MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 25 JANUARY 2000 AT 10.30 AM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr D Ford
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McGrady MP
Ms M McWilliams
Mr M Morrow
Mr C Murphy
Mrs I Robinson
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

In attendance: Mr M Barnes Ms G Campbell
Mr J Reynolds Mr N Johnston
Mr J Gillespie

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

2. MATTERS ARISING

Assembly Private Secretaries: The Speaker updated the Committee and advised the Members that he did not think it necessary to make a referral to the Committee on Standards and Privileges at this time.

Procedures for Tabling Questions: The Committee discussed the procedures for questions.

Arrangements for Easter and Summer Recess: The dates proposed at the last meeting were agreed as follows pending Mr McGrady and Dr McDonnell consulting with their colleagues:

Easter Recess: 14 April - 2 May 2000

Summer Recess: 7 July - 4 September 2000

commencing with a Committee Week.

(First Sitting: 11 September 2000)

Adjournment Debates: The Committee agreed that the Speaker would write to the Procedures Committee regarding the time allocated for these debates.

Prayers: It was agreed that Standing Order 8 required PRAYERS only at the beginning of business as described on the Order Paper.

3. FORTHCOMING BUSINESS

The order of business was agreed (see attached Order Paper).

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Appropriation Bill: The Speaker advised the Committee of the concerns expressed by the Minister of Finance with regard to the limited time available to present an Appropriation Bill to the Assembly. In the short term it appeared that there was little option but to agree an accelerated passage for this year's Appropriation Bill. It was agreed that the Committee should refer the issue of how this should be handled in future to the Procedures Committee to allow it to examine ways of fast-tracking the procedure. A number of options were available:

. changes in the legislative process;

. the Scottish procedure of referring the Bill to the relevant Committee in draft form to amend and scrutinise before presenting the Bill to the Assembly.

It was agreed that the Committee would return to this issue at a later meeting.

Provision of Official Papers: The Clerk circulated a paper outlining the current arrangements for the provision of papers to Members.

Procedure for Tabling Amendments: Deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

Visitors to Parliament Buildings: Deferred to the next meeting.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the Business Committee would meet on Tuesday 1 February 2000, during the lunch recess.

JOE REYNOLDS

To view Order Paper for Monday 31 January 2000.

18 January 2000 / Menu/ 1 February 2000