Rural Development Committee, 27 Mar 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Official Report 253KB pdf

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Budget (Consultation)

A paper was circulated during lunch time that contains a suggested process that is based entirely on the procedure that we adopted last year. We are open to comments. I am sure that members have not had a chance to read the paper.

Standing orders provide that sufficient time must be set aside for committees to consider the Executive's financial proposals. It is expected that the annual expenditure report will be published on Friday 30 March and we are obliged to have considered it by the end of May. Members will have received a note of the Finance Committee's guidance on the type of questions about which we should think when considering the Executive's statement.

Some limited consultations may be desirable, with a view to considering opinions at our meeting on 24 April. I have suggested some organisations from which we could seek advice, and a list has been passed to members. I suggest that we seek views on the wider impact of the overall spending pattern and a little more detail on the emphasis that is given to research funding, which Elaine Murray mentioned in a previous discussion. Do members agree with that approach and the suggested list of consultees? If so, the clerk will ask each organisation that is listed to let us have its views in time for consideration by 24 April.

The consultees that are numbered one to 10 on the list are being asked to submit views—

They have not been asked yet. The list contains suggestions.

A much wider range of bodies has an interest, and some, such as the Road Haulage Association and the Scottish Beef Council, have given us evidence recently on foot-and-mouth disease. They might wish not to give evidence, but to be consulted. Will consideration be given to consulting a wider range of bodies than the top 10 that are listed?

Such organisations do not necessarily have a direct association with the finances of the rural affairs department. However, they may have comments that relate directly to it. Do members object to their being consulted in writing?

Members indicated disagreement.

The thing is that many other bodies of that ilk could be included.

Richard Davies intends to finalise the list by lunch time tomorrow. If any members have other suggestions, we can hear them now or they can be e-mailed to Richard before lunch time tomorrow. Then, the suggestions will simply be added to the list of consultees.

I note that there is a question about trade union interests. I suggest that the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Transport and General Workers Union be consulted. The STUC has wider representation in relation to rural development among its membership, but the Transport and General Workers Union has an interest in agricultural and horticultural workers.

We can consult them.

What about the councils that are not in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities?

They are not rural.

Clackmannanshire Council is.

The issue is relatively fluid. Do members have suggestions at the moment, or should we conduct a little research to ensure that no one is missed out? We will look into that.

As COSLA's rural affairs spokesman is the convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council, I think that we will get decent input.

Are we content with that?

Members indicated agreement.

Meeting continued in private until 16:50.