Justice 1 Committee, 11 Sep 2001
Meeting date: Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Official Report
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Convener
The second item on the agenda is the election of a new convener. I pay tribute to our previous convener, Alasdair Morgan. We have had two conveners—there appears to be a high burn-out rate in the committee. They were different in style, but equally good as far as the committee was concerned. We thank Alasdair for the way in which he dealt with the committee and handled a heavy work load.
We must choose a new convener. By a decision of the Parliament, the convener for the committee will come from among its Scottish National Party members. Can I have a nomination for a new convener, please?
I nominate Christine Grahame.
I second that nomination.
I ask Christine Grahame to confirm her willingness to take that task to hand.
I confirm that, deputy convener.
I ask the committee to give its assent that Christine Grahame be the new convener of the committee.
Christine Grahame was chosen as convener.
I hand the chair over to Christine in the expectation that I will never get in another word.
Thank you, Gordon. We scripted that together, but you pre-empted me. I am poacher turned gamekeeper and I will be as taciturn in the role as I can. You can put me to the test on that.
There are certain matters to report to the committee. The first regards the Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Bill—that strange creature, the committee bill. The committee has delegated me to lodge some minor, tidying-up amendments in its name. If members have any difficulties with that they can come and see the amendments. However, I assure you that they are fairly minor.
The second point is that the legal services ombudsman from New South Wales in Australia is visiting Scotland next week. A meeting with members of the committee has been set up on 18 September at 2.30 in room 1.15 of parliamentary headquarters. It will give us the opportunity to speak to the ombudsman about how the regulatory system works in Australia and might provide useful information for the inquiry into the regulation of the legal profession. Please will members let the clerks know if they are able to attend.
The third issue is to ask members to agree formally to take evidence from the Minister for Justice and the Lord Advocate, jointly with the Justice 2 Committee on 19 September, which is a taking-stock meeting about plans for the coming year and an assessment of progress to date. Do members formally agree to that?
Members indicated agreement.