Official Report 270KB pdf
Our final agenda item is to consider whether to take items in private. The committee meeting on 27 June is our last scheduled meeting before the Parliament goes into recess during July and August. When the committee returns in September, it is likely to begin considering a draft preliminary stage report. Therefore, I think it prudent to agree that, prior to the end of next week's meeting, we have a private discussion on the key themes and concerns arising from oral evidence to assist the drafting of the report. As those discussions may not fully reflect the final views of the committee, my view is that they would be better held in private. Are members agreed?
For a similar reason, I also propose to hold discussions of the draft preliminary stage report in private. Is that agreed?
For the sake of clarity, I point out that it is not unusual for a committee to do that as it allows freedom of discussion. There is nothing untoward about discussing draft reports in private.
Thank you for that clarification, Christine.
Said without a hint of irony, convener.
Finally, members will be aware that, at our meeting on 27 June, the committee will give preliminary consideration to all outstanding objections, which is one of the three key roles of the committee at preliminary stage. That will involve considering whether, in the committee's view, each objector has clearly demonstrated that they will be adversely affected. That is a higher test than the admissibility decision that is taken by the clerks and it involves the committee considering each objection. Our decisions on objections will be published in our preliminary stage report. To enable a full discussion of objections, I am minded to take that item in private. Is that agreed?
That concludes today's meeting. At next week's meeting on 27 June, we will take evidence on the adequacy of the accompanying documents, including evidence from whole-bill objectors and Transport Scotland. We will also take evidence from the Minister for Transport on the funding of the EARL project.
Meeting closed at 16:11.
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