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Item 3 is a discussion on the committee's approach to its ferry services inquiry. Members have a paper on the subject. There has been initial discussion of the issue, so I invite comments from members on the paper.
The paper reflects the discussion that we had and I am happy with it. I would have liked the committee to visit the Western Isles, but Oban is probably a good compromise, given the destinations of the ferry services that operate from there. The suggestions in the paper are sensible and I am happy with them.
There will be the opportunity for some members to travel from Oban for reporter visits if the timing works out properly.
We gathered that that would be the case for reporter visits. It is important that we folk from the touns get an opportunity to go and have a wee look. The paper and its recommendations are fine.
Can we repeat a practice that was followed in another committee, so that members from an area that is not related to a particular service will visit that one while members from areas that use that service will visit another one? For example, it would be better for me to deal with the Arran service than with any of the Highland ones. Other members, from far and wide, could go up to Lewis or wherever.
We will take account of that and ensure that the clerks ask for members' particular interests and where they would like to go.
I re-emphasise the usefulness of videoconferencing. As I said at our previous meeting, I have used videoconferencing for meetings with people in Orkney and Shetland and it has worked extremely well. We cannot go everywhere, but there is a feeling that we should be seen to be doing something in Orkney. It would be good to have such cross-representation, so I would support using videoconferencing.
Absolutely. Do members agree to hold external meetings in Oban and Shetland, as outlined in the paper?
Do members also agree that the clerks should find out which members might be available for the reporter visits in early 2008, and that I should ask permission from the Conveners Group and the Parliamentary Bureau to put all that in motion?
Meeting continued in private until 15:00.
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