1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Work Programme
4. Any Other Business
5. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Mr C Murphy (Chairman)
Mr A Attwood (arrived 3:22 pm)
Mr T Benson
Mr R Hutchinson (left 4:08 pm)
Mr D McClarty
Mr P McNamee

Clerk to the Committee:Mr J Reynolds

In attendance: Mr J Gillespie

Apologies: Mr F Agnew
Mr D Shipley-Dalton

The meeting commenced at 3.08 pm.

1. The minutes of the meeting of 6 September were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

2. Format for Standing Orders. The Clerk circulated two draft versions of the proposed new format for Standing Orders. A general consensus was that the size (A5) was still quite bulky and perhaps a size similar to a filofax would be much more "user friendly". The Clerk would produce further models.

2.1 PROC/9/2000. Reports to the Assembly of the North-South Ministerial Council. Members deferred this matter to the next meeting of the Committee to allow further deliberation within Parties.

3. Legislation emanating from the OFM/DFM to the Committee of the Centre. Members received copies of the correspondence issued to the OFM/DFM and the Committee of the Centre. The Chairman recommended and the Committee agreed that this would be deferred until after Thursday 12 October.

3.1 PROC/5/2000. Standing Order 40. Carry over of Legislation to next session: The Committee agreed to refer the paper to the respective Parties for further consideration.

3.2 Operational Advice Notes to Standing Orders: The Clerk outlined the topics already covered in the guide and sought the Members' views on other areas for inclusion. The Committee tasked the Clerk to prepare a list of topics for which no guidance was available and a list detailing current conventions which were not supported by Standing Orders

3.3 Initiation of Legislation by Statutory Committees. The Committee discussed the letter received from the Clerk of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee and agreed that Standing Orders already provide for this possibility. The Committee also recognised that Statutory Committees may not have the resources or expertise to prepare legislation. The Clerk was tasked to reply on behalf of the Committee outlining the view that the resources needed to address this issue was a matter for the Assembly Commission.

3.4 Visit to the Scottish Parliament. The Committee agreed 8/9 November 2000 as the revised dates for the visit of the Committee to the Scottish Parliament. Invitation to the dinner hosted by the Committee should be extended to all Members of the Scottish Procedures Committee and their Officials and to a representative of any other party not represented on the Scottish Committee.

3.5 Timing of Party Business. After discussion, the Members deferred this matter to the next meeting of the Committee.

4. There was no further business.

5. The Chairman proposed and it was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 11 October 2000 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings at 3.00 pm.

The meeting closed at 4.10 pm.

C MURPHY
Chairman