Official Report 298KB pdf
I welcome members of the committee to the 12th meeting in this session of the Local Government and Transport Committee. I hope that members of the public will be here in due course.
No.
Tommy Sheridan does not agree that the committee should take in private item 3, so I propose that we go straight to—
Could members say why they think that agenda item 3 should be taken in private or in public?
I am happy to say why it should be taken in private. We must consider evidence and give guidance to the clerks on the possible contents of a report, which will be subject to debate at subsequent meetings. There could be a confused picture if various versions of parliamentary reports become available before final reports, which would not be good practice in respect of scrutinising bills. On that basis, I recommend that the standing practice of parliamentary committees be followed and that the possible contents of the report be considered in private.
Sure. In line with the consultative steering group's principles, it has always been emphasised that discussions should be as transparent and open as possible and that a committee's going into private session should be an exception rather than a general rule. On this occasion, the qualification for going into private session has not been satisfied. We are mature and adult enough to know exactly what will be discussed—as the convener explained, we will discuss the possible contents of a first draft report that will return for more knockabout and more discussion. We will then reach a consensus or perhaps disagreement on the report.
The question is, do members agree to take agenda item 3 in private?
No.
There will be a division.
For
The result of the division is: For 7, Against 2, Abstentions 0. The proposal is agreed to.