Finance Committee, 18 Nov 2003

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Official Report 241KB pdf

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Items in Private

Item 3 is to seek agreement to consider the committee's draft budget report in private at our next meeting and at any subsequent meetings as required. Are we prepared to agree to that?

Can someone remind me why we need to have all the discussion in private, given the recommendation—which this committee seems to have ignored—that far too much committee business is considered in private in the Parliament? Can anyone explain the reasons?

First, our discussion on the approach that we should take is recorded in the Official Report.

Secondly, we have identified a number of complex issues, in relation not only to this year's budget, but to taking forward the budgetary process. It seems to me to be entirely appropriate that the discussion on procedural issues in particular should be taken in private to achieve the maximum cross-party consensus.

I propose that we consider the draft budget report in private at our next and subsequent meetings. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

We move into private session to consider draft reports on the financial memoranda to two bills—the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill and the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Meeting continued in private until 12:07.