Procedures Committee, 05 Oct 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 5, 1999

Official Report 191KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Procedures Committee Tuesday 5 October 1999 (Morning)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 09:30]

During our fifth meeting, we will have to take decisions on a variety of proposed changes to the standing orders. The thrust of the evidence that we heard at our previous meeting was that we should adopt a minimalist approach—let the thing run and see how it works. I therefore suggest that today we should attempt to identify issues that are genuine problems and set in motion the necessary changes to the standing orders, but that on other issues we should simply apply a touch to the tiller. In one or two cases, I might suggest that we merely offer opinions to the Presiding Officer. From some of the announcements that he has made in the chamber recently, it seems that he is receptive to taking guidance from the committee.

That is how I would like the meeting to proceed, although what we do on any of the specific agenda items is entirely up to the committee.