Equal Opportunities Committee, 09 Jun 2009

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Official Report 238KB pdf

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Mainstreaming Equal Opportunities

Item 5 is the mainstreaming of equal opportunities in the work of the committees of the Scottish Parliament. We have an approach paper from the clerks on the committee's mainstreaming equal opportunities participation event. Are members content with the approach as laid out in the paper?

Paragraph 5 proposes:

"The attendees should include the convener and/or members of each subject committee along with the committee clerk".

It is perhaps obvious, but would that include the convener and the members of this committee who were available to attend?

Absolutely. We can make that explicit in the paper. If any committee members want to add a submission, there will be the opportunity for them to make that submission to the clerks in advance of the event. It is important to clarify that members of this committee are included in that statement.

It would be helpful if we got a list of who else will be invited, apart from the members of subject committees.

That list can be circulated. If members have any ideas for additions to it, that will be fine.

I am content with the approach, but it strikes me as an opportunity not to be missed to include the influence of equal opportunities on budget scrutiny. I know that the Finance Committee is looking into that. Perhaps we could invite the committees' budget advisers to the event—that might be helpful.

Yes. It is assumed—and it should be stated in the paper—that they have an interest and will be there to make a vital contribution to the event. Thank you for that.

Do members agree to delegate authority to the convener and clerk to take forward the detailed arrangements for the event?

Members indicated agreement.

A paper will be drafted for the Conveners Group, seeking approval for the event.

Meeting continued in private until 12:13.