I open the fourth meeting of the Health Committee in 2004 and I ask everybody to switch off their mobile phones. There are no apologies.
There is an assumption in standing orders that our committee meetings should be heard in public. I am content to assume that we will conduct our business in public according to the standing orders, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which we need to meet in private. If we were to go into private session now, we would also be talking about going into private session at the next meeting.
Do you want both items to be discussed in public, or only one of them?
The position is that according to standing orders we assume—
Yes. Thank you.
May I finish, convener?
I presume that you want both items to be taken in public.
If you would let me finish. The standing orders say that we should assume that both items be taken in public session unless the case is made that we discuss them in private. I am willing to listen to that case.
Does any other committee member share those views?
No one shares those views. As I think that we had a full discussion of the issue at a previous meeting and as no one else shares Mike Rumbles's view, I rule that the items will be taken in private session.
No.
It is agreed with one exception that we will discuss the items in private; that can be noted.
Meeting continued in private until 15:22.