Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Official Report 345KB pdf

---

Interests

Good morning. I welcome those present to the first meeting of the Justice Committee in the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament. Unfortunately, under standing orders, as the oldest member of the committee—it took a lot for me to say that—I will chair the meeting until a convener is chosen.

I remind everyone to switch off mobile phones and other electronic devices, as they interfere with the sound system, even—and I emphasise this—when they are switched to silent.

No apologies for absence have been received.

We move straight on to item 1 on the agenda, which is the declaration of interests. In accordance with section 3 of the code of conduct, I invite members to declare any interests that are relevant to the remit of the committee. I remind members that declarations should be brief but sufficiently detailed to make clear to any listener the nature of the interests.

To start off, I declare an interest that I think is pertinent to the work of the committee—I am a member of the Justice for Megrahi campaign. I ask other members to declare their interests.

My brother, Tony Kelly, is a practising solicitor and sole proprietor of the firm Taylor & Kelly, which operates out of 3 Main Street, Coatbridge.

I have no pertinent interests to declare to the committee.

I have no declarable interests relevant to the remit of the committee.

I have no declarable interests pertinent to the committee.

I am a member of the Faculty of Advocates.

I have no declarable interests.

I have two declarable and potentially relevant interests. I am a member of the Highlands and Islands branch of the Retired Police Officers Association Scotland; and I am a member of the police appeals tribunal, a position that I will relinquish at the conclusion of an on-going case.

I am a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, a former employee of Brodies in Edinburgh and a former employee of Freshfields in London.

I thank committee members.