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Committee News Release

CFIN 02/2001 Thursday 24 May, 2001
 


SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN PERTH
 

(Friday 8 June)

The Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee today formally announced that it is to meet in Perth. This will be the first time Perth has hosted a Scottish Parliament committee meeting.

The meeting will be held in public at 2.00 pm on Friday, June 8 in Dewars Centre, Glover Street, Perth.

The main agenda item will be consideration of the Scottish Executive's expenditure proposals for the year 2002/2003. During the meeting the Committee will take evidence from the Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government, Peter Peacock MSP.

Committee convener, Mike Watson MSP said:

"The Finance Committee feels strongly that the annual budget process, which details the planned expenditure of the Scottish Executive for the forthcoming financial year, is of direct relevance to all communities in Scotland and should involve all of Scotland.

"For the first of our budget scrutiny meetings back in November, we decided to meet in Aberdeen, as the city has a strong tradition of business and commerce. That meeting was a resounding success.

"And although our meeting in Perth will be the day after the General Election, we believe that in keeping with the Parliament's founding principles of openness, accessibility and accountability, the Deputy Finance Minister's attendance in Perth reinforces the importance that this is a Parliament for all of Scotland".


BACKGROUND NOTES

Scrutiny of the budget process will constitute the main element of the Finance Committee's work each year. This scrutiny is a three stage process involving the people of Scotland, the Parliament and the Executive and was laid out in a written agreement that the Parliament approved in July.

The committee's membership is as follows: David Davidson, Donald Gorrie, Adam Ingram, Richard Simpson, Elaine Thomson, Mike Watson (Convener), Andrew Wilson.

The committee meeting is open to the public. Members of the public wishing to guarantee a seat can book tickets by contacting the Visitor Centre on 0131 348 5411. However it is expected that seats will be available on the day on a first come first served basis. There will be 40 seats for the public. Seats can be booked from Tuesday 29 May.

Media not accredited to the Parliament are invited to attend. Seating for media will be reserved. Media identification (e.g. NUJ cards, etc) may be requested.

Press photographers and TV cameras: no formal photo opportunities have been arranged; however, photography will be allowed for establishing shots during the first three or four minutes at the start of the morning and afternoon sessions.

 

For further information, the media contact is:
Nicola Edwards: 0131 348 5604
email: nicola.edwards@scottish.parliament.uk

For specific committee information contact:
Callum Thomson, Clerk to the Finance Committee: Tel 0131 348 5205
email: callum.thomson@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, please contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, please contact 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
email:
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk
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