Rural Development Committee, 30 Jan 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 30, 2001

Official Report 194KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Rural Development Committee Tuesday 30 January 2001 (Afternoon)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 13:37]

Ladies and gentlemen, I apologise for the slight delay in starting. We had a wee problem with the sound system, but we are ready to go now.

On a point of order. Given the importance of having the minister to give evidence, I wondered why the time at which the meeting started had to be brought forward. Some of my colleagues had already arranged to go to other meetings. As members can see, Cathy Jamieson has still not arrived. Such changes cause difficulties when made at short notice.

I apologise for the change to the time. My understanding is that it was brought forward to suit the minister's diary and to allow the minister to go to another meeting after giving evidence.

In future, would you consult the spokespeople of the parties before agreeing to such a change, which can cause difficulties?

I take on board the fact that the change has caused some difficulties. Richard Davies and I will investigate the arrangements for adjusting the timings of meetings. We will let you know about that. If you have any further suggestions, we will be delighted to have them.

The first item is to consider whether items 4 and 5 should be taken in private. Item 4 relates to the report into the circumstances of the closure of the Islay Creamery. We have a final draft of the report and we require to consider and approve it. Draft reports are normally received in private, and I propose that we do that today.

Item 5 on the agenda is to consider a claim for witness expenses arising from the meeting in Dumfries in December. We have dealt with such claims in private before and I suggest that we do so again.

Those items have been grouped at the end of the agenda for the convenience of the sound staff and members. Does the committee agree to discuss those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.