Scottish Parliament Finance Committee Tuesday 25 September 2001 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 10:13]
I call this meeting of the Finance Committee to order. I am sorry for the delay, but the train from Aberdeen that was carrying Brian Adam and David Davidson was delayed, which deprived us briefly of a quorum. Richard Simpson has also had travel difficulties, but he is coming from London, which is further afield. He hopes to be here for the later part of the meeting.
I issue the usual warning to everyone in the room about mobile phones and pagers. I welcome David McGill as acting clerk to the committee. I am not sure whether that title will last for long, because I understand that his appointment will be permanent. I congratulate him on that and I look forward to working with him. I would like to record my thanks to Callum Thomson, who has moved to the Transport and the Environment Committee, for his work as clerk team leader in the past 18 months.
I have received apologies for absence from Donald Gorrie and Elaine Thomson.