Scottish Parliament Social Justice Committee Wednesday 5 September 2001 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:00]
I welcome members to the first meeting of the Social Justice Committee of the new term. I hope that everybody had a productive and hard-working recess.
There have been some changes to our committee since we met last. Bill Aitken has resigned from the committee and I record the committee's thanks to him for all the work that he did. We all miss him. I am also aware that Sandra White and Brian Adam will be leaving us. We will be able to say what we like once you have gone, but we want to record our thanks to you for your contribution to the committee. There is a special bond between those of us who went through the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Regardless of our differing opinions, the experience of going through the process was interesting. I wish you well on your new committees.
I welcome our new member Lyndsay McIntosh, who replaces Bill Aitken from the Conservative party. I hope that you will enjoy your time with us. As you missed the Housing (Scotland) Bill, we will have to find something else over which we can bond. I am sure that we will find something soon.
Members should note that we have booked the room until 1 o'clock only. I hope that the meeting will be finished long before then, but the latest we can finish is at 12.30. Members are reminded that there is a buffet lunch with parliamentarians from the Saxon State Parliament to follow. We welcome our guests from that delegation. We hope that they have a productive and interesting time visiting Parliament.
There are no apologies.