Scottish Parliament Environment and Rural Development Committee Wednesday 30 June 2004 (Morning)
[The Convener opened the meeting at 11:42]
Colleagues, welcome to our last meeting before the summer recess. I welcome committee members, any witnesses, the press, members of the public and colleagues from the Parliament. Apologies have been received from Alex Johnstone, who cannot be with us this morning. He is continuing the meeting up in Aberdeen that the rest of us were at yesterday. It will be useful to get his feedback on that after the recess. I remind people to turn off their mobile phones.
Those of you who have read the Business Bulletin this morning will note that Eleanor Scott is leaving the committee and will be replaced by Mark Ruskell of the Green party. Eleanor has been a quiet, calm and persistent voice and I have enjoyed working with her, especially because I know that she reads every paper that she is sent and always raises issues when she thinks that something needs to be put on the agenda. I am sure that all members will join me in thanking her for all her hard work in the first year of the committee. It has been interesting to have a member of a different party as my deputy convener. We have not fallen out in public—or even in private—and that is quite an achievement.