Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, 29 Oct 2008

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Official Report 239KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Minister for Communities and Sport. I remind everybody to switch off their mobile phones, pagers and BlackBerrys, because, as everyone now knows, they interfere with the sound system.

The main purpose of the meeting is to take evidence for our affordable housing inquiry, but we will also take evidence on the fisheries council talks.

I have received long-term apologies from Karen Gillon, who is on maternity leave. Rhoda Grant is substituting for Karen on a long-term basis. No other apologies have been received; everyone else is present.

Under agenda item 1, we must decide whether to take our consideration of evidence on the December fisheries council and future reviews of evidence on that subject in private. It is standard practice for the committee to take such items in private. Do members agree to do that?

Members indicated agreement.