Procedures Committee, 01 Feb 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Official Report 191KB pdf

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Sewel Convention Inquiry

After that simple business, we move on to an even more straightforward piece of business, which is the Sewel convention inquiry. There are two issues for the committee to consider today. One is possible witnesses from a list of academics and commentators. Information has been circulated to members on the articles and research that the academics have conducted. [Interruption.] My apologies; we must also consider agenda item 2, which is to ask the committee to agree to delegate to me responsibility for authorising witness expenses. Can we formally agree that?

Members indicated agreement.

My apologies for missing that.

Having looked at the information on possible witnesses, I am inclined to recommend to the committee that we invite Professor Michael Keating, Dr Paul Cairney and Professor Alan Page to give evidence, on the basis of the materials that they have produced.

I would like to hear from Gerry Hassan.

My impression was that his material was more political than about the process and therefore was less in line with what the committee is actually considering.

My view is that we should have him as a witness and that the committee should question him along its chosen lines.

I support the convener's view.

Given that Barry Winetrobe is writing a chapter for a forthcoming book, we ought to consider him as a witness.

The committee agreed at its previous meeting that we would not include Barry Winetrobe on the list on this occasion. However, he is free to submit in writing any views from his research, which would obviously be helpful to the committee.

We need to decide whether to include Gerry Hassan. Bruce McFee has proposed that we include him. I recommend that he is not included at this stage. The question is, that the proposal to invite Gerry Hassan be agreed to. Are we agreed?

No.

There will be a division.

For

Ballard, Mark (Lothians) (Green)
McFee, Mr Bruce (West of Scotland) (SNP)

Against

Baker, Mr Richard (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Gillon, Karen (Clydesdale) (Lab)
Smith, Iain (North East Fife) (LD)

The result of the division is: For 2, Against 4, Abstentions 0.

Therefore, at this stage, we will not invite Gerry Hassan to give oral evidence, although he is free to submit further written evidence if he wishes to do so.

The proposed date for the informal briefing session that was requested at the previous meeting is Tuesday 22 February at 10.15 am. We have made initial inquiries of the Executive and the Scotland Office. I know that Bruce McFee and Karen Gillon are booked on that day. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find a date that would suit everybody and still allow us to have the briefing session before 1 March, which is when we start taking evidence.

I ask that any presentation papers are circulated, because I will not be here.

We will arrange that. Are members content with the arrangements for that session?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes the public part of the meeting. I thank those members of the public who sat through it.

Meeting continued in private until 12:16.