Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 29 Sep 1999

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 29, 1999

Official Report 241KB pdf

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European Structural Funds

The European Committee has referred the matter of the Scottish operational plan for objective 3 funding to this committee for its views. That paper—it is more than a paper, it is a tome—has been circulated to committee members.

The issue is likely to come back to the European Committee on 19 October and I suspect that, as Allan and Margo are members of the European Committee, members should make their comments directly to them.

The European Committee had a long discussion about this matter yesterday. A number of important issues were raised on which consensus was reached. At some point, I will report back to this committee on the matter because of the correlation between structural funds and economic development.

The European Committee discussed developing a rapporteur system. It was stated that each committee could develop its own means of reporting. We might want to consider a system whereby Margo and I could report back to this committee about matters of joint interest and perform the same function in the European Committee. That would not interfere with members' rights to attend both committees, but it would formalise the process.

A witness who came before the European Committee spoke about the structural fund and mentioned many areas that were relevant to what we were talking about yesterday.

To protect Allan and Margo, committee members should make their comments to the clerk, who will compile them and pass them on.