Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s fifth meeting in 2013. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones or to set them to flight mode.
Agreed.
As the proposal has come from the Justice Committee, I can see why the focus is on the police, but it struck me that the fire service is a relevant consideration, too, particularly for our committee, as I think that the police have been slightly better at integrating men and women in the force, whereas the fire services have, in general, failed in that regard—in comparison with the police, at least—as very few women work in them.
I am not altogether sure. The sub-committee has been proposed to look at the changes to the police service. It will not take an overview of the new fire service.
I was just making a comparative point.
In taking forward the single police force, it is extremely important that a view on equality and a number of other issues is represented. The sub-committee will be important.
There was quite a bit of discussion of the proposal at the Justice Committee, of which I should declare that I am a member. Some recent unfortunate events have shown that, now more than ever, there is a compelling need for parliamentary scrutiny of the situation.
As I said, I spoke to Christine Grahame about the matter. We are to respond by tomorrow. I expressed an interest in going on the sub-committee. If the committee agrees, we can write back and say that we will nominate someone, but do that later, or we can nominate someone now, if we so choose.
I mention that because the Parliamentary Bureau has to be involved. If we are to have a representative on the sub-committee—I have no issue with you being our representative—it might be worth establishing what the bureau’s view is first. I am not a spokesperson for any group, but the independent and Green grouping of members would anticipate having a member on that sub-committee.
As far as I am aware, the political make-up of the sub-committee has already been decided. I am also aware that members of other committees have been suggested as members of the sub-committee. The representative from this committee would be a Labour member.
I am blissfully unaware of all of that. Such are the workings of the Scottish Parliament. If the committee’s representative is to be a Labour member, I would be content if it were you, convener.
Thank you.
I echo that point. I do not think that we should nominate someone until such time as we are asked to do so, given that what goes on in such channels is always subject to change.
That is fine.
In which case, I withdraw my previous agreement. I agree to the principle and should you require someone to nominate you at a later stage, I will do it.
Thank you very much.
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