Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill Committee, 31 Jan 2005

Meeting date: Monday, January 31, 2005

Official Report 88KB pdf

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Item in Private

Good afternoon and welcome to the meeting. I remind members to switch off their mobile phones and pagers. We have received no apologies.

Under agenda item 1, we must consider whether to take in private agenda item 4, which is the committee's consideration of its approach to the preliminary stage of the bill, including the timetable for oral evidence sessions and suggested witnesses. Members will be well aware that the minutes of the meeting, which are published, will record any decisions that we take in private. I seek members' agreement to take item 4 in private.

Will you go a little further and spell out to us the reasons why you think the item should be taken in private? I believe that most such matters should be taken in public, as far as possible. Will you add to what you have said about why the item should be taken in private?

We have in the past taken items in private when they have dealt with housekeeping and timetabling matters, such as the timetable for oral evidence sessions. Taking the item in private will allow us to consider who we are likely to call as witnesses and our overall approach to the bill, which we need to discuss. I take your point about not meeting in private too often, but most of the issues for consideration under item 4 are housekeeping issues. Any decisions that we take will, of course, be a matter of public record.

That sounds fine. I do not want us to nod these things through by rote, as it were, but to consider them every time.

Thank you. Do I have the committee's agreement to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.