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Item 2 is consideration of a proposal from the cross-party group on the media to change its name to the cross-party group on culture and the media and therefore to amend the group's purpose. Although the code of conduct does not explicitly require the committee to approve such changes, the radical nature of the change in this case makes it appropriate for us to consider the request.
I should point out that I am a member of the cross-party group on the media.
So you should be able to give us a good insight into the group.
The proposal is fairly straightforward and is in keeping with the committee's intention to reduce, where possible, the number of cross-party groups. Our motivation is the desire not to have two competing cross-party groups; instead, as certain interests obviously overlap, we want to merge both groups into one.
The proposal is relevant, particularly in relation to Gaelic, where there is a question not just of the media but of the culture itself. The same might apply to many other subjects. As a result, I think that the proposal is perfectly acceptable.
As Ken Macintosh said, this is an admirable attempt to keep the number of cross-party groups a little tighter. The intention behind the proposal is absolutely right. If members are content, I will write to the convener of the cross-party group and say that we approve the proposal. Are members agreed?
We move to item 3. As we agreed at the beginning of the meeting, we will now move into private. I ask members of the public, the press, the official report and broadcasting to leave the meeting.
Meeting continued in private until 10:14.
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