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Item 4 on the agenda is consideration of whether to take the next item—on the committee's approach to preliminary stage—in private. In my view, given that the objection period does not finish until 15 May, on this occasion our discussions should take place in private. That will prevent any of our comments on our approach from being incorporated inadvertently into potential objections. However, I assure members that it is my intention that a summary of the decisions that we take today in private should be published as part of the formal minute of today's proceedings.
Before we move on to item 5, I seek members' views on how we should approach any future request by other members of the Parliament, the public, objectors or organisations for individual meetings with any of us. As members are aware, it is important that each member of the committee not only acts impartially but is seen to act impartially. In my view, each of us should avoid any individual meetings with others outwith the committee, including members, to discuss the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill. I suggest that, given the importance of impartiality, the committee agrees that all approaches to us as individual members or as a committee should be referred to the committee clerk.
I have not previously been a member of a private bill committee. Is this the normal procedure? It does not apply to other committees, in which members are also expected to act with impartiality.
The capacity in which members of a private bill committee act is different from that in which members of other committees act. We err on the side of caution, because we are acting as a quasi-judicial inquiry.
I was seeking clarity for the record. We are not setting a precedent for other committees.
The committee does not have the power to infringe on what other committees do.
Meeting continued in private until 14:57.
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Deputy Convener