Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 16 Apr 2002

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 16, 2002

Official Report 236KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Education, Culture and Sport Committee Tuesday 16 April 2002 (Afternoon)

[The Deputy Convener opened the meeting at 14:09]

It is like a restoration comedy in here, because we have Cathy Peattie here, but Mike Russell has just gone through another door—I hope that he will appear any moment now. Given that we are now in public session, I ask those who have mobile phones or pagers to turn them off. It is important that Cathy Peattie is here, because I want to welcome her back to the committee formally. She is a committee substitute for the Labour party and is substituting for our convener, Karen Gillon, who is on maternity leave. I announce publicly she gave birth to a son, Matthew, during the recess.

She gave birth publicly?

No. That was a public announcement of the birth, although they do things differently in Lanark. Gil Paterson, the MSP for Central Scotland, might be present for item 3, on the health education petition. There is a possibility, although we have not had confirmation of it, that Brian Adam, the MSP for North-East Scotland, will attend for item 4, on the budget process, in his capacity as reporter for the Finance Committee.

I welcome back Cathy Peattie and hope that she will continue to make the sort of contribution that she made prior to changes within the committees of the Parliament.