Justice and Home Affairs Committee, 09 Nov 1999
Meeting date: Tuesday, November 9, 1999
Official Report
254KB pdf
Scottish Parliament Justice and Home Affairs Committee Tuesday 9 November 1999 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 09:33]
The committee is quorate. Although I am sure that other committee members will arrive in the next few minutes, I do not intend to delay proceedings until everyone is here.
Although the official reporters are recording this part of our meeting, the committee has agreed to let them have a small break for the first few minutes of the meeting while we discuss how we approach today's proceedings. If the official reporters stop recording now, I will advise them when to begin again.
Meeting continued.
Members received the Official Report of the previous committee meeting only this morning. I tried to obtain it yesterday afternoon in advance of this morning's meeting, because the evidence that we took last week has a direct bearing on what we will hear this week, and it would have been helpful if members had had the opportunity to look through the proceedings from last week and to establish areas on which they might put specific points to witnesses today.
Unfortunately, the report was not available, and I know that that is because of the official reporters' current enormous work load. However, I do not think that the committee ought to accept the situation without making some protest. As Phil Gallie frequently points out, we have a very heavy work load: we are taking evidence on two bills and, from one meeting to the next, our previous proceedings will obviously colour how we approach the next set of witnesses. It is essential that we are in a position to examine carefully the evidence that we have already taken before we proceed with the next set of questions.
With the committee's agreement, I, as convener, want to write to the Presiding Officer, pointing out that the resource problems of the Official Report are now creating difficulties for the way in which committees work. It is an issue that needs to be resolved, whether by more staff in the department of the official report or whatever. I do not think that it is reasonable to continue in the fashion that seems to be developing. Do members agree that I should write to Sir David Steel along those lines?
Members indicated agreement.