Item 4 on our agenda relates to logistical issues connected with our meeting in Orkney later this week.
At the previous meeting of the committee, we updated members on arrangements for the workshops and other sessions that will take place in Orkney. I can now inform members of the composition of the three workshops. I would also like to seek nominations for the workshops. Two members can attend each of two workshops and three can attend the third. I also need nominations for members who will report back to the committee when it meets formally at half-past 11. If members are interested in a particular workshop, they should say so now.
Why is Orkney Tourist Board grouped with rural affairs bodies, rather than with enterprise and business representatives?
That is a good question. To begin with, the board was grouped with enterprise and business, but we had to decide how to separate workshops 1 and 2. We considered having only two workshops, but we thought that one workshop that included representatives of eight organisations and two or three committee members would be unwieldy. We had to draw the line somewhere. We thought that Orkney Tourist Board and Orkney Ferries formed one small group, and that the Orkney Fisheries Association and the National Farmers Union of Scotland formed another. There might be no automatic connection between those two groups, but we had to put together something.
There are significant links between the two groups.
Ferries are involved with the movement of animals.
Land access and foot-and-mouth are issues that link the NFUS and the tourist board.
Orkney College features in workshop 3. Given that the college's brief is enterprise and lifelong learning, would not it be better to include it in workshop 1 with the business organisations?
That is a good argument. However, Orkney College is one of the few colleges that are funded by a local authority rather than by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. That is why it appears in the same workshop as Orkney Islands Council.
I will be generous and volunteer to participate in the workshop that includes the farming, fishing, tourism and ferries bodies.
Are there any other bids?
I would like to take part in workshop 1.
I will take part in workshop 3.
Jamie Stone will not attend.
There is no need to rub it in, convener.
You will miss an interesting meeting.
I know.
In his absence, let us nominate Tom McCabe.
I am interested in either workshop 1 or workshop 3.
It appears as if Tom McCabe and I will take part in workshop 2.
I volunteered to take part in workshop 2.
If you would prefer to take part in workshop 3, convener, I would be happy to attend workshop 2.
I would be happy to take part in the workshop that deals with ferries, because I have done work on that issue.
I said that I would take part in workshop 2.
Elaine, which workshop would you like to attend?
Either workshop 1 or workshop 3—I do not mind which.
There is space available on both.
Who will attend workshop 2?
Brian Adam and Des McNulty.
Brian Adam and Des McNulty? I thought that I applied to attend workshop 2.
I thought that you volunteered to attend workshop 1.
David Davidson may replace me on workshop 2. I will attend workshop 1.
I am glad that we have a difficult problem before us.
It is a good job that you have no money to spend.
David McGill will say where we are.
By my reckoning, Alasdair Morgan and Tom McCabe will attend workshop 1, David Davidson and Des McNulty will attend workshop 2, and Brian Adam and Elaine Thomson will attend workshop 3.
Is that agreed?
I did not realise that this shambles was being recorded for posterity.
We now have some indication of which workshops members will attend.
As we are dealing with arrangements for our meeting in Orkney, can you advise the committee of what may or may not happen tomorrow night?
I will do that as a precursor to the next item on the agenda.
Meeting continued in private until 12:49.
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