Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Official Report 426KB pdf

Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill: After Stage 2

The Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill is a member’s bill that was introduced by Gillian Martin on 28 February 2016. The bill passed stage 1 on 23 May 2017 and amendments were agreed to by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee at stage 2 on 28 June 2017.

The committee has before it a paper that considers a revision that was made at stage 2 to the sole delegated power in the bill, which inserted a new subsection into the commencement provisions at section 5. The new subsection requires that regulations that make provision in relation to the commencement of section 1

“may not appoint a day later than 31 December 2018.”

Section 1 requires a school authority to ensure that seat belts are fitted to each passenger seat that is used for a dedicated school transport service.

Our legal advisers have raised no issues with the amended power. Does the committee agree to find the commencement power in section 5 of the bill, as amended at stage 2, to be acceptable in principle?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content that regulations made under that section will be laid before the Parliament but will not be subject to any further parliamentary procedure?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content to report to the lead committee accordingly?

Members indicated agreement.