Communities Committee, 17 Mar 2004

Meeting date: Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Official Report 99KB pdf

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Item in Private

Welcome to the Communities Committee. Agenda item 1 is to consider whether to take agenda item 4 in private. Agenda item 4 is to discuss how the committee might deal with discussion in the media of our stage 1 report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill in advance of the report's publication. Do members agree that we should take that item in private?

I am not certain that we should take item 4 in private, although I am persuadable. It would probably be of benefit to discuss the matter in public. I cannot think of anything that I expect to hear or say that could not be put in the Official Report, but I am interested in other views.

In principle, I am in favour of always discussing issues in public, if that is possible. Stewart Stevenson may be correct—it is not a third-world-war-starting issue.

We are working on it, though.

Discussion of the item in private might provide the opportunity for candour, which might allow us to advance the matter. I am more than comfortable about ensuring that the conclusion to our discussion is conducted in public at a later stage. I note that the similar problem that the Justice 2 Committee had has been resolved with a public apology. I am entirely relaxed about whether the initial discussion should be in public or private—I will say the same things in public or in private and I will be open with members.

I do not feel strongly about the issue, but Stewart Stevenson has a point. I am happy to go with the flow.

In that case, do members agree to take item 4 in public?

Members indicated agreement.