Everybody should have the papers for this item. I intend to seek approval for the appropriate actions to be taken on each item in the convener's report.
What do we mean by postpone? Do we really mean putting the matter away until such time as we have an answer, bearing in mind the fact that we may not get one, or do we mean that in a couple of weeks we will discuss what to do if we have still not received a letter? I do not think that we should leave the report on the shelf in perpetuity.
I certainly do not want that to happen and I am sure that most members want us to reach a conclusion on the matter. I understand that we expect a letter to arrive, and we will therefore be able to deal with the issue at our next meeting.
I suggest that further contact be made regarding the lack of a reply. We should specifically ask for a reply before our next meeting.
I advise members that I and my colleagues have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Scotland's office. We are advised that receipt of the letter is imminent; I expected it yesterday or today and we should receive it very shortly. As soon as we receive it, I will circulate copies to members.
Will this item be on the agenda for the next meeting in any case?
I understand that all members want a resolution of this matter and want to reach conclusions on the report—we do not want to leave it sitting on the shelf. Are members happy to discuss this item at the next meeting?
The next item concerns the proposed inaugural meeting on 3 November 2000 of UK chairs and conveners of European committees to discuss matters of common interest. I ask members to note the information in the report. They could also note that today happens to be my birthday, but I am not sure whether the Official Report is allowed to record that.
Happy birthday.
Thank you.
Would it be appropriate for committee members to decide whether there are any issues that it would be pertinent to discuss at that meeting? Could we raise such issues prior to the meeting?
We want to be as inclusive as possible, so I suggest that if members have issues that they would like to be raised, they should approach the clerks, who will ensure that they are brought to the convener's attention.
The convener's report contains information about that. The current suggested time slot is lunch time—perhaps between 12 noon and 2.30 pm—on 6 December. We will try to confirm those arrangements as soon as possible and will advise members accordingly.
All members should ensure that their diaries are suitably synchronised.
If the committee's visit is to take place some time this year, we will need to know about that as soon as possible. It might be easier if we made plans for early in the new year. That would ensure that we were able to make space for the visit in our diaries.
There are nods of agreement from members. I understand that the intention is to arrange the visit to coincide with the Commission's publication of its forthcoming work programme. I am advised that that is likely to be in the new year, rather than towards the end of this year. Obviously, all members already have commitments. Is that acceptable?
There is a proposed visit to the Scottish Parliament by a parliamentary delegation from Germany—I will not attempt to pronounce the name of the Land that it represents—on 6 October. Information about that has been e-mailed directly to members and members have been asked to indicate whether they are able to be involved. I am not sure whether the clerks have received any responses.
Not yet. That is why we are bringing this to members' attention again.
Recently, a number of invitations have arrived at fairly short notice for dates when members' diaries are already full or for days that are traditionally set aside for constituency business—Mondays and Fridays. We do not want to be seen not to be helping with visits, but it can be difficult to allocate members' time. If any member is available to meet the delegation and wants to volunteer their services, we would welcome that. If not, we will have to send apologies and explain why no member of the committee is available.
I note that 6 October is a Friday. For constituency members, that is very difficult. I have surgeries on Friday mornings, and it would be difficult for me to change that. In the past we have had problems with short notice and visits being scheduled for a Monday or a Friday, when members tend to have engagements in their constituencies.
Who sets the dates and times for these visits? This week I am involved with a delegation from the United States. It has been allocated 2.30 pm to 3.15 pm on Thursday to meet members, which coincides with question time. When I examined the delegation's programme, it was clear to me that it could have been offered a different slot. Who filters these visits through to Stephen Imrie and how are they put together?
That depends on the visitors in question. In this case, I believe that they have approached the Presiding Officer's office directly. However, sometimes approaches are made through the Executive. When the committee clerks organise visits, we try to arrange them for dates and times that suit committee members. However, sometimes the primary organisers are outwith the committee. We always advise them that certain days are less suitable than others and that certain times, such as question time, are unsuitable. The Presiding Officer, staff, the external relations division of the Scottish Executive and I are seeking to improve the co-ordination of visits. The aim is to give members more notice and to arrange meetings at better times. That may resolve some of the difficulties that we have had in the past.
That is to be welcomed.
I thank Bruce Crawford for a timely reminder that 10 years ago, on 3 October 1990, one of the most significant events in European history happened: the reunification of Germany. It would be in the committee's remit to indicate our support to the German consulate in Edinburgh.
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Reporter's Report