Equal Opportunities Committee, 04 Mar 2003

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 4, 2003

Official Report 89KB pdf

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Reporters

Under item 2, we are to consider reports from our reporters. The first report is the gender reporter's report. I ask Elaine Smith whether she wants to speak to her paper, which was circulated to members with the agenda.

I will do so briefly. I visited the Glasgow Women's Library along with Richard Walsh, who accompanied me to clerk the visit. Members have a copy of the report on the visit.

First, I congratulate Glasgow Women's Library on the work that it undertakes; I was impressed by my visit. I also point out that Glasgow Women's Library is to visit the Parliament and hold an event at lunch time on Thursday. Pauline McNeill MSP is organising the event and I am sure that she and the GWL would be delighted if MSPs turned up.

I ask members to turn to the recommendations. I would be pleased if the committee would agree to pass the report to the Scottish Executive for information. I was struck by the lack of computer equipment at the library. One recommendation is for the committee to make inquiries of the Scottish Executive about the general situation regarding the provision of such equipment to community resources such as the Glasgow Women's Library, which could certainly use some help in getting additional new technology. I also recommend that the committee writes to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, asking for further information about whether the Glasgow Women's Library could have Parliament partner library status.

I will leave it at that. If members have questions, I am happy to try to answer them.

I endorse the recommendation that Glasgow Women's Library should get Parliament partner library status, as that would send out a positive signal. I am glad that Elaine Smith made that recommendation and I support it whole-heartedly.

As there are no further comments on the report, are the recommendations agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

The second report is from the committee's disability reporter. The report, which was circulated to members with the agenda, is a version of the oral report that Gil Paterson made at the committee's meeting of 31 January. Do you want to say anything about the paper, Gil?

Given that we have had the debate in the chamber on the European year of disabled people 2003, it could be said that events have overtaken us. The mere fact that we had such a debate raised awareness about the year. I simply commend the verbal report that I made on 31 January to the Parliament.

As members do not have questions or comments on the report, is it agreed that we commend the report?

Members indicated agreement.