Official Report 270KB pdf
The second item on today's agenda is necessitated by the resignation from the committee of Alasdair Morgan, who served as our deputy convener. It is necessary for us to appoint a replacement deputy convener today. By agreement, the deputy convener will be a member of the Scottish National Party. I invite nominations.
Mindful of the comments that you made about the need for a constructive and consensual deputy convener, I nominate Fergus Ewing as the natural candidate to fill that position.
Does the committee agree that Fergus Ewing should serve in the role of deputy convener?
Fergus Ewing was chosen as deputy convener.
We have also lost Irene McGugan, who is one of the three reporters on the petrol price inquiry that is being undertaken in conjunction with the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee. The reporters first reported back to us in February, when the committee asked them to continue to monitor the situation. Do members want to appoint a new reporter?
Given that Irene McGugan is no longer a member of the committee, Duncan Hamilton might take her place as a reporter.
Does that meet with the agreement of committee members?
Irene McGugan and Alasdair Morgan were also involved in the inquiry into employment patterns. Does the committee agree that they should be given advance copies of the report, so that they can contribute to any final deliberations that take place?