Items in Private
The next item is consideration of whether to discuss items 5, 6 and 7 in private. The items concern our approach to the preliminary stage of the bill and include a briefing on the environmental statement. Under item 5, the agreement of members is sought on the venue for future meetings and the appointment of an adviser to support the committee in its work.
Committees usually discuss in private whether to appoint an adviser and who the adviser should be, which enables committees to discuss the relevant merits of potential candidates. Under item 6, the committee's agreement is sought on our approach to evidence gathering. As part of that approach, the committee's views will be sought on commissioning of external research. Tenders have been included in the paper, so I propose that item 6 be discussed in private.
Under item 7, following a report from Bond Pearce, the view of the committee is sought on the adequacy of the bill's environmental statement. I propose that we discuss the item in private so that members' views on the report can be sought prior to the report's being made public.
I intend to publish the results of the committee's discussions under all items as part of the minute of the meeting, so I seek the committee's agreement to discuss items 5, 6 and 7 in private. Are we agreed?
Before we agree, would it be appropriate for the people who have been involved in the preparation of the items to be present during our private discussion? I suspect that that would be useful.
Yes. That is most certainly our intention.
In that case, and on that basis, I agree.
Members indicated agreement.
Meeting continued in private until 16:40.