Hansard

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

12 Feb 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 12 February 2002<br />(Morning)

Colleagues, we are ready to start the meeting. I have received apologies from Elaine Thomson. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and pagers—I had better look at mine to ensure that I have done so.

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

26 Mar 2002

Financial Scrutiny Review

I open the sixth meeting in 2002 of the Finance Committee and ask members to ensure that their mobile phones and pagers are turned off, as the meeting has opened in public. I have received no apologies so far.Item 1 is on the financial scrutiny review. We agreed at our meeting...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

16 Apr 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 16 April 2002<br />(Morning)

I open the seventh meeting of the Finance Committee in 2002. As usual, I ask that mobile phones and pagers be turned off.We have received an apology from Jamie Stone, who is in transit to the Parliament, but is stuck between here and the airport. He will join us later. Profess...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

21 May 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 21 May 2002<br />(Morning)

Welcome to the 10th meeting in 2002 of the Finance Committee. This is the committee's first meeting of the week—there will be another evidence-gathering meeting in Orkney on Thursday.Mobile phones and pagers should be turned off. Jamie Stone has sent his apologies—he will be l...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

26 Jun 2002

Item in Private

I formally open the 14th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2002. I make the usual announcement that mobile phones and pagers should be switched off. All the committee's members are present and Murray McVicar is in attendance.Agenda item 1 is to ask whether members agree to d...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

10 Sep 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 10 September 2002<br />(Morning)

I suggest that we start the 15th meeting in 2002 of the Finance Committee. I make the usual announcement about mobile phones and pagers: please switch them off. We have received apologies from David Davidson, who will not be at the meeting, and from Elaine Thomson and Brian Ad...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

24 Sep 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 24 September 2002<br />(Morning)

I open the 18th meeting of the Finance Committee this year. I ask the committee and members of the public to switch off their mobile phones and pagers. We have received apologies from Alasdair Morgan and Jamie Stone. We are still waiting for Brian Adam, who might be on the tra...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

08 Oct 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 8 October 2002<br />(Morning)

I welcome members of the committee, the press and the public to the 19th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2002. I remind people to turn off their mobile phones and pagers. We have received apologies from Elaine Thomson, who is attending the Local Government Committee in Inv...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

19 Nov 2002

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 19 November 2002<br />(Morning)

Welcome to the 23rd meeting this year of the Finance Committee. I make my usual comments about the need to turn off mobile phones and pagers.We have apologies from Jamie Stone. Ian Doig and Murray McVicar are in attendance. Unfortunately, Arthur Midwinter will not be present a...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

02 Sep 2003

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 2 September 2003<br />(Morning)

I welcome members to the fourth meeting of the Finance Committee in this session. I also welcome the press and the public, although I do not think that many members of the public are here.I remind members to ensure that their mobile phones and pagers are switched off so that t...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

09 Sep 2003

Item in Private

I welcome everyone to the fifth Finance Committee meeting of this session. I welcome members of the press and the public, as well as our witnesses. I remind members to turn off their pagers and mobile phones in case they go off during the meeting. We have not received any apol...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

16 Sep 2003

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 16 September 2003<br />(Morning)

I open the Finance Committee's sixth meeting of this parliamentary session. I welcome the press and the public and remind members to switch off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Fergus Ewing.I welcome Susan Duffy, who has been appointed as the new...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

23 Sep 2003

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 23 September 2003<br />(Morning)

I open the seventh meeting of the Finance Committee in the second session of Parliament. I welcome the press and the public and I remind members and everybody else who is here to switch off all pagers and mobile phones.We have received apologies from two members of the committ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

30 Sep 2003

National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

The bell has rung for 10 o'clock, so I welcome members, the press and the public to the Finance Committee's eighth meeting in session 2. I remind people to switch off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received no apologies from committee members.Agenda item 1 relates to ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

07 Oct 2003

National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill:<br />Financial Memorandum

I welcome people to the ninth meeting of the Finance Committee in the second session of the Parliament. I welcome the press and the public and remind members and anyone else that pagers and mobile phones should be switched off. We have received apologies from Ted Brocklebank, ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

28 Oct 2003

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 28 October 2003<br />(Morning)

I welcome the press and the public to the 10th meeting of the Finance Committee in the second session of the Parliament and I remind people that they should switch off their pagers and mobile phones. Wendy Alexander has sent apologies; she will be unable to attend the whole me...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

04 Nov 2003

Work Programme

I welcome the press and public to the 11th meeting of the Finance Committee in session 2. As always, I remind members to switch off their pagers and mobile phones.The first item on today's agenda is consideration of the committee's work programme. Members have a note from the ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

11 Nov 2003

Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

I welcome the press and public to the 13th meeting of the Finance Committee in session 2. I remind members and everyone else that all pagers and mobile phones should be switched off.The first agenda item is consideration of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill, which was in...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

18 Nov 2003

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

I welcome the press and the public to the 14th Finance Committee meeting of session 2. I remind members and others that all pagers and mobile phones should be switched off.The first item on our agenda is consideration of the financial memorandum to the Education (Additional Su...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

25 Nov 2003

Scottish Parliament Building Project

I welcome members to the 15th meeting of the Finance Committee in the second session of Parliament. I also welcome members of the press and public and I remind everyone to switch off all pagers and mobile phones.We have received no apologies for absence, so we will move straig...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

02 Dec 2003

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

Good morning and welcome to the 16th meeting of the Finance Committee in this session. I welcome members of the press and public. I remind members that, as usual, they should turn off all pagers and mobile phones and I ask members of the public and witnesses to do the same. We...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

09 Dec 2003

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 9 December 2003<br />(Morning)

I welcome members to the 17th meeting of the Finance Committee in this session. I do not need to welcome the press and public because, at the moment, no members of the press or public are here. I ask members to switch off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received apolog...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

16 Dec 2003

Local Governance (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

I open the 18th meeting of the Finance Committee in this second parliamentary session by welcoming members of the press and public. As usual, I ask that everyone switch off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Ted Brocklebank and Fergus Ewing. Wendy ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

13 Jan 2004

Petition

I welcome the press and public to the Finance Committee's first meeting in 2004 and I remind everybody to switch off pagers and mobile phones. I wish everybody a happy new year and congratulate Wendy Alexander on her marriage since we were last all together. We have received n...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

20 Jan 2004

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill:<br />Financial Memorandum

Good morning. I welcome members, the press, the public and our witnesses to the second Finance Committee meeting of 2004 in session 2 of the Parliament. I remind everybody that pagers and mobile phones should be switched off. We have received apologies from Wendy Alexander, wh...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

27 Jan 2004

Scottish Parliament Building Project

Good morning, colleagues. I open the third meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. We have not received any apologies, so I hope that Wendy Alexander will join us soon. I welcome the press and public to the meeting and I remind members and everyone else to turn off their pag...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

03 Feb 2004

Scottish Water

I welcome members of the committee and members of the public to the fourth meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind everyone to turn off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Ted Brocklebank, who is not able to attend the meeting. Jeremy Pur...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

10 Feb 2004

Budget (Scotland) Bill

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the Finance Committee's fifth meeting in 2004. I welcome the press and public to the meeting and I ask everyone who is present to ensure that their pagers and mobile phones are switched off.The first item on our agenda today is the Budget (S...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

24 Feb 2004

Public Sector Jobs Relocation Inquiry

I open the sixth meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. I welcome members of the press and public and our witnesses. I remind everyone that pagers and mobile phones should be switched off, in case they go off during the proceedings. We have received apologies from Wendy Ale...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

26 Feb 2004

Scottish Parliament Building Project

I welcome members, the press and the public to the seventh meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind members to turn off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Jeremy Purvis.The one item of business on today's agenda is the committee's on-going ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

02 Mar 2004

Public Sector Jobs Relocation Inquiry

I open the Finance Committee's eighth meeting in 2004 and welcome the press and public. As usual, I remind people to turn off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received no apologies from members in respect of today's meeting.The first item on our agenda is consideration ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

09 Mar 2004

Budget Process 2005-06

I welcome members to the ninth meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. The meeting is public, so I also welcome members of the press and public. I remind everyone to turn off their pagers and mobile phones.We have received no apologies for absence, so let us move on to agend...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

30 Mar 2004

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 30 March 2004<br />(Morning)

I welcome people to the 11th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind members to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received no apologies for today's meeting.We have been joined by Terry Shevlin, who served with the committee previously and has now retu...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

20 Apr 2004

Scottish Parliament Building Project

I welcome members of the press and public to the 12th meeting of the Finance Committee in session 2. I remind members and everyone else that pagers and mobile phones should be switched off. All committee members are present this morning.The first item on our agenda is the comm...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

27 Apr 2004

Spending Review 2004

I welcome the press and public to the 13th meeting this year of the Finance Committee and, as usual, I remind people to switch off their mobile phones and pagers. We have received apologies from Ted Brocklebank and an indication that Jim Mather might be late.The first item on ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

04 May 2004

Public Sector Jobs Relocation Inquiry

Good morning. I welcome members, the press and the public to the 14th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind members to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. Wendy Alexander is away for a while, but will be joining us later. The first item on our agenda is our i...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

11 May 2004

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning. I welcome the press and public to the 15th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind people to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. We have apologies from Wendy Alexander.Agenda items 1 and 2 are on consideration of a draft Scottish statutory instrum...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

25 May 2004

Point of Order

I welcome committee members and members of the press and public to the 16th meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. I remind everyone to turn off mobile phones and pagers. We have received apologies from Ted Brocklebank. Jim Mather has unexpected urgent business and is unlik...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

01 Jun 2004

Prohibition of Smoking in Regulated Areas (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum

I welcome members of the press and public to the 17th meeting this year of the Finance Committee. As usual, I remind people to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. I think that Wendy Alexander and Jeremy Purvis will be joining us a bit late.The first item on our agenda is ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

15 Jun 2004

Items in Private

Welcome to the Finance Committee's 19th meeting in 2004. I remind everyone to turn off pagers and mobile phones. We have not received any apologies, although Ted Brocklebank has informed me that he has to leave at about 11 o'clock.The first item on the agenda is to decide whet...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

22 Jun 2004

Scottish Parliament Building Project

Good morning, colleagues. I welcome members, the press and the public to the 20th meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. As usual, I remind members to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Kate Maclean; I am expecting Gordon Jackson to att...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

09 Sep 2004

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Thursday 9 September 2004

Good morning. I welcome members of the Finance Committee, the press and the public to probably the most magnificent of the committee rooms in the new Holyrood buildings.I start with the familiar message to members to switch off their pagers and mobile phones. I think that guid...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

14 Sep 2004

Scottish Parliament<br />Finance Committee<br />Tuesday 14 September 2004

I welcome the press, the public and our witnesses to today's meeting. I understand that it is not the witnesses' fault that they have been a bit delayed in getting here and thank them for coming. I remind people to turn off pagers and mobile phones. Fergus Ewing will be late. ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

21 Sep 2004

Cross-cutting Expenditure Review on Economic Development

I welcome people to the 23rd meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004 in the second session of the Parliament. I welcome the press and public as well as committee members and I remind people to turn off their pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Fergus Ewi...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

28 Sep 2004

Interests

Welcome to the 23rd meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind people to switch off pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Wendy Alexander and from Jim Mather.I welcome back to the committee Alasdair Morgan, who was a member of the Finance Committee ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

05 Oct 2004

Budget Process 2005-06<br />(Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Submission)

I welcome members of the press and the public to the 25th meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. I remind people to turn off all pagers and mobile phones. No apologies have been received.The first item on our agenda is consideration of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate B...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

26 Oct 2004

Budget Process 2005-06

Welcome to the 26th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. As usual, I remind people to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Wendy Alexander and from Jeremy Purvis, who will arrive late.The first item on our agenda is consideration of the...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

02 Nov 2004

Interests

I welcome members, the press and the public to the 27th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind members to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. No apologies have been received and we are all present.Since the previous meeting, Kate Maclean has resigned from the ...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

09 Nov 2004

Budget Process 2005-06

I welcome members, the press and the public to the 28th meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee. I remind members to switch off pagers and mobile phones. We have received apologies from Elaine Murray.Agenda item 1 is consideration of the 2005-06 budget process. I am pleased t...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

23 Nov 2004

Item in Private

I welcome the press and the public to the 30th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind members to turn off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received no apologies.Agenda item 1 is to consider whether to take item 5 in private. We will shortly consider a draft st...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

30 Nov 2004

Scottish Parliament Building

I welcome colleagues, the press and the public to the 31st meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004 and I remind members to switch off all mobile phones and pagers. We have received no apologies. I intend to conclude item 1 by 10.15 at the latest; we have witnesses arriving fr...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

07 Dec 2004

Cross-cutting Expenditure Review on Economic Development

Good morning. I welcome members, the press and the public to the 32nd meeting this year of the Finance Committee. I remind everyone to turn off pagers and mobile phones. Our only apology is from Jeremy Purvis, who will be a bit late in joining us. Our first item is our third e...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

14 Dec 2004

Cross-cutting Expenditure Review on Economic Development

Good morning, colleagues. I open the 33rd meeting in 2004 of the Finance Committee and welcome our witnesses and members of the press and public. I remind everyone to turn off all pagers and mobile phones. We have received no apologies, so we move straight to agenda item 1, wh...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

21 Dec 2004

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill:<br />Financial Memorandum

I welcome the press and public to the 34th meeting of the Finance Committee in 2004. I remind people to turn off their pagers and mobile phones.The first item on the agenda is scrutiny of the financial memorandum to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill, which w...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

11 Jan 2005

Items in Private

I welcome Tavish Scott, the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform. I also welcome David Robb, who is head of the Executive's public bodies unit, and Morris Fraser, who is also from the public bodies unit. They are with us for item 2 on the agenda. We have anoth...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

18 Jan 2005

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill:<br />Financial Memorandum

I open the second meeting of the Finance Committee in 2005. I welcome the press and public and remind members to switch off all pagers and mobile phones. We have apologies from Jim Mather and Elaine Murray, who are delayed by the weather. I suspect that Wendy Alexander might b...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

25 Jan 2005

Items in Private

Good morning. I welcome members, the press and the public to the Finance Committee's third meeting of 2005. I remind people to turn off their pagers and mobile phones. We have apologies from Alasdair Morgan, who has the flu, and from Frank McAveety, who has transport difficult...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

01 Feb 2005

Interests

I welcome members to the fourth meeting of the Finance Committee in 2005. I also welcome the press and the public to today's meeting and I remind members to switch off their mobile phones and pagers. We have received apologies from John Swinburne.I welcome three other people t...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

08 Feb 2005

Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill:<br />Financial Memorandum

Good morning, everyone. I remind members and others that all pagers and mobile phones should be switched off. This is the Finance Committee's fifth meeting of 2005. Our first agenda item is consideration of the financial memorandum to the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotl...

The Convener (Des McNulty): Lab Committee

22 Feb 2005

Relocation of Public Sector Jobs

I welcome members of the press and public to the sixth Finance Committee meeting in 2005. I remind people to turn off their pagers and mobile phones. We have apologies from John Swinburne and Ted Brocklebank.Under agenda item 1, we will take evidence on the Executive's revised...