Health and Community Care Committee,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 9, 2001

Official Report 267KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

The next agenda item is subordinate legislation. The first instrument for consideration is the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (No 3) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/138), which was circulated to members on 25 April 2001. No comments from members have been received. The Subordinate Legislation Committee has no comments to make. No motion to annul has been lodged, so I recommend that the committee make no recommendation in relation to the instrument. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

The NHS 24 (Scotland) Order 2001 (SSI 2001/137) was circulated to members on 25 April 2001. The Subordinate Legislation Committee has no comments to make. No motion to annul has been lodged.

The order means an enormous change in the NHS. Three days were given for the committee to consider the order between its being placed in Parliament and its implementation.

Given the enormity of the order, the Parliament or the Health and Community Care Committee should have been able to have at least some input into the debate. In contrast, there was considerable discussion about the Food Standards Agency and I want to put down a marker. When there is such a huge change in the NHS, Parliament should be given more than three days' notice.

If the committee agrees, I am happy to write to the Executive to say so. Otherwise, I recommend that the committee make no recommendation in relation to the instrument.

Members indicated agreement.