Elizabeth Watson will stay with us for this item, on witness expenses. Members have a self-explanatory report on the subject. Does anyone have questions to ask?
Purely by coincidence, I am on the Finance Committee, which has asked me to produce a preliminary report on the funding of the voluntary sector. In order to make the report as wide as possible, we are trying to get voluntary bodies from different parts of the country to come and speak to us. Some of those bodies are poor and, at the moment, we have no facility to pay their expenses. That seems a pity, and I will raise the issue in whatever is the right forum. It is a relatively small sum, and we should be generous.
Mr Gorrie refers to witnesses coming to speak to reporters as opposed to coming to speak to a committee. He is correct in saying that the current witness expenses scheme does not cover that, as it covers only attendance at committees or the Parliament.
What would the mechanism be for having that looked at? That seems to be anomalous given that, if witnesses come to see an adviser or reporter, that is the same as giving evidence to a committee.
I think it would be a matter for standing orders and then for the SPCB. The witness expenses scheme is a matter for the SPCB and for Parliament.
Has the issue been raised with the SPCB?
This is the first time that I have raised the issue. It has arisen only in the past two days.
Should the committee ask Elizabeth Watson to reflect on the matter and to determine whether there is an issue that the SPCB should consider? She could advise us of the outcome of her inquiries in the fullness of time. At first sight, the point is a pretty good one.
Thank you very much.
As there are no other points to raise on the paper, does the committee agree to note it and agree the recommendations set out in paragraph 4? Is the committee agreed that there should be no change to standing orders, but that we will return to the issue?
I thank Elizabeth Watson for attending.
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