Referendum (Scotland) Bill Committee
Meeting date: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Official Report
474KB pdf
Work Programme
Under agenda item 2, the committee is asked to agree its approach to consideration of the proposed Scottish independence referendum bill. If members have seen their emails this morning, they will know that the bill is due to be introduced some time today.
I invite the committee to comment on the call for evidence as set out in annex A of paper 1. The list of issues on which evidence is invited is at the bottom of page 5 and the top of page 6 of the paper. The proposed deadline for submissions is 6 June. If there are no comments on annex A, I will assume that the committee accepts the recommendations.
I also invite the committee to consider the issue of witnesses. Paper 1 explains that it will be possible to accommodate eight panels of witnesses during our meetings in May and that one or two more panels could be included if needed. The timetable is set out in annex B. Are members content with what is laid out there? Obviously, there will be a bit of work for the clerks to do. We do not need to agree the final timetable today, but if members are happy with the general approach, we can ask the clerks to work up something a bit more definitive. Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Does the committee agree to permit me to approve witness expenses?
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting closed at 10:38.