Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Meeting date: Monday, January 14, 2019
Official Report 780KB pdf
Contents
- Attendance
- South of Scotland Enterprise Bill: Stage 1
- European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
Import and Trade of Animals and Animal Products (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Animals and Food (Transfer of Functions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Item 2 is consideration of two consent notifications for United Kingdom statutory instruments. The instruments are being laid in the UK Parliament under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Both statutory instruments have been categorised as category B, to the extent that the transition from an EU to a UK framework would be a major and significant development. Committee members have had a chance to look at the instruments. Are there any comments?
I agree with the recommendation in the clerks’ paper that, in relation to both instruments, we should ask that we be kept updated by the Government on, respectively, the replacement for TRACES—the trade control and expert system—and the system for the identification and registration of various animal health-related issues.
I agree with Stewart Stevenson that it would be helpful to be kept up to date. In addition, I would like to comment on the letter of 3 January from the Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment and—as I did in the previous session—draw attention to the fact that, although the arrangement as described is satisfactory, it is a very poor substitute for remaining in the European Union. It is important that that is on the record.
Right—okay. We will write to the Scottish Government to confirm that we are content for consent to be given for the UK statutory instruments to which the notifications refer, and we will note and request a response from the Scottish Government on the wider policy matters that have been identified. Is the committee agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
That concludes today’s business. I thank the committee members, and all the people in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders for hosting us today. It is extremely kind of you, and we very much enjoyed being out of Edinburgh. I now conclude the meeting.
Meeting closed at 20:27.