European and External Relations Committee, 27 Apr 2004

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Official Report 313KB pdf

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Convener's Report

We move on to consider the convener's report, the first item on which is the reply that we have received from the Executive in response to our inquiry about the First Minister's role as president of Regleg. The response gives the dates of some forthcoming events. Regleg is, of course, the group of regions with legislative power—I say that for the Official Report, so that we do not use too many acronyms. As we all know, the First Minister became president of the group last November and since then the committee has been seeking an update on what is happening and what is planned.

I will qualify what I would like to say—I will try to be diplomatic for once—but I found the response disappointing. I would have liked far more detail on what is going on and a copy of the First Minister's speech of 23 March. We are about halfway through the presidency and I would like to know what Regleg is getting up to. I also want to know how it envisages the network of regional parliamentary European committees—NORPEC—fitting in, and more about the Regleg co-ordination committee. Does it have an office and administrative back-up, or is that up to the individual presidency? I think that it is the latter.

I wonder how on earth the First Minister is meant to represent the views of the regions with legislative power in relevant Commission initiatives and how that process is undertaken. We know that he has visited a number of regions, but how does he gather the work together? When a Commission initiative comes out, how long does he take to respond? Does he take as long as some ministers take to reply to our correspondence?

I remind members that we invited the First Minister to address the committee on Regleg. I ask the clerk to confirm that we have not had a response.

I confirm that the committee has not had a response.

Do I have the committee's permission to chase that up? There are a lot of outstanding questions.

Perhaps we should send Keith Raffan's comments to the First Minister. Keith has perhaps spoken for the committee.

There is not much point in the First Minister coming before us unless we get more substantial written evidence to work on in advance.

If he accepts the invitation, we will make sure that some briefing is available.

It would be worth while to ask him for a bit more detail now.

I would be happy to have a bit more detail.

On a positive note, the fifth annual conference of the presidents of Regleg is to be held on 29 November. It would be useful if the committee could organise a joint event, seminar or reception so that it can be involved in some way. I am happy for us to task the clerks to work with the special advisers or the Executive's external affairs division to investigate positive involvement in that conference.

I agree with the point that Irene Oldfather makes, but would it be possible to organise a simultaneous NORPEC event? After all, the two things are not unconnected.

I am trying to remember when our NORPEC event is planned. Is it September?

There is no definite date, but when the committee was in Barcelona, it agreed that the event should be held in the autumn, so the suggestion that has been made might be a possibility if the committee is so minded.

That would make sense.

We should take into account the fact that such an event might be overshadowed by the Regleg meeting.

We might overshadow Regleg.

That might be more easily accomplished.

I take your point.

We can discuss those issues later.

Last week I was at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The Saxony-Anhalt delegation asked me about the next meeting of NORPEC, to which it has been invited. I checked with the clerks and I understand that the meeting will be in November. Of course, the difference is that NORPEC has about five or six members whereas Regleg includes about 70 regions, so I do not think that it would be a good idea to hold the events simultaneously. However, we should consider trying to take up the opportunity to meet the presidents of regions with legislative powers while they are in Scotland—obviously, that would be subject to the willingness of the First Minister, but I hope that we can arrange that.

I suggest that, as a compromise, we write back to the Executive, seeking more information specifically about the events in November and asking whether the Parliament—through this committee—can be involved. We will also remind the First Minister of the standing invitation to come to the committee. Are members agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I am not too exercised about whether the First Minister comes before the committee. I am sure that he is very busy.

Well, it is a standing invitation.

I would quite like some further information, however. If the First Minister is able to attend the committee before November, I am sure that we will be happy to see him.

Are there any minutes of these Regleg activities? Why the hell—sorry, that is unparliamentary language. Why the heck can we not just get a copy of the minutes?

As the Executive's letter points out, we are supposed to check the website for those minutes; the letter also gives the website address. However, we can ask for more information when we write to the First Minister.

The next item on the convener's report is the monthly report on external relations and inward and outward visits. The clerk has reminded me that, given that the Parliament was represented at tartan day, we should perhaps request a copy of the delegation's report. Are members agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I want to raise a very brief point. The report refers to

"a conference organised by the Scottish Palestinian Forum & Churches House at Dunblane"

that was held on 17 March. I know that the conference in question was on the Palestine issue, but Churches House carries out a lot of very good work on international development and conflict resolution issues. It might be useful to keep in touch with the centre, find out about its programme and ask it to feed in stuff from time to time.

Okay.