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That is helpful. You articulate one of the important elements of cross-party groups, which is the opportunity for the MSPs who are responsible for creating and running them to meet people from outside the Parliament to talk about the issues that they cover.

Other than the secretariat, there is no mention of non-MSP members of the group. Can you update the committee on who they will be?

We have found the elusive missing group. We have all these CPGs, but there are still areas that are not covered.

Absolutely. As members have no further questions, I thank you for your attendance, Karen. The committee will consider recognition of the proposed group under the next agenda item, and the clerks will be in touch with you in due course.

That is helpful.

It was helpful of Karen Adam to highlight specific groups that would be interested in contributing to the cross-party group’s work. She mentioned a wide range of groups. It was also helpful that she indicated that the cross-party group would talk not just about fisheries, but about the communities.

That is helpful.

Excellent. Thank you.

On behalf of the committee, I take this opportunity to thank Bob Doris, Emma Harper, Alexander Stewart and Edward Mountain for their service prior to the new members joining. I inform you that I wrote to the former members over recess to thank them for their work.

Thank you very much. Finally, I welcome Annie Wells to the committee.

Excellent. There is no requirement for a seconder.

Ivan McKee was chosen as deputy convener.

Excellent. I close the public part of the meeting.

Welcome, everyone, to the 14th meeting in 2023 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. I welcome a significant surge in new members to the committee.

We will start with my inviting members to make any declarations of appropriate interests. I welcome Stephen Kerr to the committee. Do you have any relevant interests to declare?