FI/S3/08/16/M

16th Meeting, 2008 (Session 3)

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Present:

Apologies were received from Tom McCabe.

The meeting opened at 2.00 pm.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.

2. Review of the Budget Process: The Committee took evidence, in a round-table discussion, from—

Dr Peter Collings, former Chair of the Financial Issues Advisory Group;

Professor David Heald, former member of the Financial Issues Advisory Group;

Alf Young, former member of the Financial Issues Advisory Group;

Des McNulty MSP, former Convener of the Finance Committee;

Alasdair Morgan MSP, former Deputy Convener of the Finance Committee;

Eddie Frizzell, Budget Adviser to the Justice Committee, Budget Process 2008-09;

Jan Polley, Budget Adviser to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, Budget Process 2008-09;

Professor David Bell, Budget Adviser to the Finance Committee.

3.  Review of the Budget Process - witness expenses: The Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener responsiblity for arranging for the SPCB to pay, under Rule 12.4.3, any expenses of witnesses in the inquiry.

4. Local Authority Single Status Agreement: The Committee considered a paper on the Local Authority Single Status Agreement and agreed to do no further work on the issue.

5. Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill:  The Committee agreed to adopt level two scrutiny in relation to the Financial Memorandum of the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill.

6. Inquiry into the methods of funding capital investment projects (in private): The Committee considered its approach to the inquiry.  The Committee agreed a list of witnesses for a further evidence session on the Scottish Futures Trust in September, and to seek further written evidence on the Scottish Futures Trust from all witnesses who have given evidence to the inquiry.

The meeting closed at 4.10 pm.

Susan Duffy
Clerk to the Finance Committee