Scottish Parliament Local Government Committee Tuesday 28 November 2000 (Afternoon)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 14:03]
Good afternoon, comrades. I apologise for being late. Bristow Muldoon and Sylvia Jackson will also be late, so we will have to start without them.
First, I must ask for two items to be taken in private. Item 6 is a draft report and item 7 contains confidential information about witnesses, which it is not appropriate to discuss in public. Do members agree that we should take items 6 and 7 in private?
Members indicated agreement.
I have spoken to Eugene Windsor about taking matters in private, as it crops up quite often. However, draft reports are always considered in private and I can understand why we would not want to discuss confidential information about witnesses in public.
On 12 December—we do not have a meeting next week—our discussion on the committee's conclusions on the consultation on the public sector ombudsman should not be in public, as it is a discussion of our response to the Executive. The principle is the same as for the other two items. Do members agree that that item, wherever it appears on the agenda on 12 December, will be taken in private?
Members indicated agreement.