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Under item 4, we must consider whether we wish to take item 5 in private. Item 5 is consideration of our approach to the preliminary stage of the bill and the appointment of the committee adviser. Do members agree that that item should be taken in private?
I am on record as saying in other committees that items should be taken in private only when that is absolutely necessary, but I am open to persuasion that it might be necessary to take item 5 in private.
I have always had some sympathy for the view that we take too much in private, but there are two points to consider. First, under item 5 we are not deciding anything of substance to do with the nature of the bill; we are simply deciding when we are going to meet. There might be genuinely private reasons for people not being able to do things on certain days. Secondly, I always think that we should pick our advisers in private, because it could be invidious to their professional life if things about them were discussed publicly. That would not be fair to the advisers. I do not see why that sort of thing should not be taken in private, although I take Ted Brocklebank's general point.
I do not disagree with much of that. I agree that discussions about the appointment of an adviser should be taken in private. However, I think that discussions on our approach to our meetings and when we might meet could be taken in public.
I agree with that view.
We are agreed that we will take item 5 in private. I ask members of the public, the official report and broadcasting staff to leave the room.
Meeting continued in private until 09:52.
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Deputy Convener