Public Petitions Committee, 27 Feb 2001
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Official Report
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Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee Tuesday 27 February 2001 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:05]
I welcome everyone to the third meeting this year of the Public Petitions Committee. Given the Arctic conditions outside, I congratulate the members, and indeed members of the public, who have made it to the meeting. Unfortunately, it is not much better inside. I apologise to everyone for the low temperature in the room. A heater has just been delivered, which, for some mysterious reason, is facing the wall. I hope that it will raise the temperature during the meeting.
I draw members' attention to the letter that we have received from the chairman of the Sidegate residents association, informing us that he was delighted by the serious consideration that we gave to the association's petition and the speedy and appropriate action that we took. He said that the faith of many of his members in the democratic process has been restored—we can take some enjoyment from receiving such letters. Not all the letters we receive are like that, but given that some people in the Parliament would like this committee to disappear, when we do receive them it is important to get them on the record.
The committee will never disappear.
Never.
Our first apology is from Steve Farrell, our clerk. Unfortunately, he could not make it from Peebles this morning. However, Jane Sutherland is standing in as his very able deputy. We have apologies from John Scott, George Lyon and Helen Eadie. Dorothy-Grace Elder was last seen at 9 o'clock, on the train from Glasgow. She may arrive during the meeting.