Public Petitions Committee, 21 Sep 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 21, 1999

Official Report 153KB pdf

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Any other business

The last item, under the heading of any other business, is the suggestion that the next meeting be held at 2 o'clock on Tuesday 5 October in committee room 3 or 4.

All conveners got a letter from Paul Grice, the chief executive of the Parliament, saying that committees should feel free to schedule meetings on Monday afternoons and encouraging them to do so. It is entirely up to members of the committee whether they want to meet on Monday afternoons rather than on Tuesdays.

I would have difficulties meeting other commitments if committee business extended to Mondays. At the moment, it is just about manageable.

Is that everybody's view?

Yes. I intend to be in my constituency on Mondays.

So we should stick to Tuesdays?

That would be fine.

Why has he asked you to do that? Is there pressure on committee rooms?

I think so. There is a lot of pressure on committee accommodation. Parliament staff are trying to extend the number of days on which committees can meet. If we want to meet on a Monday, we are free to do so, but it is not compulsory.

That is my one day in Glasgow.

When is the next meeting then?

Tuesday 5 October at 2 o'clock. Members will be notified of the room.

May I make a suggestion? It would be good if there was a sign in the hall saying which committee room is where. Pauline and I both went upstairs thinking that the meeting would be in our usual committee room, but it was downstairs.

There is a sign with directions to committee room 4 printed after the Gaelic.

There is certainly a board there, but perhaps it does not have sufficient information on it. We shall ensure that members have clear information.

May I record an early apology for the next meeting to save the clerk time later?

If there is no more competent business, I declare the meeting closed.

Meeting closed at 15:09.