Audit Committee, 26 Oct 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999

Official Report 208KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Audit Committee Tuesday 26 October 1999 (Afternoon)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 14:00]

I open this meeting—I have resisted the temptation to say, "Order, order," so I am glad that I am learning good new habits. I welcome everybody to the meeting.

We have received apologies from Margaret Jamieson. Are there any other apologies? No.

I ask the committee to consider holding the first agenda item, which is a discussion on the conduct of the meeting, in private. The item is our opportunity to agree on the way in which the meeting will be conducted, including the detailed questioning of witnesses. Although the witnesses will be broadly aware of the issues that we might cover, I believe that it would be more appropriate to hold the committee's detailed discussion on this item in private.

The results of our deliberations—the topics that we raise, the questions that we ask and the issues that we pursue—will be clearly revealed in the ensuing public meeting. However, it is in everyone's interests that those arrangements are concluded in a brief private meeting. This proposal is designed to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of our work on behalf of the public. Before I ask the committee to agree to take agenda item 1 in private, I wish to emphasise that, wherever possible, the committee will be asked to agree to any initial private meeting at the previous committee meeting, so that everybody can see what is going on. The aim is to avoid causing members of the press and public any unnecessary inconvenience and confusion.

I now propose that the committee meet in private for about 15 minutes to deal with the first agenda item. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

That is unanimously agreed.

Meeting suspended.

On resuming—