Procedures Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Official Report 281KB pdf

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Temporary Conveners

I will summarise item 4 quickly. Committees that have a designated deputy convener do not have the flexibility to appoint a temporary convener when the convener and the deputy convener are both absent. For example, if Kenneth Macintosh and I had had to go to another meeting this morning, the rest of you—even though you constitute a quorum—could not have appointed Susan Deacon as a temporary convener to allow business to continue. That rigidity seems unnecessary.

We are invited to raise the issue with the conveners liaison group and to produce a proposal to amend standing orders to give committees the flexibility to continue with their business. That seems perfectly reasonable and sensible. If we can agree to that quickly, I can close the meeting. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

With that incentive, the proposal is agreed. I thank everyone for their attendance and their contributions.

Meeting closed at 12:18.