Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, November 8, 2018

Official Report 776KB pdf

Subordinate Legislation

The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No 3) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/295)

Agenda item 3 is subordinate legislation. The regulations are subject to the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee drew the regulations to the attention of the Parliament on the grounds of a drafting error. That has been acknowledged by the Scottish Government, and a correction will be made early in the new year. The DPLR Committee also repeated its view that the instrument raises a devolution issue, as highlighted with previous council tax reduction instruments.

This committee’s role is to consider the policy. The committee is invited to note the instrument. In doing so, we may wish to support the DPLR Committee’s view that, if the Scottish Government assesses that the drafting error could have unintended effects, it would be preferable to bring forward an amendment to correct it promptly, given that the provisions come into force on 28 November. Is the committee content to highlight the DPLR Committee’s view and note the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Your silent enthusiasm is noted for the record.

We want it to be sorted, basically.

We will now move on to agenda item 4, which we previously agreed to take in private.