European Committee, 08 Feb 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 8, 2000

Official Report 204KB pdf

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Convener's Report

Item 4 on the agenda is the convener's report. There are a number of matters to be addressed. The first is the European Commission's action programme on the promotion of market-quality beef and veal. I recommend that we note this opportunity, and ask the Executive to give to the Rural Affairs Committee the details of any plans to access the programmes. In other words, if the Executive intends to do something about these programmes—and we believe that it should—the plans should go to the Rural Affairs Committee for its consideration.

Sylvia Jackson asked me to ask whether there are already Scottish promotion measures. She thought that guidelines were announced on Friday, and that the Rural Affairs Committee might know something about that.

We need to look into that. Are we agreed that we should ask the Executive to give to the Rural Affairs Committee any plans to access the programmes?

Members indicated agreement.

The next issue is the newsletter "Europe Matters". Members are asked to note that we produce it electronically on a regular basis. I thank members of the clerking team for their efforts. It is an excellent initiative. If members wish to contribute to "Europe Matters"—for example, to give their opinions—or if they wish to circulate information on European activities, they should contact the clerk to the committee.

We circulated a private paper of provisional dates—I stress provisional—and main items of business for future meetings. The details are subject to change, depending on other factors. However, members should note the topics that we wish to address.

Convener, on the matter of future agendas, I intend to request formally that the item to which I referred earlier be included on the agenda for the next meeting. Is the next meeting on 22 February?

Yes.

Could you clarify for us what you would like us to do if we want to have an item included on a future agenda?

Yes. I will clarify that, and I will write to the committee once we have taken advice on some of the issues that you raised today.

The final issue to be addressed is the selection of a representative to attend the conference on equal opportunities and structural funds, which will take place at the offices of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in Edinburgh on 14 February. If anyone is available, they should see the clerk to the committee at the end of the meeting.

Thank you for an interesting meeting. No doubt our colleague will take a detailed report of it back to the Cabinet Office.

Meeting closed at 15:34.