Official Report 204KB pdf
Agenda item 4 concerns the Public Health etc (Scotland), which was introduced last Thursday. At our meeting on 19 September, we agreed to issue an open call for evidence after the bill's introduction; the clerks did that on Monday. We also agreed in principle to appoint an adviser; to set in motion the approval and appointment process, we need to formally agree a remit and person specification for that post.
It seems reasonable.
There can be no greater praise from Mr Finnie than that.
How do we go about recruiting the right person? Given the hours that are required, we cannot advertise the post as if it is a job. How do we find the right people?
A list of likely candidates is usually provided, which we discuss in private, for obvious reasons. The committee sees the candidates' CVs and decides who is the most appropriate. In advance of that, the clerks determine whether the parties would be available to do the work. There is no point in choosing someone who will not be available.
But how do we attract people to come in and give us their CVs?
The clerking team does some research and comes up with a list of names; it is up to us whether we like the names. There is nothing to prevent members of the committee from coming up with the name of an expert. If they do so, that name will be put to the committee for discussion and approval.
I was asking about the advertising of the position and how we go about attracting people.
Most people who want to work with the Parliament have already signed up to a database. That is primarily what is used to contact people.
That is all I needed to know.
Are members content with the specification?
Members indicated agreement.
Are members content for decisions about the payment of witnesses' expenses to be delegated to me, as convener, as is the normal practice?
Members indicated agreement.
Are members content to consider in private evidence that is taken in public at stage 1 at the same meeting as that evidence is taken, and also to consider in private the drafts of our report to Parliament at stage 1?
Members indicated agreement.