Formal Minutes
Wednesday 18 June 2008
Members present:
Mike Gapes, in the Chair
| Sir Menzies Campbell
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory
Mr Eric Illsley
Mr Malcolm Moss
| | Sandra Osborne
Mr Greg Pope
Mr Ken Purchase
Sir John Stanley
|
The Committee deliberated.
Sir Menzies Campbell declared a potential conflict
of interest, and withdrew.
Draft Report (Proposed appointment of Rt Hon Jack
McConnell MSP as High Commissioner to Malawi), proposed by
the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Chairman's
draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 2 to 4 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 6 to 9 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 10 read, as follows:
Mr McConnell also told us that "I have decided
to remain as a Member of the Scottish Parliament because I feel
I have a duty to my constituents to work on their behalf".
Paragraph disagreed to.
Paragraphs 11 to 14 read and agreed to (now paragraphs
10 to 13).
Paragraph 15 read and amended (now paragraph 14).
Another Amendment proposed, at the end to add "We
recommend that when politicians and others from outside the Diplomatic
Service are proposed for appointment to diplomatic posts, the
requirement under article 2(1)(a) of the Diplomatic Service Order
in Council 1991 for the appointment to be made on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition is adhered to, and is not made
the subject of an exception under Schedule 2 of the Order as in
Mr McConnell's case.".—(Sir John Stanley.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 2 Noes, 5
Mr Malcolm Moss Sir Menzies Campbell
Sir John Stanley Mr Eric Illsley
Sandra Osborne
Mr Greg Pope
Mr Ken Purchase
Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.
Paragraphs 16 to 19 read and agreed to (now paragraphs
15 to 18).
Paragraph 20 read, amended and agreed to (now paragraph
19).
Paragraph 21 read and agreed to (now paragraph 20).
Annex agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report,
as amended, be the Sixth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman
make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That embargoed
copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order No. 134.
Written evidence was ordered to be reported to the
House for printing with the Report.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 25 June at 2 p.m.
| 
