Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 26 Nov 2002

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Official Report 194KB pdf

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Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill

The bill on the commissioner for children and young people will be introduced on 4 December and published on 5 December. On that basis, I suggested that the committee hold a press launch in Edinburgh on the morning of 5 December, and we are exploring the ways in which that could happen. I hope that the launch will involve children and young people but not in a tokenistic way, so I have shied away from launching it in a school. One of the options is to use the education centre, and, if children are using it on that day, to involve them in the press conference

Do all members want to attend, or will there be a representative from each party only? I have no preference. Jackie Baillie, Irene McGugan and I will deal with much of the detail of the bill, but I hope that representatives from each party will attend. I assume that the deputy convener will want to be there, and, if she attends, I assume that there would be merit in Mike Russell attending.

I have the utmost faith in Irene McGugan and, of course, in you. I am happy to go along with whatever arrangements are decided although I have slight difficulty with using children who happen to be in the education centre.

I understand that arrangements have moved on.

You were speaking—

As I was speaking, I was advised that arrangements have moved on since the last briefing that I received.

I realised that the convener had not been copied into the e-mail. To make the launch more attractive to the print media and others, perhaps it would be better to set up a separate photo opportunity in the Edinburgh area. It will not be tokenistic; I hope that it will link the press launch to the original consultation process for the bill. Following the photo opportunity, there will be a follow-up press conference in the vicinity of the Parliament.

I am happy to leave the photo call to Jackie Baillie, Irene McGugan and the convener. I will attend the later press conference.

Members will be sent the details by e-mail, and we can discuss them either in a meeting or by e-mail. Are members happy with that suggestion?

Members indicated agreement.

Meeting closed at 15:28.