Equal Opportunities Committee, 21 Feb 2006

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Official Report 370KB pdf

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Disability Inquiry

Agenda item 3 is our disability inquiry. The clerks have circulated a paper that contains the proposed schedule of meetings between March and June in which the committee can take evidence for the inquiry and develop its recommendations. Members will note the move to weekly meetings. We have raised the expectation of many disabled people and organisations in this country that we will make changes, and we need to ensure that our paper is ready by the end of the year in order to do so. We must therefore meet weekly. We have received smashing evidence today and have heard a lot of good stuff, but we now need to pull things together, finish the inquiry and make recommendations. Are folk happy with the proposal to meet weekly?

Members indicated agreement.

May I make a wee statement, convener? I would like to apologise to you and to other committee members for my absence from recent meetings.

We understand that you have been sick.

I was ill and certain members of my family were at death's door. However, the situation is—luckily—resolving itself and I hope that I will return to my normal practice soon.

That is good. I am pleased to have you back. We all know that life goes on outside Parliament.

As we have agreed to meet weekly in order to consider the issues thoroughly, do members agree to the timescale for producing draft recommendations in the disability inquiry? Are members happy to delegate authority to me and to the clerks to identify witnesses to give oral evidence?

Members indicated agreement.

As we are used to having fortnightly rather than weekly meetings, members should ensure that the meeting dates are in their diaries.

I thank members for attending.

Meeting closed at 13:24.