Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Official Report 323KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

Welcome to the 13th meeting in 2016 of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones. No apologies have been received.

The first item is to seek the committee’s agreement to consider in private agenda item 4, on the committee’s approach to the Scottish Government’s draft climate change plan and third report on proposals and policies, and item 5, on appointment of a tenant farming commissioner. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Could you clarify why item 5 is being taken in private?

It is for me to give the committee feedback on the tenant farming commissioner following a meeting that I attended last week. The recommendation has already been passed to the Government, so it is just to give my observations.

I presume that that is information that we would benefit from discussing in public.

I would rather deal with the item in private. A record will be made of what I say, but I would like to give the information in private in the first instance, so that members are aware of my thoughts.

If it is a question of whether information is for public consumption, it is worth noting that the meeting that you attended was all in public, was it not?

That is correct.

That adds to my confusion. Why would we thereafter discuss the meeting in private?

I think that I would like to do it in private so that I can be frank and can explain the process and the line of questioning that I came up with. We will make a record of my observation and of the committee’s thoughts afterwards. I would rather do it that way, if I may, please, John.

Okay.

Thank you. I asked whether we agreed to take those items in private—can I confirm that that is agreed?

Members indicated agreement.