Finance Committee, 23 Oct 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Official Report 215KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Finance Committee Tuesday 23 October 2001 (Morning)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:08]

I formally open this meeting of the Finance Committee and I welcome members. We have received no apologies, so I reckon that the Aberdeen train is running a bit late again. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and to set their pagers to buzz.

I want to ensure that all members have seen the new version of today's agenda, which was issued yesterday. The only change to it is the addition of the names of the officials from the Executive who will give evidence in a few moments. Richard Simpson looks rather puzzled, so perhaps he has not seen it.

I take this opportunity to remind members that we will have an informal meeting with the Minister for Finance and Local Government, Angus MacKay, at 1.30 today. From the minister's point of view, that meeting cannot go on past 3.15. I propose to consider questioning for that session before we finish this morning's meeting, rather than convene the meeting with the minister earlier than 1.30. I am sure that members have commitments at lunch time that would make it difficult to convene this afternoon's meeting early, so I intend to do as I have suggested.