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Showing 56 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
22 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I totally agree with the assessment that the pre-council scrutiny report for the environment council is very comprehensive. I must say that I am getting increasingly fed up with some of the post-council scrutiny reports. For example, the general affairs and external relations ...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
16 Jun 1999
Legislative Programme
Whatever school of comedy I went to, it cannot compete with the school of farce to which Mr Campbell belongs. I want to deal with the legislative programme. I raised the serious point of pre-legislative scrutiny with the First Minister during questions on his statement. As the...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
23 Sep 2003
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I am new to this kind of scrutiny, but I agree with Margaret Ewing's remarks about the timing of our receipt of the paper. We are being informed, but we can hardly consult or contribute.The general affairs and external relations agenda does not give the kind of in-depth backgr...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
03 Feb 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I was intrigued to read in the pre and post-council scrutiny paper that the Irish and Dutch presidencies have set out a joint operational programme. I am sure that there are connections between different presidencies, but I was not aware that they were such that the presidenci...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD Chamber
16 Jun 1999
Legislative Programme
I have two points to put to the First Minister, one general and one specific. As a general point, how much time does he anticipate allowing for pre- legislative scrutiny of these bills? He might give members an idea of the timetable, although I presume that he expects the bill...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
30 Sep 1999
Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Bill
I will gladly give way to Miss Goldie in a moment. I know that her mental processes are rather slow—no doubt she wants to come back to some of the points that I made earlier. The crucial point is that the Scottish Parliament is superior to Westminster in terms of the process o...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD Chamber
13 Dec 2000
Budget Process 2001-02: Stage 2
Before I make my main remarks, I must come to the rescue of my good friend Mr Andrew Wilson, in the face of Mr Davidson's cruel and unfair intervention on his speech. That intervention suggested that today's debate is only about the budget process. It is actually about stage 2...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
07 Oct 2003
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I am certainly not happy that this load of correspondence has suddenly arrived on the desk today. If we are to give it our attention today, which we ought to do, we should have a suspension of 10 to 15 minutes so that we can study it. I do not want to skim through it with one ...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
07 Oct 2003
Convener's Report
Wendy Alexander triggered an idea in my mind. I do not know whether members are aware that Canada is being active in Scotland at the moment; a major exhibition is to open in the Royal Museum called "Trailblazers—Scots in Canada".At our party conference I bumped into the Canadi...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
03 Feb 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
As the footnote on page 2 says, almost all requests for information have been in the four-week response category—the slow track—so the situation is disappointing. As the clerks have allowed that length of time, it is disappointing that we do not receive quicker replies. That h...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
24 Feb 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I offer an addendum to Irene Oldfather's sensible proposal. There is a parallel with civil service job dispersal. Even if we do not bid for all of them, we should monitor where those national agencies are being located. It would strengthen our arguments when we bid for others ...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
02 Mar 2004
Convener's Report
The statement from the Foreign Secretary is positive. He suggests a successor committee to the standing committee that was set up to look at the convention on the future of Europe and the intergovernmental conference. He mentions—as Michael Ancram said in his response, althoug...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
30 Mar 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Paragraph 4 of annex B to the paper is headed:"Next generation of education spending programmes (Socrates, Leonardo and Tempus)".My knowledge of those programmes is pretty limited. On the Tempus Plus mobility programme, the paper states:"The programme, which currently only inv...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
30 Mar 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I would like to know more about those programmes, including the Erasmus programme, which is not mentioned in the paper, although I know that it is a higher education programme. I do not want to put the clerks to too much trouble, but I would certainly like to know more about t...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
30 Mar 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I hope that there is a misprint in the first paragraph of page 8, which refers to "efforts to … counter inclusion". I presume that it means efforts to counter exclusion.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
27 Apr 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Did we receive correspondence as well?
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Can we go through the items in turn? I agree about Europass. The extension of Tempus is also very interesting. Another issue is the proposed amendments to the legal basis of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Given the recent debate that took place...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I want to make the opposite point on the same issue. I am strongly in favour of health cards, because such cards will help those who visit, live and work abroad and provide them with much easier access to the health service, which is highly desirable and may occasionally save ...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Hear, hear.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I have some brief comments on the pre-council report for the transport, telecommunications and energy council. Paragraph 7, in the section on maritime transport, mentions the proposed directive of the European Parliament and the Council on enhancing port security. Although Per...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
What about the correspondence?
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
25 May 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I make a brief comment on that. It is important for us to get that information. To give one example, Europass will have a national agency. A lot of our local authorities—certainly those in my region—are making bids for civil service job dispersal. They are doing some good pres...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I have always found that pre-council reports on general affairs and external relations seem to be skimpy, to say the least. Do we have any control over that or over the pre-council information that we receive? Compared with other pre-council reports, the report is thin. It doe...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
The main thing is that we receive a full report afterwards.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I do not see where Phil Gallie sees that at all. Extending the European Union committee structure to cover matters that are basically multinational and cross-border seems to me to be eminently sensible. The paper does not state that there will be increased regulation. It says ...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I agree totally with Irene Oldfather. Having the committee structure cover banking, insurance and investment funds may smooth the way forward and make it easier to remove obstacles and obstructions that do not take into consideration technological change and market development...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Roll on 11 June.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Does he want us to witness his ballot paper?
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
So this is just a warm-up.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
And Joan Collins.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
The minister does not appear to respond to the point in the third paragraph of your letter about the fact that the proposed Community fisheries control agency will go to Galicia.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
The minister confirms that that is the case, but he does not say whether the Executive was aware that the agency was being created and whether it made a bid to secure it. It would be interesting to find out about that. The letter is pretty short—perhaps the minister was busy o...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I suggest that when we write to ministers in the future—especially Mr Kerr, but other ministers, too—the letter should have an introductory paragraph, followed by a list of numbered questions. Ministers could then respond to each question in turn, which would make things clear...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
08 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
To answer the specific question that I asked.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
22 Jun 2004
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
I would like more information on the whole business of merging the Socrates and Leonardo programmes and on the greater emphasis on vocational training. There is also a reference in our papers to"some coherence between Tempus and Erasmus Mundus".The reference is slightly lost o...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
On the first point, it is a good idea that we feed in questions—we should also encourage other committees to do so—when the candidate commissioners come before the European Parliament. That is a good idea and we should think about that. We should also invite—Interruption.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I thought that the part about the committee having any questions for candidate commissioners was a good idea. We should encourage other committees to follow that lead. I do not know what process we would use; I assume that th...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
Are we going to embark on a process whereby we put questions to them or will we have to feed our questions through the MEPs?
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
We could talk to John Edward as well. He is the head of the European Parliament office in Scotland and could be helpful. The general proposal is a good idea in as much as it will give us a good opportunity to raise our profile.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
That is what is proposed.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
14 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
I, too, refer to that council and the section in the report headed "Council Conclusions on Reduction of Alcohol-Related Damage among young people". It states:"The Presidency called upon the Commission to continue with the development of its alcohol strategy."I would like more ...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
28 Sep 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
I support that. We have covered before—perhaps elsewhere in the Parliament—the two recent European Court of Justice judgments concerning SIMAP and Jaeger, which will have consequences for junior hospital doctors' working hours. More consultant overtime will be necessary, which...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
26 Oct 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
There is no rush, but will the clerks obtain more information about the proposal for a decision on the information exchange on, and the risk assessment and control of, new narcotic drugs and new synthetic drugs, which was on the justice and home affairs council's agenda for 25...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
23 Nov 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
The committee might wish to reconsider at its away day whether to recommence with its idea of commissioning research into Scotland's performance relative to the Lisbon targets, rather than making a rushed decision now. Depending on our forward programme for next year, there mi...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
23 Nov 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
I endorse that point. It would be worth spending some time at the away day on committee processes.I want briefly to raise a few points about this part of the agenda. First, it would be useful to see the Kok report, called "Facing the challenge: The Lisbon strategy for growth a...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
23 Nov 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
I do not dissent from that view. There is an argument for the Parliament having its own representative in Brussels to help us with that. I agree with what the convener said, but the problem is our fortnightly cycle of meetings, which may not necessarily dovetail with the pre-c...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
23 Nov 2004
Pre and Post-council Scrutiny
Since the convener has raised the issue, let me suggest that, despite Irene Oldfather's earlier remarks, it might be worth our asking the minister to amplify her remarks rather than simply let the issue disappear into the ether.
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
21 Mar 2000
Scottish Parliament Building (Reporter)
I stand completely by my remarks, which were accurately reported by Mr David Scott. I am sorry that you have paraphrased them inaccurately. I was following the precedent as established in the House of Commons, where the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is traditionall...
Mr Raffan: LD Committee
13 Jun 2000
Budget 2001-02
I want to mention certain things that do not seem to be open to scrutiny, or that try to resist it. An example is the Scottish Prison Service, with which I have had problems. I would be happy to discuss that with you when you are wearing your ministerial hat for ensuring openn...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
16 Jun 1999
Legislative Programme
We should enter the single currency, but when the time is right. Dr Simpson, with his helpful intervention, knows that I am in favour of entering a single currency when the time is right. I am glad that Mr Salmond has returned to his place, as he, too, has not answered the que...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
16 Jun 1999
Legislative Programme
If Mr Swinney will hang on, I will happily give way to him, but not just yet. I want him to hear the full force of what I am about to say. We know the speed with which the SNP can make policy; indeed, it can do so overnight with extraordinary rapidity. However, such policy fai...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
24 Jun 1999
Financial Issues
I welcome the minister's statement and his commitment to openness and a constructive dialogue with Parliament and its committees. I have two points. First, how lengthy and complex does he expect the proposed accountability, budgeting and audit bill to be, and is he satisfied t...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD Chamber
30 Sep 1999
Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Bill
I was entertained by Miss Goldie's speech, and even more by Mr Wilson's intervention reminding her of the more extreme members of the Scottish Conservative party. May I remind her of what some of the moderate members of her party have said—those that have not left to join the ...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
30 Sep 1999
Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Bill
We ought to get Relate involved in the marriage guidance process between the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish National party, as their unholy alliance seems to have broken today. Let me make some important points about the bill and the budgetary process. What is crucial...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
28 Jun 2000
Budget Process 2001-02
I will give way in a second. I want to make progress in my speech.As the convener of the Finance Committee said, only two subject committees recommended shifts in expenditure, largely due to the limitations and deficiencies of "Investing in You". As the acting First Minister p...
Mr Raffan: LD Chamber
28 Jun 2000
Budget Process 2001-02
I am not quite sure what the relevance of that is. Never mind. I am sure that upon reading the Official Report I will make some sense of it. The point I am making is about house style, but I am sure Dorothy-Grace Elder was trying to be helpful.Each chapter should open with the...
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Committee

European and External Relations Committee, 22 Jun 2004

22 Jun 2004 · S2 · European and External Relations Committee
Item of business
Scottish Executive (Scrutiny)
Raffan, Mr Keith LD Mid Scotland and Fife Watch on SPTV
I totally agree with the assessment that the pre-council scrutiny report for the environment council is very comprehensive. I must say that I am getting increasingly fed up with some of the post-council scrutiny reports. For example, the general affairs and external relations council report tells us hardly anything. For example, although it mentions"Preparation for The 17-18 June European Council",it does not even refer to the European constitution. It mentions only the elections of various people such as the president of the Commission—and those did not even take place. I just find it inadequate. We should be pressing for more detailed information in post-council reports.

In the same item of business

The Convener: SNP
The next agenda item is pre and post-council scrutiny. As ever, I invite comments from the committee on any of the items that are mentioned.
Phil Gallie: Con
I have a comment on the notes and recommendations. I accept the compliments that have been offered about the environmental council report, but their represen...
The Convener: SNP
I am sorry; I am not quite following your point. You said that there are no details of the representatives—
Phil Gallie: Con
I was pointing out that the report that we have been complimenting contains no details of any representatives. After all, we criticise other reports for lack...
Stephen Imrie:
Just for clarification, the environment council will not take place until 28 June, whereas the other five councils listed in the report have already taken pl...
Mr Raffan: LD
I totally agree with the assessment that the pre-council scrutiny report for the environment council is very comprehensive. I must say that I am getting incr...
The Convener: SNP
I thought that we had pressed for that information before. We will double check to find out what has happened.
Phil Gallie: Con
On paragraph 4 of the 28 June environment council report, I raised at our previous meeting the question whether the air-conditioning system in the new Scotti...
Mr Home Robertson: Lab
The answer is that it almost certainly does. However, I am sure that the clerk would be able to clarify that very quickly with someone from the Holyrood proj...
The Convener: SNP
The clerks will seek clarification on that.I draw the committee's attention to the post-council report on the 24 and 25 May agriculture and fisheries council...
Mr Home Robertson: Lab
From memory, I suspect that this is another attempt by the Greek delegation to stop other countries using European money to subsidise their fleets at a time ...
The Convener: SNP
That could well be the case, but it would be good to receive that information.
Irene Oldfather: Lab
We should also welcome the fact that agreement has been reached on the regulation to establish regional advisory councils. The measure is being financed by t...
Phil Gallie: Con
On transparency, have any of the details of these agreements been published? I realise that time might have been needed to prepare translations for some coun...
The Convener: SNP
The clerks will find out that information. Are you talking about the regional advisory councils?
Phil Gallie: Con
Yes.
The Convener: SNP
I know that the North Sea Commission's website contains some information.
Phil Gallie: Con
We should ensure that interested parties in Scotland receive those details as early as possible.
The Convener: SNP
I point out that the European Commission has also published regulations on the matter.
Mr Home Robertson: Lab
Item 7 in the paper for the environment council is about the groundwater daughter directive. I do not know what the "daughter" has to do with it, but I am a ...
The Convener: SNP
Are you happy for us to write to Ross Finnie and to copy the letter to Sarah Boyack, the convener of the Environment and Rural Development Committee?
Mr Home Robertson: Lab
I would like inquiries to be made, because we risk drifting into something that could be very expensive for Scotland but serve no useful purpose.
The Convener: SNP
That is a good point.
Mr Raffan: LD
I would like more information on the whole business of merging the Socrates and Leonardo programmes and on the greater emphasis on vocational training. There...
The Convener: SNP
I will ask the clerks to get back to individual members on these issues. I remind members that, if they require more information, they can approach the clerk...