Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, 02 Sep 2008
Meeting date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Official Report
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Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee Tuesday 2 September 2008
[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:04]
I welcome all the various witnesses to this meeting, as well as all the members of the public who have come here this morning. Today's is the 14th meeting of the committee in 2008.
We are happy to be in the Scottish Borders. This is the first time that the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee has been in Melrose. It might be the first time that any parliamentary committee has come to Melrose.
Given the committee's remit, we have a commitment to getting out of Edinburgh when it is reasonable to do so and taking our work to the areas that we have under consideration. We have done that already in the context of our affordable rural housing inquiry during our visits to Perthshire. This is the only formal parliamentary committee meeting that we are having outside Edinburgh for the affordable rural housing inquiry. It is also good outreach for the committee and Parliament.
I remind everyone, including myself, to switch off all mobile phones and pagers. This is not just about not letting them ring in the middle of the meeting—they interfere with the sound system and make it very difficult for those who operate it.
The main purpose of today's meeting is to take evidence for our rural housing inquiry. We are looking at affordability and accessibility, and how the lack or otherwise of affordable housing can impact on rural communities. However, I have to deal with one or two other business matters first. A couple of agenda items do not relate to the rural housing inquiry, so those of you who are here for that will have to bear with me.
I have received formal apologies from Mike Rumbles MSP and Des McNulty MSP. We have Christine Grahame MSP with us. She is not a member of this committee, but every member of the Scottish Parliament is entitled to attend any committee meeting.