Equal Opportunities Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Official Report
316KB pdf
Interests
Good afternoon and welcome to the first meeting in 2012 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. I wish everyone a very happy new year and all the best for 2012.
As deputy convener, I will chair the meeting until the committee chooses a new convener. I take this opportunity to record our appreciation for the work of our outgoing convener, Claudia Beamish, and I am sure that I speak for everyone in wishing her every success in her new role. I welcome the committee’s newest member, Mary Fee, and I am sure that we all look forward to working with her over this parliamentary session.
I remind everyone to ensure that all electronic devices are not just set to silent but deactivated, because data connectivity can apparently affect the broadcasting and recording equipment. No apologies have been received.
I would now like everyone to introduce themselves. To my left are the clerks, researchers and official reporters. We are also supported by broadcasting services and the security office. We have a full complement of MSPs, who will introduce themselves.
Good afternoon. I am a Highlands and Islands MSP.
I am a Central Scotland MSP.
I, too, am a Central Scotland MSP.
I am a West Scotland MSP.
I am the MSP for Aberdeenshire West.
I am a West Scotland MSP.
I am a West Scotland MSP.
We move to agenda item 1. In accordance with section 3 of the code of conduct, I invite our newest member, Mary Fee, to declare any interests that are relevant to the committee’s remit. Any declaration should be brief but sufficiently detailed to make clear the nature of the interest.
I have no declarable interests.