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We must now agree whether to take items 4 and 5 in private.
I do not understand why we should take the items in private, as they were dealt with in a public meeting. I read the notes, which give an honest appraisal of what happened at the meeting.
Which meeting was that?
It was the fifth meeting—the one in Dundee.
The point is not whether the meeting was in public, although as far as I am aware it was a meeting between committee members and members of the Communities Against Poverty Network. Items 4 and 5 concern reports that we are compiling and it is the practice that such reports should be considered in private. They will be made open to public scrutiny thereafter. Members will note from the agenda that we will deal with the committee's work plan in public, but because items 4 and 5 are reports, I ask the agreement of the committee to take them in private.
Is it the practice of all committees to take that approach? I see reasons for and against the approach, but I wonder whether we are taking the same approach as everyone else.
My understanding is that when a draft report is being discussed, the practice is for committees to take that approach because the draft is open to change before it enters the public domain. There are lots of opportunities to scrutinise such reports later; they do not remain private. The discussion on whether to take such items in private is on-going. People are aware of the issues.
I object.
Do you want both items to be taken in public?
Yes.
The proposal is, that items 4 and 5 be taken in public. Are we agreed?
No.
There will be a division.
For
The result of the division is: For 2, Against 5, Abstentions 0.
Proposal disagreed to.
I would like to record my thanks to the committee. Will I do that now or at the end of the meeting? Brian Adam and I will not be at the next meeting.
I presume that you want to do it in public and that you want to do it before we fall out. It may be as well to take the opportunity to do it now, if you wish.
I am thankful that there will not be a division on whether I record my thanks in public or in private.
That would be a public hanging.
I am sure that Brian Adam will have something to say and that it will be much the same as what I have to say.
I have enjoyed the time that I have served on the Social Justice Committee. It has been extremely interesting, exciting and a lot of hard work—particularly the Housing (Scotland) Bill. I record my thanks to the staff who made it possible for us to lodge all our amendments to the bill.
We have now been joined by the delegation from the Saxon State Parliament. I welcome them again to the Scottish Parliament. I hope that they find their visit useful and productive. I also hope that there will be a constructive dialogue between us at some point on a range of issues of mutual interest.
Meeting continued in public until 10:17 and in private thereafter until 10:50.
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