Finance Committee, 28 Nov 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 28, 2000

Official Report 63KB pdf

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Europe Familiarisation Scheme

The second item on the agenda concerns the interestingly worded Scottish Parliament European familiarisation scheme. The issue was discussed at the conveners group and the paper that members have is a brief version of that discussion. Last week, the conveners group agreed that the visit should go ahead. The cost to the Scottish Parliament will be minimal—there should be almost no cost, unless there is any add-on to the stay—and it is felt that such contact with the European Parliament would be of value to committees in general.

I should inform members that it has been suggested that not all committees should go. At the conveners group, we were given a list of the 11 committees that were described as most likely to benefit from participation in the European Parliament study visit. Those committees are: the Audit Committee; the Education, Culture and Sport Committee; the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee; the Equal Opportunities Committee; the Finance Committee; the Health and Community Care Committee; the Justice and Home Affairs Committee; the Public Petitions Committee; the Rural Affairs Committee; the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee; and the Transport and the Environment Committee.

The purpose of the agenda item is to bring the matter to the committee's attention and to invite nominations for a member of the committee to join the visit, which will happen at some unspecified date next spring. Do members have any comments?

As the paper seems to suggest that the group will consist of conveners and other members, perhaps we should nominate you, convener.

Although there will be some spaces on the visit for other members, committees do not have the right to nominate more than one member. It is intended that the delegation will be led by a Deputy Presiding Officer—probably George Reid, because of his involvement with the conveners group. He will be able to fill three additional places to ensure that there is party balance and that specific interests are covered.

Let us nominate only the convener, for now. If any other member wants to go, perhaps the convener can push for their inclusion with George Reid.

I will be happy to do that. I am interested in going and I appreciate the nomination. David Davidson has also mentioned to me his interest.

Like Andrew Wilson, I feel that it is vital for the convener to go on the visit, because of the various procedures that are involved. However, I will certainly be interested in going if a vacancy comes up.

I will put a bid in for additional places on behalf of the Finance Committee. However, I cannot guarantee that members of the committee will fill any vacancies that come up.

If there are no further comments, I thank the committee for its nomination. I will keep the committee informed of any developments on the matter.

Meeting continued in private until 12:08.