Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Official Report 497KB pdf

Subordinate Legislation

First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Oaths) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/148)

Agenda item 2 is consideration of three negative instruments, and I refer members to paper 4.

Do members have any comments on these regulations?

I do, convener. I read the regulations with interest. It is not my intention to oppose them, but I had to do a double-take to see whether the year on them was indeed 2017. When I looked up the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 to check the oath of allegiance, I found that, at least in the version that is on the internet, those who take the oath have to swear to

“be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria”,

albeit it then refers to “her heirs and successors”. It is disappointing that in a modern liberal democracy we still have this sort of thing, but I hope that those who are asked—indeed, required—to take it also take the opportunity, as a number of elected parliamentarians have done, to express that their primary obligation is to members of the public.

Your point is noted. If there are no other comments, does the committee agree that it wishes to make no recommendation in relation to the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) (Amendment) 2017 (SSI 2017/153)

Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017/156)

If members have no comments, does the committee agree that it wishes to make no recommendations in relation to these instruments?

Members indicated agreement.