Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Official Report 181KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

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Public Service Vehicles (Registration of Local Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/151)

Good afternoon. Welcome to the 12th meeting this year of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. I remind everybody that mobile devices should be switched off. We have received apologies from Charlie Gordon.

We have two agenda items, the first of which is our consideration of subordinate legislation. The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no comments to make on the instrument, and no motions to annul have been received. Are we agreed that we do not wish to make any recommendation in relation to the regulations?

I have no comment on the instrument, which is necessary in many ways, but there is an emerging trend in the instruments that come before us: the charges that the Government levies are increasing at a rate that is significantly higher than the rate of inflation. The instrument before us is one case in point. Given the current state of the economy, in the not-too-distant future the Government should look seriously at its charging regimes and consider its contribution to the economic difficulties that businesses in Scotland are facing. That said, I have no objection to the passage of the instrument.

It is a fair point. At a later stage, the committee may wish to consider taking up the issue in writing with ministers. In the meantime, the question is, are we agreed that we do not wish to make any recommendation in relation to the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.