Enterprise and Culture Committee, 16 Mar 2004

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Official Report 243KB pdf

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Football

Item 3 on the agenda is the investigation into Scottish football. I ask members to declare any interests that they feel they must declare.

I am a director of Dundee United Football Club.

I am a small shareholder in Aberdeen Football Club and a season ticket holder.

We are receiving declarations of interest from the most unlikely sources: I invite Murdo Fraser to speak.

I am a debenture holder at Rangers Football Club. [Interruption.]

Why is that unlikely?

Okay—

With a name like Murdo Fraser, I would not expect him to be a debenture holder at Celtic.

I remind members that we are in public session.

A paper has been circulated setting out the background in professional football and the Scottish Premier League that has prompted the suggestion that we conduct an investigation. The paper includes a suggested remit and structure for the inquiry, which indicates how it will be carried out, and three recommendations. The fact that the last Scottish university to offer Latin and Greek teaching courses is ceasing to do so is no reason to let standards slip. I point out that under "Expenses" the paper should read "de minimis" rather than "de minimas".

We will begin by considering the second recommendation, which relates to the remit for the investigation. Are members happy with the remit that has been suggested?

Members indicated agreement.

The first recommendation is that the committee agrees to appoint a reporter or reporters on Scottish football. I suspect that Richard Baker would like to be appointed, as he suggested the inquiry. Are other members interested in taking part?

I suggested a similar inquiry at our away day at the beginning of the session. At that stage, there were not quite so many clubs in serious difficulty. I would be interested in taking part in the investigation.

Are members happy for us to appoint joint reporters?

Members indicated agreement.

The third recommendation is that members agree to allow me to deal with the expenses. In case any members of the press are listening, those will not exceed the de minimis limit of £100. Is that acceptable?

It might be acceptable if there were just one reporter, but I am not sure whether it is sufficient for two. Given the number of organisations that need to be covered, the reporters should not go to the same places. The figure may have to be increased, perhaps even doubled. If we double the number of reporters, we cannot cover the ground with the same expenses.

I suggest that for the moment we deal with the matter as recommended. If it appears that the limit will be exceeded, I will request additional funding from the Conveners Group. Is that acceptable?

Members indicated agreement.

Meeting closed at 16:44.