Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, 02 Oct 2007

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Official Report 97KB pdf

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Cross-party Groups

Item 4, on cross-party groups, relates to the standards element of our work. The committee is to consider applications for recognition from five proposed cross-party groups.

Before we consider the item, I draw members' attention to the fact that I am a member of the cross-party group on deafness. With the committee's approval, I will be the group's convener.

I draw members' attention to the cross-party group on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The committee may wish to seek clarification from the convener of the proposed group, Robin Harper, on two aspects of the registration form. The first issue is the source of funding for the design and maintenance of the group's website. The second issue is whether the subscription that the proposed group will charge will apply to all its members. Are members happy to seek clarification from the group on those two matters?

Members indicated agreement.

I will write to seek the views of the group on those two points.

The group has arranged to meet on 3 October, which is tomorrow, pending recognition by this committee. However, under rule 6.2.3 of the code of conduct for members of the Scottish Parliament, groups should not meet between submitting an application and being awarded recognition, unless they are authorised to do so by the committee. Given the decision that we have just taken, I suggest that we grant authorisation for the planned meeting to go ahead, pending the clarification that we are seeking from the group. Are members happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.

Are members happy to approve all the groups mentioned in the paper?

Members indicated agreement.