Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee, 12 Dec 2006
12 Dec 2006 · S2 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Participation (Widening Access)
I agree. The issue is not within our remit, but within the remit of the Local Government and Transport Committee. However, I have concerns that the equalities agenda will get lost in the elections and that the gender, age and ethnicity profile of elected members will remain the same. We had an opportunity to deal with those issues, but I agree with Marlyn Glen that that requires working with political parties, which have a particular role to play in ensuring that there is a greater ethnic mix in the Parliament and in dealing with issues relating to gender and age. It is difficult for us to comment, but if the parties are not involved we will not bring about the kind of change that is necessary. We will have to wait and see what happens in the local government elections, but we should put our views on the record. Are members content for us to write to the Local Government and Transport Committee to express our concerns?Members indicated agreement.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Agenda item 6 is consideration of correspondence from the Local Government and Transport Committee and from the Minister for Finance and Public Service Refor...
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
We are so close to the election that there is no time for us to do anything else, but I am a bit disappointed that the Local Government and Transport Committ...
The Convener:
Lab
I agree. The issue is not within our remit, but within the remit of the Local Government and Transport Committee. However, I have concerns that the equalitie...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Is there any legislation that we can enforce?
The Convener:
Lab
No.
Meeting suspended until 11:06 and thereafter continued in private until 12:00.