Education, Children and Young People Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Official Report 439KB pdf

Convener

The committee’s next task is to choose a convener. The procedure is explained in paper 2. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are eligible for nomination as convener. I ask for a nominee from that party.

I nominate Stephen Kerr.

Thank you, Oliver. I was just about to move on—you took your time in responding.

Stephen Kerr was chosen as convener.

I take silence as acquiescence and I congratulate Stephen Kerr on his appointment. I hand over to him to convene the rest of the meeting. Thank you, Stephen, and good luck.

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.