Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Official Report 757KB pdf

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European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

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Exotic Disease (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

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Aquatic Animal Health and Alien and Locally Absent Species in Aquaculture (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

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Fisheries (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Under item 4, the committee will consider proposals by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating in relation to three UK statutory instruments.

We have received consent notifications relating to three sets of regulations. The instruments are being laid in the UK Parliament under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Scottish Government has categorised all three as making minor or technical amendments. The committee’s role is to decide whether it agrees to the Scottish Government giving consent to the UK Government to make regulations on its behalf. However, in the committee paper, there are broader related policy issues that may arise in future.

We have all had a chance to go through the instruments. I could go on and explain each one, but are there any comments on them?

I have no issue at all with their content, and it is appropriate that we lend our support. However, the paragraph in paper 4 with the heading “Summary of stakeholder engagement/consultation” says:

“The Scottish Government meets frequently with a very broad range of stakeholders to discuss animal health and welfare related matters.”

I do not doubt that but, given the amount of legislation that is coming, it would be good to know that those specific issues have been drawn to the attention of the normal consultees.

That is a genuine point. It would be helpful if we asked the Government to clarify that it has consulted the interested parties when the regulations are brought forward.

Given that the matter involves the Scottish Parliament giving consent to the UK Parliament, the consultation would, of course, properly lie with the UK.

It would still be comforting to know that the matters had been discussed. We can leave it to the Government to ensure that we have raised that point.

As there are no other comments, does the committee agree to write to the Scottish Government to confirm that it is content for consent to be given in relation to the UK SIs?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee agree that it should note, and request a response from the Scottish Government on, the related policy matters that are identified in the paper, which will require to be addressed in the future?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes the public part of the meeting. The committee will now move into private session.

11:43 Meeting continued in private until 11:52.