Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee, 14 Sep 2004

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Official Report 118KB pdf

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National Audit Office

Item 5 concerns a briefing from the National Audit Office. It is proposed that we have a joint briefing with the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee. The National Audit Office has recently published a report into light rail and we would find it useful to consider that report, which makes a number of recommendations.

Given that the promoter and the objectors might find the information that is provided by the National Audit Office study to be useful, it is proposed that the briefing session be in a formal meeting so that the comments can appear in the Official Report. Do members agree to that?

I have a problem with the date of Thursday 23 September, which clashes with the Scottish National Party conference, so there is a good chance that I will not be at the meeting. I presume that my SNP colleague on the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee will be in a similar position.

That is disappointing. I had hoped that the committee's work would take precedence over your party conference, but I have been proved wrong.

I am sure that we can consider alternative meeting dates, although they will be quite difficult—I will ask the clerk whether it is essential that everybody be present. I understand that we will need to be quorate and therefore will need three members from each committee.

As the briefing will be in the Official Report, will that suffice to keep you apprised? Obviously, copies of the National Audit Office report will be available to members.

It might be that I can make the meeting, but at this stage, there is a possibility that I might not.

We have already approached the Parliamentary Bureau and the Conveners Group for approval because of the timescale that is involved, but the cost should be minimal, so I do not foresee any difficulty with the arrangements. Are members happy with them?

Members indicated agreement.