Official Report 203KB pdf
Good morning, colleagues, and welcome to the 19th meeting in 2005 of the Education Committee. I have received apologies from Rosemary Byrne. I hope that some of the other committee members will turn up in due course. At the moment, we are outnumbered by Scottish Executive officials, which is never a good thing.
Yes, that is fine.
Members indicated agreement.
Agenda item 5 is our draft report on the budget. The normal practice of committees, which I would recommend, is to consider draft reports in private.
The committee has discussed reports in public when there has been agreement to do so. Obviously, if there are concerns or issues of confidentiality, members raise those matters. However, I do not think that there is anything in the budget report that means that we have to discuss it in private. The committee tries to discuss things in public when it can. I will not go to the wall about it, but that is the committee's history.
I do not have any strong feelings about it.
Lord James, do you have any preference for taking the item in private or in public? As Fiona Hyslop said, there is nothing in the budget report that is particularly controversial, although at this stage it is a report to the Finance Committee.
In general, discussion of drafting measures and minor details should be taken in private. That makes for more rapidity and efficiency in dealing with the matter. However, if Fiona Hyslop feels strongly about it, I will not stand in the way on this occasion.
I am keen for the Parliament to adopt a more open and accessible approach when it is able to, although I acknowledge the concerns that committee members have raised. However, in this instance, I think that we should take the item in public. It will not take very long.
I agree that it will not take very long.
I would rather that it be discussed in private.
Do you wish to put the matter to a vote, Fiona?
No, I will not put it to a vote.
Do members agree to take item 5 in private?
Members indicated agreement.