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Chamber and committees

Plenary, 15 Feb 2007

Meeting date: Thursday, February 15, 2007


Contents


Points of Order

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have given you notice of my point of order. As you know, the Justice 1 Committee will publish its report on the McKie case and the Scottish fingerprint service this afternoon. I believe that the Scottish Executive and the press are getting advance copies of the report prior to the press conference that is to be held by the committee convener. However, advance copies have been refused both to the McKie family and to the Scottish Criminal Record Office officers who are the subject of the report.

I accept that this would normally be a matter for the convener and the committee rather than for you, Presiding Officer. However, the matter raises fundamental issues about the human rights of the people involved and it has basic implications for the whole Parliament, not just for the Justice 1 Committee. I ask you to look at the situation, because it is unacceptable that the press and the Scottish Executive have prior warning of what is in the report but the people who are the subject of the report are being refused the same accommodation.

The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):

I thank you for the advance notice of your point of order, which will now be in the Official Report. I must tell you, however, that it is entirely a matter for the committee concerned and I am afraid that you should raise it with the convener.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I apologise for being unable to intimate it to you in advance, but it arises from a response that I received from the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, Tom McCabe. I referred carefully to other money that would be available to the Ayrshire councils, but the minister referred to existing provision and to the council tax rate that was set by South Ayrshire Council. I point out that that rate was as a result of a £12 million deficit left by Labour when the council was taken over recently by the Conservatives.

I think that you have made your point, which will also be in the Official Report.