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The final item, conferences, was put on the agenda largely because Richard Lochhead requested it, as he was keen to attend a Sea Fish Industry Authority conference, details of which I circulated to members some time ago. The conference takes place on Thursday. I understand that Jamie McGrigor has said that he will go.
Which Thursday is it?
It is on Thursday this week. I will speak to you about it later, because it is not committee business.
You had better do so, because I have two conferences to go to—one on shellfish and one on salmon farming.
Before we discuss the item at all, I must explain that there has been a change in the allowances system. Most members are probably aware of it. Forgive me if I am teaching you things that you already know. The change allows members to go to any conference to which they wish to go and to claim the money back from their allowances.
I clarify that I have no intention of going to the Sea Fish Industry Authority conference. I cannot make it that day anyway. The conference that I thought should be brought to the attention of the committee was the one entitled "Beyond Foot-and-Mouth—Ways Forward for the Scottish Economy" on 24 to 25 October. I felt that that should be brought to the committee's attention because it looks like a worthy conference.
My apologies on that. Thank you for correcting me. I think that I am right in saying that Elaine Murray is already speaking at the "Beyond Foot-and-Mouth" conference, as am I. I am taking Alex Johnstone's place.
Members indicated agreement.
I point out that, depending on the parliamentary timetable and the decisions of the party whips, it might not be possible to attend the entire conference. I do not have permission to do so from my whip at the moment. They will not give permission so far in advance.
We have come to a happy conclusion on that subject. I draw the meeting to a close. I thank the committee for its patience.
May I briefly say something, convener? Although your advice on members' allowances is sensible, it is useful for information on conferences to be circulated. Is there a mechanism by which such information can be circulated to members or appear on the agenda regularly so that we are aware of what we might be able to go to?
Elaine Murray has astutely pointed out something that I probably should have said. The clerks put it to me—and I welcome the suggestion—that we could ask the Scottish Parliament information centre to draw up a regular list of conferences in which we might have an interest and circulate it to us as members. We do not have to bring up the matter at meetings. The list can be circulated for our information. Does the committee approve of that?
Members indicated agreement.
That is a consensual note on which to end.
Meeting closed at 16:28.