Equal Opportunities Committee, 22 Jan 2002

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Official Report 75KB pdf

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Chhokar Inquiries (Jandoo Report)

We agreed to have a meeting to discuss the Jandoo report, but it has not taken place. Item 4 on the agenda is an update on the situation from Michael McMahon, who has spoken to the Chhokars' representative.

The committee took the view that we should not proceed with our investigation of the Jandoo report until Mr Chhokar had undergone his chemotherapy treatment for cancer. I spoke to Aamer Anwar about the situation and he has advised me that Mr Chhokar received his final course of treatment in the first week of January. Although Mr Chhokar is mentally capable and is willing to attend the committee, he is not physically capable of doing so. He needs a few weeks to recover from the extensive treatment. Aamer Anwar has asked the committee to consider having the investigation some time in March. We are not time barred, so we can set the time scale. Given our commitment not to hold the investigation into the report until Mr Chhokar is available, I suggest that we accede to Aamer Anwar's request and, in the meantime, wish Mr Chhokar a speedy return to health.

Is the intention still to hold the meeting in Lanarkshire?

The arrangements will be the same as those we discussed previously. The meeting will be held at the most convenient location for the Chhokars and simultaneous translation will be available. Given that the committee was keen for the Chhokar family to be involved in the evidence session, we should agree to leave it until March. If we later feel that we must go ahead when the Chhokars are not available, the decision will be made in consultation with the family and the committee.

We will leave it to the clerks to arrange the meeting for a time that is suitable to the Chhokars and their representatives. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Before we move into private session, I inform members that today's meeting is the final one for the clerk, Lee Bridges. I do not know whether he is moving on to better things, but he has another job in the Parliament. I am sure that members will join me in thanking him for the hard work that he has put in and the service that he has given to the committee. Members, including me, will miss having Lee as clerk.

Meeting continued in private until 10:53.