Official Report 176KB pdf
First, we must decide whether to take some items on today's agenda in private. We have already decided to deal with item 9 in private. Item 8 concerns an expenses claim; we have traditionally dealt with such claims in private. Item 7 is the reintroduction of a draft report that has never been signed off. That item is on the agenda primarily for the benefit of those members who were not members of the committee at the time when the work was done on that report. As with previous issues of the report, we propose to take that in private. Item 6 is a discussion of the committee's approach to the budget this year. It has been suggested that we take this item in private because we may want to discuss the appointment of an adviser, which we normally do in private.
I wonder how many of those items we will get to, considering the length of the agenda.
Indeed.
There are 11 petitions, nine statutory instruments, the taking stock exercise, the cod recovery plan, the budget, land reform and then, of course, the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill.
Many things could happen during the meeting but, if we have made the decision to take those items in private, that covers us for when they come back on to the agenda for future meetings.
But we will not get as far as that, will we?
Are there any objections to those items being dealt with in private?
No.
In that case, we shall take items 6, 7, 8 and 9 in private.
I want to be clear about this. Will he speak on the substance of the issue, or on why we should take it now rather than as item 5?
Would members be content to allow us to take agenda item 5 at this point?
I assume that the intention is to take that item now so that Richard Lochhead can go to another appointment. However, I am not sure how that sits with regard to the importance of the other items on the agenda.
I understand that Richard will suggest that the committee may want to become involved in what he is planning for this afternoon. Taking item 5 now would give him the opportunity to explain that and to make his suggestion to the committee.
I would be happy to hear that.
I am a little bit unhappy about the suggestion that we might want to be involved in something that we have not had any notice of as a committee.
I suggest that Richard explain that to us further. All members should have received an e-mail concerning a meeting that is taking place later today.
On a point of order. I am a little confused. I started by looking at the agenda and it seemed obvious to me that we cannot cover all those items today. It is as simple as that. Now, we seem to be discussing item 5. If members want to discuss it now, we should discuss it now. If they do not, we should leave it as item 5. I do not understand what we are doing.
I received a request from Richard Lochhead that item 5 be brought forward.
I think that we should hear from Richard Lochhead out of sheer courtesy. The e-mail was sent at 11 something this morning and I read it at lunch time. The events in question have come up very fast. I think that Richard intended to propose that we adjourn the meeting and go down to Leith.
That is right. I wanted to discuss the topic, as I intended to do under item 5 in any case. In the light of the events that are overtaking us, I also want to refer to what is happening this afternoon.
Are we content to take item 5 now?
Next
Cod Recovery Plan