Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for leading us to this point in the meeting, James.

It is a tremendous privilege to be the committee’s convener. We have important work to do. It is perhaps the most important work of the Parliament, because it pertains to our country’s future.

I look forward to getting to know you all and to working with you as colleagues. I very much hope that we will be able to work across parties for most of our time in committee and that our work will be firmly evidence led. I will strive at all times to be inclusive. I want everyone to have a positive experience of serving on the committee.

I also want you all to know that I am open to feedback. I relish positive and constructive feedback. Please do not hesitate to let me know how you feel about how I am performing as convener.

Thank you for that nomination.

Kaukab Stewart was chosen as deputy convener.

I congratulate Kaukab Stewart on her appointment and I look forward to working with her. We had a brief introduction yesterday and I think that we will get along famously.

Congratulations, Kaukab. Would you like to say anything?

I see lots of nodding heads.

Under item 5, we will briefly consider the legacy paper from session 5, which members have all received copies of. The committee is asked to thank the session 5 Education and Skills Committee for its legacy paper—as is appropriate—and to note the paper for now and agree to consider it as part of our forthcoming work programme discussion under the next agenda item. Does anyone wish to speak or do we all agree to do that?

As no one else wishes to speak, I will ask the question again. I might have already got past this point. If I have, forgive me—I am a new convener, so Bob Doris and I have something in common: we are both new to this whole thing. Do we agree to note the legacy paper and to consider it as part of our work programme discussion under our next agenda item?

Members indicated agreement.

Our next task is to choose a deputy convener. Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish National Party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener. I ask for a nominee from that party.

As I said, we had a brief conversation yesterday and I look forward to being the beneficiary of Kaukab Stewart’s experience from her 30-year career as a teacher. We will all benefit from that.

You make an excellent point and I appreciate your bringing that to the fore in our opening meeting. I absolutely intend to work in partnership with Kaukab Stewart, so that we have a sound basis for the aspiration that I described of our being collegiate, as far as we can be.

As Fergus Ewing said, we are politicians and we will have political views on things, but, if we work together and have a commitment to being evidence led in our proceedings, we can reach across the parties and do something that the Parliament should perhaps do more of—set aside our tribal instincts and work together for the good of the people of Scotland. That is my aspiration, and I know that it is yours, too.

Under item 4, does the committee agree to take in private item 6, which is the committee’s work programme?

Members indicated agreement.