Health and Community Care Committee, 08 Sep 1999
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 8, 1999
Official Report
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Scottish Parliament Health and Community Care Committee Wednesday 8 September 1999 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 09:33]
Good morning, colleagues and visitors in the public galleries. Before we start our business, I will explain why we are here rather than in a committee room. I appreciate that that may cause some difficulties, but this is open and accessible government. As this meeting was scheduled for one of the smaller committee rooms, it would have been impossible for members of the public to have had access to it.
I think that I speak for all committee members in saying that one of our primary functions is to ensure that business is conducted in a way that is as open, accessible and public as possible. I hope that when visitors have heard what members say in the next few hours, they will think that it was a good idea to hold the meeting here.
When you catch my eye and intimate that you want to speak, I will say your full name. It is not that I am being awfully formal, it is simply that it is helpful for the people who operate the sound system if I say, for example, "Hugh Henry", and—
You are going to be fairly cross-eyed if you want to catch the eye of all the people sitting here.
I will swing around in my chair; do not worry.
As I was saying, please wait until you are acknowledged, press your button and then speak.