Rural Affairs Committee, 25 Oct 1999

Meeting date: Monday, October 25, 1999

Official Report 63KB pdf

---

Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs Committee Monday 25 October 1999 (Afternoon)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 15:34]

We will begin this meeting by discussing the draft report on amnesic shellfish poisoning, which has been written by the clerks. I suggest that consideration of the committee's draft report on the impact on the fisheries sector of amnesic shellfish poisoning should be in private—we are dealing with a draft and it is not appropriate for anything other than the committee's agreed wording to be quoted in public. Do members agree?

I am anxious that members understand why we should proceed in private. Are all members aware of the reasons why it is appropriate that we progress in private at this stage?

I would not mind hearing why we should go ahead in private when we are not releasing the report. We are merely discussing what is in it and whether we agree to that.

Would you, Richard, like to go over the explanation that you gave to me? It was much smoother than my version of it.

Yes. To ensure sensible discussion in public of the report we would have to issue copies of that report to the press and to the public. As it stands, the report that has been written by the clerks suggests what might be the committee's view on the short inquiry into amnesic shellfish poisoning.

It would give that report undue status to issue it in its draft form as that would suggest that the committee has a particular view. We do not know what that view is until the committee has had a chance to discuss the report.

Is that procedurally correct, given the slight problems that there have been with private meetings in the recent past? If that has been checked and it is procedurally correct to do so, and if everybody else is happy, I am quite happy to continue in private.

I am satisfied with the reason for proceeding in that way and am willing to accept it. It would therefore be appropriate for us to continue this discussion in private.

Meeting closed at 15:37.