Justice 2 Committee, 09 Jan 2002

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 9, 2002

Official Report 269KB pdf

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Budget Process 2003-04

Agenda item 4 is the budget process 2003-04, which makes everybody groan. I refer members to the note that the clerks have prepared. In the past, we have agreed to meet jointly with the Justice 1 Committee to discuss the matter. That has meant a heavy burden of meetings, but has worked to a degree. Members can review that arrangement. If they wish to proceed on the same basis, I ask for their agreement, which will allow us to ask the Parliamentary Bureau whether we can have meetings with the Justice 1 Committee.

That approach is eminently sensible. It has worked in the past and the committees have community of interest. I suggest that we continue along the same lines.

Is there any dissent from that?

I ask you only to note that two committee members are also members of the Rural Development Committee and that the Justice 1 Committee meets at the same time as the Rural Development Committee does. I do not oppose the proposal; I merely ask that that is noted.

I am happy to note that. At some date, we may discuss the practicalities of ensuring that the committee's issues are aired and that there is a quorum.

Secondly, we had a discussion previously about appointing an adviser to assist the committee with the budget process. The last time we discussed the matter, most committee members felt that the appointment of an adviser to talk us through the process would be helpful. Are members happy to agree to that?

Members indicated agreement.

We have made a good start. We are running ahead of time; it is just before 10 o'clock.