Hansard

The Convener: Lab

Petition PE306 is on freemasonry and the judiciary. The committee decided that it did not want to take further action, but invited the petitioner to provide ...

Mr Hamilton: SNP

I am content that the issue has been exhausted.

Bill Aitken: Con

I concur.

The Convener: Lab

Unless any other member is otherwise minded, I do not propose to refer the petition back to the Public Petitions Committee.There is one question that I need ...

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

On whose shoulders would the liability lie in law if we were to publish the evidence in its entirety?

Gillian Baxendine:

My understanding is that a number of issues arise, one of which is possible defamation. The Parliament is protected in relation to that. Nevertheless, it wou...

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

I therefore propose that, based on the legal opinion, the evidence be edited or those parts that relate to potential breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 b...

Gillian Baxendine:

To be clear, my understanding is that if the evidence is published as a parliamentary proceeding, the protection extends to the petitioner as well.

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

In that case, I recommend non-publication.

Mr Hamilton: SNP

We have to be careful about this. My take on it is that to publish half the paper would be to stoke the fire still further. I suspect that we should simply s...

The Convener: Lab

I am sympathetic to the principle of the petition, but the committee decided that it was not, and that is the status of the petition at the moment. We invite...

Mr Hamilton: SNP

The point is that if we make an active choice to extend parliamentary privilege to something that we are sceptical about, we do a disservice.

The Convener: Lab

So the committee is agreed that we will not publish the evidence.In closing our last meeting, I wish to put on record my thanks to all members of the committ...

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

Hear, hear.

The Convener: Lab

They have managed to do the impossible sometimes in deciphering all the decisions that we have made. I thank them very much. Perhaps when the meeting closes ...

Bill Aitken: Con

Before we close the meeting, it would be appropriate to associate myself with your comments. This has been a tremendously good committee. We have frequently ...

The Convener: Lab

Thank you.

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

I would like to reflect on what has been said by my two colleagues and political rivals, and agree with them that the committee has worked well. I have thoro...

The Convener: Lab

It is amazing the things that we have learned about one another, and the things that I have learned about you, Stewart, and all the jobs that you have had. S...

Bill Aitken: Con

I was always just worried that he had a problem holding down a steady job.

The Convener: Lab

I also thank the official report. I cannot imagine what it must be like keeping up with what members say. Thank you.

Meeting closed at 12:31.