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Item 3 is pre and post-council analysis and scrutiny. I note from the clerk's paper that we have a couple of late papers. One is a pre-council agenda for the economic and financial affairs council meeting of 7 November and the other is a post-council report on the competitiveness council meeting of 25 September. If members agree, it would be worth while to check with the Executive why the competitiveness council report was so late. Do members wish to raise points on pre and post-council scrutiny?
We have two papers on agriculture and fisheries council meetings. Why do they not refer to renegotiation of the common agricultural policy? That was a condition that Mr Blair imposed when he sold out—I mean, when he gave up part of our budget rebate some time ago, although I like the phrase "sold out" better. Why has no move been made to renegotiate the CAP, as promised?
I note that the post-council agenda says:
I am sorry—you are talking about fisheries, but I was talking about the common agricultural policy.
I thought that you referred to fisheries. I guess that we could write to ask the UK Government about that. The agriculture and fisheries council meeting will take place today and tomorrow.
It would be nice to see CAP renegotiation on the next agenda.
I have no doubt that we will receive a post-council report on the meeting. Do you want to wait for that report and to take up the issue after that if you are unhappy?
From what I can see in the pre-council agenda, I do not think that CAP renegotiation will be discussed. I would like to see it on the next pre-council agenda. I acknowledge that that is beyond the Scottish Parliament's remit, but the subject is important to people in Scotland, given the implications for our budget commitments. We should all consider that.
Do I detect a Conservative party debate coming up in the chamber on the common agricultural policy? That might be one way of addressing the question. What we do is in the hands of the committee.
I do not know whether committee members feel that to ask about CAP renegotiation would be premature or unfair.
I am sorry, but I am hacked off because you have made me late for the Labour group meeting, so I will not support you.
I feel that asking about the issue would be a wee bit premature, but I am happy to look carefully at the post-council agenda to see what happens.
All right. I would hate to make Charlie Gordon late for the Labour group meeting.
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