Justice 1 Committee, 22 Dec 2004

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Official Report 285KB pdf

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Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill (Witness Expenses)

I invite the committee to delegate to me the authority to arrange for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to pay, under rule 12.4.3 of the standing orders, any witness expenses that arise during the consideration of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. One of our witnesses is coming from Birmingham and might make a request to have their expenses paid. Do members agree to delegate that authority to me?

Members indicated agreement.

I remind members that the next meeting of the Justice 1 Committee will be on 12 January at 10 o'clock, when we will take further evidence on the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.

My brief also tells me that we are scheduled, on that day, to consider a statement of reasons relating to the proposal by Karen Whitefield for a member's bill to prohibit large retail premises from trading on Christmas day. However, I am not aware of anything to do with that.

Will that proposal be a matter that this committee will deal with?

This is the first that I have heard of the matter. That is all that I can tell you.

I would like to place on record Stewart Stevenson's disappointment that the meeting will be held on 12 January, not 5 January.

Why is that?

I was not talking about having a meeting on 5 January; I suggested that we have one next week. We should make progress. What is all this holiday stuff?

I close the meeting and thank members for their work this year. Coffee and mince pies are available, so we can all be festive.

Meeting closed at 12:43.