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Item 4 on the agenda is a paper that was submitted after the brief discussion that we had at the previous meeting, in which we commit ourselves, if we adopt the recommendation, to consider how we might extend our remit to cover the sorts of issues that Paul Grice raised about general liaison matters. Did Paul want to speak to the committee about this?
With the committee's agreement, we are trying to arrange for Paul Grice to attend on 14 December, to speak further about that.
In that case, we will continue our discussion of this paper at that meeting, in the light of what Paul Grice has to say about it.
Being a Scots speaker, I have a question about the English language. Can you tell me what unicameral means?
Unicameral is actually Latin.
Oh, is it?
It means that there is just yin buddie that will discuss the maitter.
When I go abroad, people ask whether I speak English. I say that I struggle with it, but that I can get by. Now you are talking Latin. Come on.
I have a serious point to make, but before I do so, I shall just mention what Nicholas Edwards, the former Tory Secretary of State for Wales, said. He was upbraided, at a meeting in Wales, for condemning Welsh speakers on the ground that they had no Welsh word for entrepreneur. Somebody at the back of the room shouted, "What is the English word for entrepreneur?" [Laughter.]
I am sure that that was a political point, to be exploited subsequently.
Not at all.
I think that we should wait until the primary legislation is passed in Westminster before we embark on a discussion of the role of the House of Lords in relation to the revision of our legislation. However, the general issue of our relationship with other parliamentary bodies is an appropriate matter for discussion.
Will we meet in two weeks' time?
The next meeting is on 14 December.
So the next meeting is in four weeks' time?
Yes, except for the brief meeting that is yet to be timetabled, at which we will discuss the two matters that were not entirely sorted out this morning.
Are—
You have just cost me 50p, by the way.
Are matters that are related to the way in which parties operate in the Parliament, and the way in which the Parliament interacts with the civil service, within the remit of this committee?
I hate to say it, but it is possible that they are. We will reflect on that and give you a considered answer. There are obviously big issues, concerning the way in which members interrelate with one another, that someone must be responsible for handling.
If I produce some thoughts on that subject, might that be a starting point?
Donald, your thoughts are always welcomed by the committee.
That is a rash thing to say. [Laughter.]
It is true.
We will certainly consider anything that you have to say—even if it is in analysis of what you suggest—to help us to clarify as best we can whether there are subjects that are outside our remit, and whose responsibility those subjects should be.
Meeting closed at 11:07.
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