Plant Protection Products Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/161)
Several matters arose.
The preamble refers to regulation 5 but there does not seem to be a regulation 5. That makes reference to regulation 5 rather difficult. We should point that out to the Executive.
Two other matters can be dealt with by letter. Ultra vires matters have been canvassed before in respect of ministers of the Crown. We can discuss whether we can reach any common ground at our meeting with the Executive.
I do not know how members feel about the delay in implementing a directive. It seems that the Executive has got itself into the worst of all worlds. It delayed dealing with the directive in order to do so on a UK basis and then ending up dealing with it on a territorial basis. We have received an explanation and at least the matter has now been dealt with. I understand why the Executive delayed. It had the best of intentions, but things did not work out.