Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 28, 2016

Official Report 289KB pdf

Interests

I welcome members to the second meeting in 2016 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. As usual, I remind everyone to switch off mobile phones because they may affect the broadcasting system.

Before we move to the formal agenda as published, I shall invite Michael Russell to declare his relevant interests. Before that, however, members will note that Michael Russell replaces Gil Paterson. It is entirely appropriate to thank Gil for his sterling work on the committee. We shall miss him, and we shall watch with interest how Michael Russell replaces him. I formally welcome Michael to the committee and invite him to declare any relevant interests.

Thank you, convener. It is a pleasure to be back at this committee after almost 16 years. The only interest that I can think of that is even vaguely tangential is that I have a part-time appointment as professor of Scottish culture and governance at the University of Glasgow, in which role I do, on occasion, teach about issues connected with the proceedings of Parliament.

Thank you. Your expertise on governance is much welcomed to our deliberations.