Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Official Report 329KB pdf
Contents
- Attendance
- Decision on Taking Business in Private
- Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure
- Instruments subject to Negative Procedure
- Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure
- Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
- Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Instruments subject to Negative Procedure
M90/A90 Trunk Road (Admiralty Interchange to Dalmeny) (Variable Speed Limits, Actively Managed Hard Shoulder and Bus Lane) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/129)
The regulations provide for variable speed limits, a bus lane and an actively managed hard shoulder on various sections of the M90/A90 Edinburgh to Fraserburgh trunk road from Admiralty interchange to Dalmeny.
Regulation 6 applies the Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/2507) to the “relevant road” as if they have been modified to provide for an actively managed hard shoulder. The “relevant road” is the M90/A90 Edinburgh to Fraserburgh trunk road from Admiralty interchange to Dalmeny. That will permit the use of an actively managed hard shoulder on the new Queensferry crossing by specified buses in certain circumstances.
Among other things, regulation 6 of SSI 2017/129 modifies the 1995 regulations in their application to the “relevant road” to make provision for how restrictions on stopping and other traffic restrictions apply to an “emergency refuge area”. The definition of that expression in regulation 6(a)(i) appears to be defectively drafted. It is defined as
“a part of the relevant special road”
that meets certain criteria that are set out in heads (a) and (b). The “relevant special road” is not defined by SSI 2017/129, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, by virtue of which SSI 2017/129 is made, or the Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995.
Accordingly, do members agree to draw the regulations to the Parliament’s attention on reporting ground (i), as they appear to be defectively drafted, for the reason that I just outlined?
Members indicated agreement.
The Scottish Government has indicated to the committee that it will keep the possibility of an amendment to correct that drafting error under review when it considers future regulations in this area.
I take some comfort from the fact that the Scottish Government recognises the drafting error. However, on this occasion, I do not think that it gives us enough comfort to know that the error will be dealt with at some undefined point in the future. As committee members know, such commitments can sometimes drift on. I would prefer the Government to give a commitment that the matter will be addressed with some urgency.
You make a good point. I understand that the error could affect the consideration of road traffic offences. As this is a new construction project, the new legislation should be absolutely fit for purpose at the outset.
I absolutely concur with Monica Lennon that the error should be corrected urgently. If we leave the matter unattended to, it might affect people’s lives, which is not acceptable.
In that case, I will make a suggestion. Regulation 6 makes provision for the actively managed hard shoulder on the new Queensferry crossing, which is a development of major significance. Does the committee agree that the error should be corrected by amendment as soon as possible and that we should invite the Government to do so?
Members indicated agreement.
Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/149)
The regulations were originally laid before Parliament on 21 April 2017. Members will recall that, at its meeting on 9 May 2017, the committee agreed to draw them to the Parliament’s attention because they appeared to be defectively drafted. The regulations that are before us, which were laid before Parliament on 10 May 2017, correct those defective-drafting errors. They will come into force on 31 May 2017, apart from regulation 2, which will come into force on 1 June 2017.
As a consequence of the Scottish Government correcting the drafting errors that the committee identified, the regulations do not respect the requirement that at least 28 days should elapse between the laying of an instrument that is subject to the negative procedure and its coming into force. Accordingly, does the committee agree to draw the regulations to Parliament’s attention under reporting ground (j) because they fail to comply with the requirements of section 28(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010?
Members indicated agreement.
However, does the committee agree to find the failure to comply with section 28 of the 2010 act to be acceptable in the circumstances, as the regulations correct timeously defects that the committee identified in the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/120)?
Members indicated agreement.
Furthermore, in accordance with the committee’s objective of reducing the number of outstanding instruments that need to be amended wherever possible, does the committee agree to welcome the Scottish Government’s prompt bringing forward of an amended instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Academic Awards and Distinctions (University of the Highlands and Islands) (Scotland) Order of Council 2017 (SSI 2017/146)
No points have been raised by our legal advisers on the instrument. Is the committee content with it?
Members indicated agreement.