Justice 2 Committee, 18 Dec 2001
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 18, 2001
Official Report
256KB pdf
Scottish Parliament Justice 2 Committee Tuesday 18 December 2001 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 09:50]
Good morning. The committee is quorate, so we shall start.
I welcome everyone to the 36th meeting in 2001 of the Justice 2 Committee, which is taking place in grand surroundings. Unfortunately, it might be a one-off meeting in these surroundings, but we appreciate them.
I have received apologies from Alasdair Morrison; George Lyon will join the meeting at around 10.30 am.
I have one or two matters to report. It is anticipated that next year's programme of committee meetings will be agreed this afternoon at the conveners liaison group. I am pleased to inform members that the proposal is that the committee meet on Wednesday mornings. That is important, because a number of members have clashes or must travel a long distance. The proposal should enable full attendance.
Well done.
I thought that the committee would be pleased about that. Arrangements will be confirmed once the conveners liaison group has agreed the programme.
We discussed where we should try to convene a meeting outside Edinburgh. George Lyon suggested a venue in the Borders, but it is proving impossible to get one. We are trying to organise a meeting in the Inverness area. I must ask the clerks to clarify that because, if the suggestion goes to the Parliamentary Bureau, I have a difficulty on the day in question—I have a meeting in the morning that I cannot get out of. I am concerned about travel arrangements.
When will that meeting be?
On the afternoon of Monday 14 January 2002. We will need to discuss practical arrangements—how to get there and overnight accommodation—with members. There is no other choice as the Borders is ruled out.
A meeting in the Inverness area would not cause me any problems.
It would not cause me any problems, either, if I am still a member of the committee.
Stewart Stevenson, the clerks and I can help with travel arrangements. If members have any other difficulties, they should let us know. Any requests will be accommodated as far as possible.