Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee, 03 Nov 1999

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 3, 1999

Official Report 264KB pdf

---

Scottish Parliament Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee Wednesday 3 November 1999 (Morning)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:06]

I formally open this meeting of the committee by welcoming all committee members. Now that we are meeting so regularly, we are getting to know each other quite well. I also welcome members of the public who have joined us. Finally, I welcome the members of the action teams. I hope that they will bear with us, as we have a few other items of business to deal with before we hear their presentations.

Before I move to the first item on the agenda, I want to raise one emergency issue—our accommodation. Although some people present might be impressed with the chamber, the committee feels that it is inappropriate for a committee meeting, and particularly for detailed questioning of witnesses. As we have made that view clear to the committee of conveners and to the Parliamentary Bureau, I am quite annoyed that we have been put here again. When I raised the point at yesterday's meeting of the committee of conveners, I was told that other committees like the chamber. As those other committees are in the committee rooms and we are in the chamber, perhaps the issue could be easily resolved by some organisation. The issue of accommodation in the Parliament has to be addressed urgently.

I agree with the convener. The committee has been moved about from place to place. It is noticeable that there is only one person in the press gallery. We should tell the clerks and the committee of conveners that, as we have booked committee room 1 every fortnight until Christmas, that is where we are going.

Right. We need to take direct action.

Something must be done about accommodation generally. I would not have thought it beyond the wit of man to negotiate with City of Edinburgh Council for a committee room that we could use from time to time. The situation is totally unsatisfactory.

We will take those representations seriously, and Martin Verity and I will pursue those issues. I hope that the matter will be resolved for future meetings. Unless any members disagree, we will move on to our first item.