 and 5. If the meeting is still going at 2.15 pm, we will break and take evidence from the minister. Is that agreed? That would mean that we might be able to finish a bit earlier.

Members indicated agreement.

Is it possible for us to contact the official report? The Official Report of our previous meeting is not yet available and it is difficult for us to hold a meeting when that is the case. Such situations probably arise quite a lot due to resource constraints that are no fault of the official report. As members of the committees, we should make known our concerns so that the management of the Parliament can consider properly resourcing the official report, if resources are the problem.

We all recognise the very efficient job that is done by the official report, but there is a limit to what can be done. I am not surprised that such a situation arises at this time of year, when we are busy and meetings pile up. You have, however, made your point.

If we do not have the Official Report to refer to, there is a bit of gap for us, particularly when there are agenda items such as the one that we are about to consider. What was said at last week's meeting will impact directly on that item.

I am sure that Andrew Wilson does not mean to criticise the official report.

Not at all.

We will note our concern in those terms. We are not being critical—we are simply noting that the logistics are such that we have not been provided with the report of last week's meeting.

Meeting continued in private.

On resuming—