Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee 15 March 2011
15 Mar 2011 · S3 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Annual Report
Thank you very much.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Agenda item 2 is consideration of the committee’s annual report. The format is common to all committees—for example, there is a set number of words that can ...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I have a point about the balance of the report. I accept the point about the number of words, but our recent decision on the draft Equality Act 2010 (Statuto...
The Convener
Con
Marlyn Glen has a one or two-word suggestion that might help to explain the situation.
Marlyn Glen
Lab
I agree with the sentiment of what Malcolm Chisholm said. Paragraph 13 does not describe what we did. I do not want it to look as though we rejected the conc...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
We obviously want it to be a fairly factual, straight-down-the-line report. I was not aware of any rules about a set number of words, so I do not know whethe...
The Convener
Con
It could certainly be put in as a footnote. I do not think that there would be any problem with that. That would help.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Then, if people wanted to look at the reasoning, they could do so. Marlyn Glen’s suggestion is probably fine as well.
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
For balance, perhaps we need to refer to the action that the Government has taken in light of the decision that the committee made. To be fair, the Governmen...
The Convener
Con
A footnote could explain in more detail how the decision came to be taken and we could quite easily add what happened after that, which is that the Governmen...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
Yes.
The Convener
Con
We could add that the next Government, whoever forms it, will reconsider the matter in the new session. Is the committee happy with that?Members indicated ag...
The Convener
Con
We will amend the report accordingly. Is the committee content to delegate the finalising of the report to me?
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
Yes. After all this time, we can trust you to do that.
The Convener
Con
The responsibility is overwhelming, but I will cope.I want to take this opportunity to thank the current members of the Equal Opportunities Committee for all...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
Hear, hear.
Marlyn Glen
Lab
Thank you very much.
The Convener
Con
I also thank the clerks and Scottish Parliament information centre staff for their help during the session, and, of course, official report, broadcasting and...