Welfare Reform Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, March 29, 2012

Official Report 299KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

I welcome witnesses and members of the public to the third meeting of the Welfare Reform Committee and remind everyone to switch off all mobile phones and other electronic devices as they tend to interfere with the sound system.

We have received apologies from Michael McMahon, who cannot attend because of a family bereavement. I am sure that we all send him our best wishes. As his substitute, Jackie Baillie is required to declare any relevant interests before she can take part in committee proceedings.

However, before we get on to all that, I propose that we take the agenda items out of order and consider items 2 and 3 before we move into private for agenda item 1. Are members agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I welcome Jackie Baillie to the committee. As this is her first appearance as substitute, I invite her to declare any relevant interests.

I do not think that I have any interests that are relevant to the committee’s work. However, I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests.

Thank you. I now invite the committee to agree to take in private at future meetings certain items in relation to the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill, specifically all reviews of evidence and all consideration of draft reports. Are members agreed?

Members indicated agreement.