Equal Opportunities Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Official Report 449KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the fifth meeting in 2010 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. I remind all those present, including members, that mobile phones and BlackBerrys should be switched off completely as they interfere with the sound system even when they are switched to silent.

Item 1 is to decide whether to take in private item 4, which is a review of the evidence that we will hear today from the Minister for Children and Early Years on female offenders in the justice system. Do we agree to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

We have received apologies from Bill Kidd MSP and Willie Coffey MSP. I will be pleased to welcome later Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, who will attend as a substitute. She is attending another committee, but will arrive here at about half eleven.