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The next item is consideration of an application for a cross-party group on the Caribbean. We do not have anyone with us to speak to the application, but are there any questions about the proposed group?
I suppose that I should declare an interest, because I am one of the listed MSPs who intend to join the group.
I did not realise that. Good. I thought that George Foulkes was going to be here and I was going to ask him a question—
But you are going to ask me instead.
Yes. The committee really wants to know whether, if we agree to the establishment of the group, it will invite us all to visit the Caribbean free of charge.
I am sure that it would be a splendid idea to send a reconnaissance party in advance.
It is a kind offer, but I was merely being flippant. I would really like to be able to exert that pressure on you, but I cannot, unfortunately.
I have a question about the purposes of the group. I am conscious that there are a lot of cross-party groups on various things, and now we seem to be matching all the health and disease groups with ones for different areas of the globe. The groups of which I have been a member have had an emphasis on legislation or administrative actions in which the Government gets involved. Do we know what parliamentary influence a cross-party group on the Caribbean would have? I struggle to think of any relevant legislation that might arise, and to be frank I struggle to think of anything administrative that would be all that relevant. I can see the purpose of getting together to discuss matters of common interest, but it is the parliamentary bit that bothers me. Is there any elaboration of what the group might do or what sort of things it might discuss that would have a parliamentary aspect as opposed to being matters of common interest?
Looking at the application, I see the list of non-MSP individuals who are involved. The make-up of the proposed group might in itself answer your question, because it is a laudable group of people. I think that the Parliament would benefit from an interconnection with the people who are involved. Peter Peacock might want to comment.
I am not authorised to speak on behalf of the proposed group, so I will be careful what I say, but my understanding is that the initiative follows a collective request by the high commissioners of the Caribbean for a body of the type that they have at Westminster, to help to connect the Scottish Parliament with all the Caribbean islands. As you say, convener, they are people of significant standing in their own communities and Governments. I suppose, in a sense, that that partly answers Robert Brown's question.
The question that you asked is a legitimate one, Robert.
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting continued in private until 15:04.