Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Official Report 616KB pdf
Contents
- Attendance
- Agriculture and Fisheries (Update)
- Subordinate Legislation
Subordinate Legislation
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/98)
Scottish Road Works Register (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/96)
Under item 2, we will consider two negative instruments. No representations or motions to annul have been received in relation to the instruments. Do any members have any comments or recommendations?
I have no issue with the content or direction of the instruments. I am impressed by the comprehensive nature of the supporting documents. Impact tests for Scottish firms are included, and there are references to competition, consumers, legal aid, digital and so on.
However, there is no mention of an islands impact assessment, although there is mention of Shetland. I accept that such an assessment may not have been done yet but, given the comprehensive nature of the documentation, the inclusion of some additional comment on the matter would have set a good example. Can we write to the Scottish Government to establish whether such an assessment should have been done and recommend that the Government does everything possible—I accept that it has a heavy workload—to put one in place for things in future, between now and the time when there requires to be one?
Given that we were the committee that considered what became the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, I think that it would be appropriate for us to write to the Government and ask whether there should have been an islands impact assessment. We should suggest that, now that the legislation has been passed and enacted, it would perhaps be appropriate for the committee to have such assessments to consider in future. Does the committee agree to do that?
Members indicated agreement.
On that basis, is the committee happy to make no further recommendations on the instruments?
Members indicated agreement.
That concludes today’s committee business.
Meeting closed at 11:57.Previous
Agriculture and Fisheries (Update)