European and External Relations Committee, 11 Jun 2003

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Official Report 100KB pdf

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Briefings

The final item on the agenda is any additional briefings that committee members require from the clerks for our next meeting, which is in two weeks' time. I think that we have covered most of this already.

I take it that the committee is agreed that the clerks should produce briefings on the issues that have been raised by members, which should include the beginnings of a draft work programme that we can consider further and more details about our away day. Also, one thing that has not been mentioned is a visit to Brussels at some point, especially for new committee members. A visit to Brussels would help us familiarise ourselves with the institutions and meet the relevant people. We did not discuss that, but perhaps we should ask the clerks to give us further details on that.

The clerks should also provide us with an early indication of the programme for future meetings, so that we can get the dates into our diaries as soon as possible. Similarly, we need to know the dates for the away day and for any possible visit to Brussels.

That is a good point.

In that context, when the clerks are arranging dates for meetings, they should liaise with the clerks of other committees and with the Holyrood progress group. All kinds of difficulties can arise when members are on two committees that are meeting at the same time.

I know that the clerks will try their best to get a date that suits everyone. The clerks will communicate with each member about the timings of our regular meetings.

Will you confirm that we will also receive a paper on the UK consultation on regional policy? The closing date for the consultation is imminent—I think that it is in July. It is important that the committee at least receives a briefing on that.

That is a fair point.

John Home Robertson mentioned food supplements. I envisage that that will appear as a brief item perhaps on our next agenda, given that the issue is live at the moment and that the committee produced a report on it in the previous session.

If members have no other items that they want to raise, I advise members that our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 24 June at 2 pm in committee room 1. I thank all members for their attendance. I look forward to working with you. We will see you at the next meeting.

Meeting closed at 11:01.