Official Report 85KB pdf
Does the committee agree to consider items 4, 5 and 6 in private?
As you are aware from last week's meeting, convener, I am opposed to considering items in private without a discussion about why we should consider them in private. Why does the committee feel that it has to discuss in private items 4 and 5 in particular? Unless I am unaware of it, I do not believe that there is anything contentious about those matters that would require a discussion in private. I know that item 6 relates to a more contentious subject and that concerns have already been expressed to the committee in discussions. However, we should reconsider whether we need to discuss those items in private—there is no necessity to do so.
Whether an item is contentious is not relevant to its being discussed in private. We have discussed contentious issues in public before. As I explained at our last meeting, particular items are discussed in private because they concern draft reports. The Procedures Committee is examining the matter, but draft reports are discussed in private because they contain matters—such as opinions and comments attributed to committee members—that might not appear in the final committee report. As was stated last week, the Procedures Committee will make a ruling on the matter and I suggest that, until such time, we continue to consider draft reports in private. Does anyone else want to comment?
I am in accord with that—it makes perfect sense.
I would like my dissent to be recorded.
Do you want to put the matter to a vote?
No. It is obvious that other members do not agree.
With Tommy Sheridan's dissent recorded, do members agree to consider items 4, 5 and 6 in private?
Members indicated agreement.