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Chamber and committees

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 03 Apr 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 3, 2001


Contents


Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Ascertainment of Value) (Scotland) Order 2001 (SSI 2001/120) Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Ascertainment of Value) (Scotland) (No 2) Order 2001 (SSI 2001/121)

The Deputy Convener:

The orders have not been laid before Parliament. Once again, they are to do with foot-and-mouth disease—they provide for the valuation of animals that are slaughtered as a result of the current outbreak of the disease. The former instrument contains an error that has been corrected by the latter. The schedule has been amended to include cull cattle.

The Welsh Assembly's Legislation Committee drew to the attention of draftsmen the question of whether the definition of cull cattle was confined to clean cattle. We should consider whether we wish to raise a similar point with the Scottish Executive. Nobody wishes to be obstructive in these matters, but there is a need for clarity. We could mention it with the intention of being helpful. Once again, a point arises about the time of signature.

The orders are changing all the time—they are on shifting sand—and they can be refined as each falls and the next one takes its place. Helpful suggestions such as this one should not be considered as criticisms, but as points of information that might be taken on board.