Rural Affairs Committee, 31 Oct 2000
Meeting date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Official Report
233KB pdf
Islay Creamery
The second item 6 on my agenda, which I shall call item 7, is the report on the situation of the Islay creamery.
A draft report was prepared and discussed by the four members who went on the visit to the creamery. Copies of that report have been circulated to members today. A provisional decision was made at the meeting of the reporters that a draft should be passed to George Lyon, who is the local constituency member, and that we should ask for his comments in order to consider incorporating them in the report's conclusions.
I hoped that that would happen quickly, but we discovered a slight technical problem with that approach, as we required the permission of the full committee in order to proceed. It has been pointed out to me that we would also have to consider seeking the comments of Highland list members. May I have the permission of the full committee to go ahead and to seek those comments from other interested local members?
I take the view that it is quite right and proper, and a good thing, for the local constituency member to be asked to contribute his expertise in the field. It is also right and proper to consult other list MSPs who have an interest in that part of their wider regional constituency. That is an appropriate approach. I do not think that we should treat those members differently.
Does that meet with members' approval?
Members indicated agreement.
That brings us to the end of our agenda—[Interruption.] It has been pointed out to me that we hope to consider a draft report on 7 November. I require the agreement of the committee to take that item in private.
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting closed at 16:49.