Education Committee, 07 Jun 2006
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Official Report
299KB pdf
Items in Private
Good morning, colleagues, and welcome to the 15th meeting of the Education Committee in 2006.
Agenda item 1 is to consider whether we should deal with item 4 in private. Item 4 is our initial consideration of our stage 1 report on the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill. My primary reason for suggesting that we should deal with the item and subsequent consideration of the report in private is to allow our adviser, Professor Norrie, to be fully involved in the discussions on the draft report, which would be very helpful. Also, I believe that it is easier for committees to draft reports in private than in public session. The committee has shown that it has an ability to draft good reports, but I believe that it is easier to do that in private. Therefore, my proposal is that we take agenda item 4 and subsequent consideration of our stage 1 report in private.
I think that Fiona Hyslop wants to oppose that.
No, I will not oppose the proposal. I agree with the point about the need to ensure that our adviser can take a full part in the discussions, but I want to say that the committee has produced good reports both from considering them in private and from considering them in public. However, to ensure that the adviser can take part, I agree that the committee should deal with the report in private.
No other member wishes to comment. Are we agreed that we take agenda item 4 and subsequent consideration of the committee's stage 1 report in private?
Members indicated agreement.