Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, 20 Nov 2007

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Official Report 117KB pdf

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Cross-party Groups

That leads us into our first agenda item, which is on cross-party groups. The committee's agreement is sought to establish two new cross-party groups and to re-establish a cross-party group from session 2. Members will be aware that we must consider a range of matters when deciding whether to approve a cross-party group, including the group's purpose and whether it is being formed in the public interest.

The first proposed cross-party group that we are considering today is that on rural policy. Unfortunately, no office bearer for the proposed group is able to attend, because of other parliamentary and constituency commitments. I am content to consider the application in their absence. If committee members have any queries about the group, we can seek written responses from its convener, Roseanna Cunningham.

As no members have any comments, I seek members' agreement to approve the cross-party group on rural policy.

Members indicated agreement.

The second proposed cross-party group that we are considering today is that on human rights and civil liberties. I welcome to the committee Jamie Hepburn, the proposed group's convener.

I declare an interest as one of the proposed group's vice-conveners. Unlike the other member who has spoken about it, I was present at its meeting. I will withdraw from any questioning on the group.

No members have indicated that they have questions. As Jamie Hepburn is here, I will ask him—

I was expecting to get an easy grilling.

Yes—I did not want you to get away with it. The aim of cross-party groups should be to inform members about issues and to ensure that their work is of public interest. How does the cross-party group on human rights and civil liberties propose to meet that aim?

There was a wide-ranging discussion at our inaugural meeting, which was held in this very committee room a couple of weeks ago. A decision was taken to focus the group's activities on things that will affect the work of MSPs. In other words, it will focus on issues that come before the Scottish Parliament. We have not set out any concrete programme of events, but we intend to meet every couple of months, probably, and to invite speakers along. We hope that they will come from organisations representing matters that are relevant and newsworthy, and that the Parliament will be considering those matters at the time.

Members have no other questions, so I thank Jamie Hepburn for attending the committee. I invite members to agree to approve the proposed cross-party group on human rights and civil liberties.

Members indicated agreement.

The final group seeking our approval today is the proposed cross-party group on Scottish contemporary music. As the group was active in session 2, I have not invited its convener to attend the committee.

Members have no queries regarding the group's registration form, so I seek members' agreement to approve the group.

Members indicated agreement.