Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Bill Committee, 18 Dec 2002

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 18, 2002

Official Report 86KB pdf

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Interests

Good morning and a very warm welcome to this, our first meeting of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Bill Committee. I am in the chair, only it does not please me to be here. The reason why I am in the chair is that I am considered to be the oldest member.

You are the oldest member.

We could do things the other way round and have Gordon Jackson take the chair, as he is the youngest member.

The standing orders state that, at the first meeting of a committee after it is established by the Parliament, members of the committee shall choose a convener. That meeting is to be chaired by the oldest committee member until a convener is chosen. Once a convener is chosen, he or she will take the chair.

I remind members that mobile phones and pagers should be switched off during the meeting. We have received apologies from Duncan Hamilton, who is at another committee meeting this morning. He may appear later.

I am obliged to invite members to declare any relevant interests. That is a statutory requirement and members should err on the side of caution by declaring any interests that would prejudice, or give the appearance of prejudicing, their ability to participate impartially in the committee's proceedings.

I have a strong interest in salmon.

Have not we all?

He has a strong interest in eating it. I do not think that there are any relevant interests.

That being the case, we shall move on to agenda item 2.