Transport and the Environment Committee, 26 Jun 2002

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Official Report 117KB pdf

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Rail Inquiry (Parliamentary Debate)

Agenda item 5 concerns a parliamentary debate on our rail inquiry. The item is on the agenda to allow the committee to consider whether it wants to make a formal bid for our report on the rail industry to be given time in the chamber. The item is on the agenda now rather than once we have completed the report because, in practical terms, if we are to stand a chance of having a debate we probably need to submit our bid now, given that we are approaching the end of the parliamentary session. Otherwise, all the time between now and next March will be taken up by other committee bids.

Given that we are conducting a major piece of work and that we will produce a significant report on the rail industry later in the year, I am keen that we give the issue an airing in the chamber. It remains to be seen exactly what recommendations we will make but, from the evidence that we have received so far, I envisage our report being a major study of the way in which the Scottish rail industry operates and can and should develop in the future. It is an appropriate subject for us to propose for a debate. Whether we secure a debate is up to the conveners liaison group. We seek to establish whether members are comfortable with our submitting such a bid.

It is necessary that we make such a bid. There is so much public interest in the development of the railway industry in Scotland that it is time that we had a full-scale debate.

Are members agreed that we should submit a bid?

We had a discussion with George Reid about a debate on Blairingone.

We will make a bid for both debates. Ultimately, the decision on whether either bid is accepted is for the conveners liaison group. The chances are that the Transport and the Environment Committee will be given a fair degree of precedence because it is some time since the committee initiated a debate in the chamber. I hope that the conveners liaison group will take that into account, as well as the importance of the subject matters that we are proposing.

If the debate on Blairingone is knocked back, it might get space as a members' business debate.

That would be another option for individual members to consider once the conveners liaison group has given its view.

The Health and Community Care Committee is also interested in Blairingone. Have committees ever requested a debate jointly?

Before a committee can make a bid for a debate, it must have done a fair amount of work on the subject and, usually, produced a report. It would be best to leave the bid as ours, but obviously members from other committees who are interested in the subject would have every opportunity to take part in the debate.

I thought that the bid might carry more weight if two committees asked for the debate, as we are anxious for the matter to be debated.

Are we agreed that we will make bids on both subjects?

Members indicated agreement.

That brings us to the end of the public agenda. I thank members of the press and public who have been in attendance. We move to agenda item 6, which is consideration of arrangements for the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill.

Meeting continued in private until 12:18.