Contents
- Attendance
- European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
- Subordinate Legislation
- European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
- Subordinate Legislation
Subordinate Legislation
National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/76)
National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/77)
National Assistance (Assessment of Resources and Sums for Personal Requirements) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/115)
Item 2 is consideration of negative subordinate legislation. We have before us five instruments; we will consider the first three together.
The National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 increase the value of personal expenses allowance in line with average earnings, by an increase of 1.9 per cent. The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2021 increase the value of savings credit disregard in line with average earnings, which is currently forecast at 1.9 per cent. The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources and Sums for Personal Requirements) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2021 amend the dates on which the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2021 and the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 come into force. I hope that members have followed all that. I see that David Stewart has a query.
It is not really a query, convener—I just want to say that I have looked into the instruments, given that I have an interest in pensions. They address the issues very positively, which is helpful for national health service workers from a rights point of view. I flag up the fact that, although they are technical, they are important for people who happen to fall into those categories, and I strongly endorse them.
As there are no further comments from members, does the committee agree to make no recommendations on the three negative instruments?
Members indicated agreement.
National Health Service Superannuation and Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/102)
The next instrument makes changes to the employee contribution table for 2021-22, which updates the salary and earnings bands on which the employee contribution percentages are set. I see that there are no comments from members. Does the committee agree to make no recommendations on the instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Foods for Specific Groups (Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/123)
The purpose of the instrument is to apply, until 22 February 2022, the law that was in existence before 21 February 2021 on compositional and labelling standards for infant formula and follow-on formula that is manufactured from protein hydrolysates, which represents an annual uprating. I see that members have no comments on the instrument. Does the committee agree to make no recommendations on the instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No 2) Rules Order of Council 2021 (SI 2021/167)
Health and Care Professions Council (Registration and Fees) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021 (SI 2021/170)
Item 3 is consideration of two negative order of council statutory instruments. The instruments are orders of the Privy Council, which approve rules that were made by the Health and Care Professions Council. Members will note that the first instrument has been drawn to our attention by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. The DPLR Committee drew the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the basis that it was laid less than 28 days before coming into force and, therefore, breached the usual laying requirements under section 28(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. The DPLR Committee was, however, content with the explanation that the Scottish Government provided for its failure to comply with the laying requirements.
The DPLR Committee also noted that the instrument rectified the drafting error in SI 2021/27 before that instrument came into force on 4 March 2021. The error was identified by the DPLR Committee in its report on subordinate legislation that it considered on 2 February 2021.
I see that there are no comments from members on the instrument. Members may have seen the letter that was sent to me, as convener, by the Health and Care Professions Council, in which it laid out the basis on which it intended to proceed.
Does the committee agree to make no recommendations on the instruments?
Members indicated agreement.