Subordinate Legislation Committee, 04 Dec 2007

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Official Report 112KB pdf

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Legislative Consent Memorandum

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Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill

As with the legislative consent memorandum that we discussed at last week's meeting, we do not have the time to raise any issues with the Scottish Government directly. Any issues that we raise will have to be reported to the lead committee.

I found the bill to be most interesting. Although its subject matter is not appropriate for discussion by the committee, I am sure that it will reverberate in all our constituencies, to say the least.

On clause 19, "Distribution of money for meeting Scottish expenditure", are members content to invite the lead committee to consider whether clarification should be sought on how the Scottish Government intends to use the powers to make an order under clause 19, in terms of the further restrictions on purposes or persons that may be imposed when distributing dormant account money for social or environmental purposes? Should we seek a bit of clarification there?

Members indicated agreement.

We could say something similar about clause 21, "Directions to Big Lottery Fund". Are members content to invite the lead committee to consider whether it should ask the Scottish Government for further information on how it intends to use the direction-making power in subsection (5), and on the process by which detailed spending areas and the persons who will receive dormant money will be considered, before ministers use the power of direction? Again, do we seek a bit more clarification?

Members indicated agreement.

Finally, are members content with the power in schedule 3, part 1, paragraph 3, "Strategic plans for Scotland"?

Members indicated agreement.