Health and Community Care Committee, 03 Nov 1999
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 3, 1999
Official Report
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Subordinate Legislation
I welcome Iain Gray to the committee once again. An affirmative SSI, the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (North Coast) (Scotland) Order 1999 (SSI 1999/125), is before the committee. As we have already debated similar instruments, I do not expect us to debate this one again. I call the minister to move the motion.
I move,
That the Health and Community Care Committee in consideration of the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (North Coast) (Scotland) Order 1999 (SSI 1999/125) recommends that the Order be approved.
Motion agreed to.
Committee members have raised the point that, under rule 10.6.2 of the standing orders, a member of the Scottish Executive or a junior minister must attend to move a motion proposing
"to the lead committee that the committee recommend that the instrument or draft instrument be approved".
I think that our ministers already have far too much on their plate to attend committees and move such motions. Although it is a useful practice to have a junior minister or an official before us to answer questions on important matters or to clarify technical points, it is an unacceptable use of our ministers' time for them to be obliged to attend our committee in order to place yet another affirmative SSI before us on an issue that we have tackled about 25 times. I mean no disrespect to Iain. Do committee members agree that we should raise the matter with the Procedures Committee?
Members indicated agreement.
The committee of conveners is also making representations on the timetabling of SSIs, on explanatory notes for SSIs and on committees' need from time to time for officials to answer technical questions about the instruments. However, such sessions should be at the committees' discretion, instead of happening every time.
Thank you, Iain. I think that our business is concluded. Do you want to stay?
The minister can stay if he wants.
No, thank you. My plate is extremely full, though not of scallops.
Although we do not want to damage the shellfish industry in Scotland any further, I do not think that committee members will want to see any shellfish for a considerable time.
I suggest that we move to item 5, on future business. Item 4 concerns Dr Forbes's summation on the committee's further work on its draft report on Arbuthnott. However, we should try to keep draft reports under wraps in case our thunder is stolen. Are members agreed? It is agreed.