1st Meeting, Session 1 (1999)

Present:

The meeting opened at 12.00 noon.

1. Declaration of interests: The oldest member present, Phil Gallie, invited members of the committee to declare any relevant interests. The following members made declarations—

Roseanna Cunningham: member of the Faculty of Advocates

Christine Grahame: financial interest in the Scottish legal aid system

Gordon Jackson: financial interest in the Scottish legal aid system

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh: previously a Justice of the Peace

Maureen McMillan: unpaid director of Ross-shire Women’s Aid and Highland Domestic Abuse; unpaid director of Barmekin Limited; married to a member of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland

Euan Robson: River Tweed Commissioner and honorarium from Kelso Angling Association

2. Convener: The committee chose Roseanna Cunningham as its Convener.

3. Remit of committee and topics for informal briefing: The committee considered its remit and possible topics on which informal briefings might be sought. Members also identified issues which they would like the committee to consider. After discussion, the committee agreed that—

• informal briefing sessions on subjects of expected early legislation should be held during the summer recess;
• the clerks should prepare a list of relevant organisations from which evidence on expected early legislation might be invited;
• Jim Wallace MSP, the Minister for Justice, and Lord Hardie, the Lord Advocate, should be invited to attend a meeting of the committee, if possible early in September.

Andrew Mylne

Clerk to the Committee