The meeting opened at 2.30 pm.

1. Time for Reflection: Mr John Scott, Special Assistant Christian Science Committee on Publication Scotland, led Time for Reflection.

2. Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Sector Policies: Kate MacLean, on behalf of the Equal Opportunities Committee, moved S1M-2439—That the Parliamentnotes the 1^st Report 2001 of the Equal Opportunities Committee on the Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Sector Policies (SP Paper 356).

After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).

3. Decision Time: The Parliament took a decision on item 2 as noted above.

4. European Year of Languages and British Sign Language: The Parliament debated S1M-2175 in the name of Ms Sandra White—That the Parliament believes that in 2001, the European Year of Languages, the Scottish Executive should take forward the lessons of the Millennium Project 2000 which taught the basics of British Sign Language (BSL) and Deaf Awareness to schoolchildren; invites the Scottish Executive to investigate the introduction of BSL to the school curriculum, and further believes that Her Majesty’s Government should give official recognition to BSL under the terms of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The meeting closed at 5.46 pm.

P E Grice

Clerk of the Parliament

5 December 2001

Appendix

(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)

Subordinate Legislation

Affirmative Instruments

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 4 December 2001 for approval by resolution

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.14) (Scotland) Order 2001 (SSI 2001/451)

laid under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 3 December 2001 and are subject to annulment—

The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Satellite Monitoring Measures) (Scotland) Order 200 Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/448)

laid under the European Communities Act 1972

The Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing for Cockles) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2001 (SSI 2001/449)

laid under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 4 December 2001 and is subject to annulment

The Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (No.2) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/450)

laid under the Food Safety Act 1990

Other Documents

The following document was laid before the Parliament on 5 December 2001 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure

Deer Commission for Scotland Annual Report 2000-01 (SE/2001/43)

laid under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 3 December 2001—

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 14^th Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 460)

Scottish Commission for Public Audit, 1^st Report 2001: Audit Scotland Budget 2002-03 (SP Paper 461)

Rural Development Committee, 14^th Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 462)

The following Report was published on 4 December 2001

Audit Committee, 4^th Report 2001: Governance and Financial Management at Moray College (SP Paper 463)