The third item on the agenda is consideration of whether the committee should appoint a reporter to the Health Committee as that committee undertakes its post-legislative inquiry into the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002. As committee paper FI/S2/05/15/4 indicates, we signalled at the start of the year that we wanted to be involved in the inquiry, but the Health Committee has not brought the matter forward until now. The paper sets out what would be required of a reporter. I point out that the Health Committee meets on Tuesday afternoons; I presume that some members of the Finance Committee are otherwise engaged at that time. I invite members' comments and, more pointedly, ask whether anyone wants to be nominated as a reporter. It is important that we consider the matter, but we are dependent on there being a member who is willing to take on that role.
Far be it from me to make this observation, but Ted Brocklebank asks a lot of questions about health.
Strangely enough, I would be interested in taking on the role, but I have a major problem. There have been various delays in relation to the work of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill Committee, because a pile of people were not informed of their right to object to the project, so the weight of work for that committee will increase before very long. I am afraid that that will probably be enough for me.
I suggest that anyone who is interested in being a reporter e-mail Susan Duffy before the end of next week. That might allow people to consider the matter in private. My colleagues and I will go round and encourage people in due course. Are members content with the idea of appointing a reporter?
We move into private session to consider the Family Law (Scotland) Bill, which is the final item on the agenda.
Meeting continued in private until 11:28.
Previous
Efficient Government