Justice 1 Committee, 05 Feb 2002
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 5, 2002
Official Report
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Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill
I am required to move motion S1M-2667.
I move,
That the Justice 1 Committee consider the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 in the following order: sections 1 to 3, schedule 1, sections 4 to 8, sections 10 and 11, sections 14 to 42, schedule 2, sections 43 to 54, schedule 3, sections 55 to 61, section 9, sections 12 and 13, sections 62 to 73.
I ask the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice to say a few words about the proposals for fees under section 9, 12 and 13, which relate to the reasons for the motion.
As a preliminary, I will introduce the officials who are here with me. Keith Connal heads the Executive's freedom of information unit. The committee has already met John St Clair of the office of the solicitor to the Scottish Executive. Diane Barbirou of the office of the Scottish parliamentary counsel has not been here before.
I also crave your indulgence. As I told your clerk, this is the first time I have done stage 2 of a bill, so I look for guidance; you will no doubt correct me when I go wrong.
The problem is that this is the first time I have convened a meeting dealing with a bill at stage 2—we will be holding each other's hand.
The position is that any comments that the officials want to make must come through you.
Absolutely.
I express my gratitude for the fact that an arrangement has been made to consider sections 9, 12 and 13, which deal with the fees scheme, towards the end of stage 2.
At stage 1, I said that I have been reviewing the fees structure that was set out in "An Open Scotland". We are concluding that review. I hope to be able to announce those conclusions when the committee considers the appropriate sections. We are more than grateful that there has been a postponement—my speaking note says until next week. That might be optimistic—we can but hope. The postponement will allow us time to finalise proposals and make an announcement when the committee discusses those sections.
Thank you minister.
As no one has any comments to make about the motion, I will put the question.
The question is, that motion S1M-2667 be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
That the Justice 1 Committee consider the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 in the following order: sections 1 to 3, schedule 1, sections 4 to 8, sections 10 and 11, sections 14 to 42, schedule 2, sections 43 to 54, schedule 3, sections 55 to 61, section 9, sections 12 and 13, sections 62 to 73.