The first thing I have to report on is the response from the Scottish Executive to our request for additional information in relation to our seventh report, on infectious salmon anaemia and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia. I have discussed the text with the clerk and the legal adviser and I think it now responds to the points on which we wished to receive more information. Do we agree to copy the material to the Transport and the Environment Committee, the Rural Development Committee and Maureen Macmillan, a former member of the committee who was the reporter on the matter?
The next item is to comment on the meeting held with Commissioner Wallström on 20 September. Unfortunately I was in Brussels that day, but I know that several members attended the meeting with the commissioner and had an informative discussion. Perhaps Colin Campbell or Helen Eadie want to comment.
It was a very informative discussion. I was impressed by the commissioner's professionalism and by the fact that she was prepared to express her personal opinions on certain issues, particularly when she was not in tune with others. She was very good.
I was extremely impressed by her. She was most committed and very enthusiastic about her remit. It was a real privilege to be there. I took advantage of the occasion to lobby her on a matter relating to the Rosyth ferry proposals. I was pleased to be able to do that.
On the same day, President Rigol of the Catalan Parliament visited us and there was a highly useful exchange of views on some of the work that can be done between the two Parliaments in the run-up to the intergovernmental conference. Do Irene Oldfather and Dennis Canavan wish to comment?
The meeting was well attended and enjoyable. I was interested in President Rigol's views on interregional co-operation and the promotion of cultural diversity. The meeting was productive.
I was not able to stay for the whole meeting, but I found the part I attended informative and well worth while. The committee should consider future opportunities for dialogue with our colleagues from Catalonia.
Thanks. Does Colin Campbell wish to comment?
I went to a reception for the President of the Catalan Parliament that evening, at which many of the issues that have been mentioned were discussed. There was a co-operative and congenial atmosphere with regard to what we might do together as—what for the moment I am forced to call—sub-national Parliaments.
George Reid mentioned to me that an agreement on co-operation had been presented to the Parliament by the Catalans and the Flemings last week. Can we have details of that?
I have not seen it, but we can make inquiries and examine it at a future meeting.
The convener alluded to the fact that the business community was represented in spades, as was the voluntary sector, but there were no representatives from the Scottish Trades Union Congress or individual unions. In addition, local authorities were not represented.
The whole conference was interesting, but the people who came from outside the box brought a different dimension from those who were trapped inside the box. The Czech ambassador was refreshing, in particular his assertion that there is no such thing as the man in the street in the Czech Republic; there is the man in the pub. He was not talking about Europe either, so that challenged us all.
Previous
Items in PrivateNext
Scrutiny