Equal Opportunities Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Official Report 496KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s fifth meeting in 2012. I remind everyone to switch off all mobile devices as they can interfere with the sound system even when they are switched to silent.

I start with introductions. This is a round-table session, so members are sitting alongside witnesses round the table. On my left are the clerking, research and official report staff, and at the far end of the table we are supported by broadcasting and security staff. I welcome the observers in the public gallery and I give a special welcome to Jenny Marra MSP. It is good that she has come along to join in with this discussion. She is free to contribute and ask questions.

I am the committee convener. I ask members and witnesses to introduce themselves in turn.

I am chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council.

Good afternoon. I am the MSP for Aberdeenshire West.

Good afternoon. I am director of Amnesty International Scotland.

Hello. I am head of operations north at the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

I am an MSP for Central Scotland.

I am policy officer at the office of Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

I am an MSP for West Scotland and deputy convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee.

Hello. I am deputy head of the national sexual crimes unit at the Crown Office and lead Crown counsel for human trafficking in Scotland.

Good afternoon. I am an MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

Good afternoon. I am head of trafficking services at Migrant Help in Scotland.

I am an MSP for West Scotland.

Good afternoon. I am director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Hello. I am assistant operations manager for the trafficking awareness-raising alliance—TARA—project.

I am an MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

I am Government affairs manager at the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

I am an MSP for North East Scotland.

Thank you.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take in private item 4, on Gypsy Travellers?

Members indicated agreement.