Local Government Committee,
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 30, 2000
Official Report
196KB pdf
Petitions
The first item on the agenda is petitions that relate to the proposed repeal of section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986. You received all the petitions, except for petition 103, at the end of March. As the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill is being scrutinised by Parliament and we are dealing with section 2A this afternoon, I suggest that we tell the petitioners that their views have been noted. I am happy to listen to any discussion that members want to have on this, but I suggest that when we reach the vote on section 2A, we take cognisance of the petitions, one or two of which have many signatures.
Does anyone wish to say anything about the petitions? It appears not.
The next item will be a continuation of stage 2 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill. If the ministers are here, we can bring them in early. While we are waiting for the ministers, I draw members' attention to copies of the letters that we received today. The first is from Norman Murray, the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, on the repeal of provisions on surcharge. The other is addressed to Wendy Alexander, the Minister for Communities, from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, on the repeal of section 2A.
As the ministers are not here yet, we will adjourn for five minutes.
Meeting adjourned.
On resuming—