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Thank you very much.

I have a question. The application form provides for the names to be given of members of the proposed group from outside the Parliament. One of the purposes of a cross-party group is to allow experts to have access to MSPs so that MSPs can gain more knowledge of a subject. No non-MSP individuals are mentioned, and the only organisation that is mentioned is the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which, I understand, will provide the secretariat support. Have you had any interest, or are you aware of any interest, from individuals or other organisations that might want to contribute to the CPG?

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 21st meeting in 2023 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. We have received no apologies this morning. The committee is complete.

?Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take in private item 4, which is a continuation of our consideration of the committee’s work programme. Do members agree to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

That is very helpful, because one of the things that we have noted during this parliamentary session is that a number of CPGs sit in similar areas. However, nothing covers this area at the moment.

Excellent.

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 20th meeting in 2023 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. We have not received any apologies this morning.

Our first agenda item is a decision on whether to take items 2 and 3 in private. Item 2 is consideration of the committee’s draft report on proxy voting and item 3 is consideration of our work programme. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I will push the point. The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill is on its passage through the Parliament. Is it still your intention to use that as the vehicle for that work?

I will defend my committee member. [Laughter.] We will see the extent of it when the report is published before the end of this year.

Yes—it is an all-male committee now.

That is helpful. Before I unleash Stephen Kerr again—I point him to the time—I bring in Ivan McKee.