Committee
Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee, 19 Jun 2007
19 Jun 2007 · S3 · Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee
Item of business
Work Programme
Rather than simply scrutinising legislation, we are here to scrutinise all Executive decisions. If we are to do that effectively, we need to have clear and comprehensive background information, which the clerks are able to provide. Whether that leads to one outcome or the other, we will want to take an early opportunity to discuss it with ministers, perhaps informally at the away day and certainly formally, on the record, in September.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Green
The final item is our approach to developing a work plan. Members will have had a chance to look at the various papers that the clerks have circulated. It is...
Des McNulty:
Lab
I will flag up two issues. The first is the recommendation in the previous Finance Committee's legacy paper that all subject committees should appoint a budg...
The Convener:
Green
I am open to looking at both matters. I do not anticipate that many members will oppose the idea of having a budget adviser. I do not recall speaking to memb...
The Convener:
Green
As soon as the capital projects review was announced, it was clear that it would have to come before the committee in some shape or form. Are there any other...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
Are we not going to receive a report from Audit Scotland on the projects very soon?
The Convener:
Green
The report is expected to cover two specific projects, but the Executive has indicated that the same level of financial information will also be provided abo...
Des McNulty:
Lab
The Executive has identified two transport projects over which it wishes to place question marks. The Audit Scotland considerations, which will be published ...
The Convener:
Green
We will decide later whether we need to hold an additional meeting next week.
Stefan Tymkewycz:
SNP
I do not disagree in principle with anything that Des McNulty said, but we might be jumping ahead of ourselves here. The Auditor General for Scotland will is...
Des McNulty:
Lab
You have misunderstood what I am saying, Stefan. I am not talking about what is happening with two projects this week and next week. I am talking about the f...
The Convener:
Green
We will park for a moment the issue of the two highly contentious projects that are being looked at, the information coming back to Parliament before recess,...
Des McNulty:
Lab
I do not want to challenge you in your first meeting, convener, but I have made a proposal on work that is clearly required in the context of the major revie...
The Convener:
Green
My original question was to ask members to indicate what issues the clerks should work on to prepare for an away day. My sense is that the work that Des McNu...
Des McNulty:
Lab
Provided that we do not lose the timescale. If, as the cabinet secretary announced, the review is to take place in September, I would be extremely annoyed if...
The Convener:
Green
Are we content that the committee will seek to make the earliest realistic progress on the strategic projects review in September but that we do not need a m...
Alison McInnes:
LD
I support what Mr McNulty has said. I think that the committee should resolve that the review is a matter of importance and proceed in that way. Rather than ...
The Convener:
Green
Is that agreed?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
Green
Background information on the projects under review can be provided in advance of any discussion in September.
Rob Gibson:
SNP
Alison McInnes was in charge of NESTRANS recently. The reports by the regional transport partnerships on the forward planning of transport for the next 10 ye...
The Convener:
Green
Are there any other views on that?
Des McNulty:
Lab
I have seen only one or two of the regional transport partnerships' plans, but many of the proposals are long term and speculative. As I understand it, the s...
Stefan Tymkewycz:
SNP
I am willing to take advice on this, given that I am new to the committee procedures. The committees are for scrutinising Government legislation, or any legi...
The Convener:
Green
Sorry. Are you talking about the strategic projects review?
Stefan Tymkewycz:
SNP
Yes.
The Convener:
Green
Rather than simply scrutinising legislation, we are here to scrutinise all Executive decisions. If we are to do that effectively, we need to have clear and c...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
I apologise for being late. I have been waiting for an aeroplane for three hours—I have come late to the transport committee because of an aeroplane.
The Convener:
Green
As Rob Gibson said, we have no control over that, although we do have scrutiny powers.
Cathy Peattie:
Lab
It is important that we have those scrutiny powers.We need to have as much information as possible. I do not think that any work that the clerks do to provid...
The Convener:
Green
There is general agreement about the task that we are asking the clerks to perform for us.Are there other issues that we want the clerks to do preparatory wo...
Alex Johnstone:
Con
I will raise a couple of issues. The first relates to the prospect of a climate change bill. I have discussed the matter with one or two committee members an...