Rural Development Committee, 06 Mar 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 6, 2001

Official Report 176KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

Item 4 on the agenda, which is also deferred from last week's meeting, is on subordinate legislation. Ten instruments regarding environmentally sensitive areas are listed on the agenda. I suggest that we deal with the instruments together, unless any member has a specific objection to doing so.

The instruments were laid on the 6 February 2001. We have been designated as lead committee on them. We are required to report on the instruments by 19 March 2001. The Subordinate Legislation Committee considered them on 13 February and has made no comments on them. The instruments were circulated to members of the committee on 14 February. Rhoda Grant had some questions, which have now, I understand, been answered to her satisfaction. The clerk has received no comments from other members. I invite Rhoda to comment on the answers that she received.

My question was about consultation, and that fact that that the Scottish Crofters Union had not been consulted about the orders that are applicable to crofting counties. I also wanted to know what impact there would be on people who are already signed up to the schemes that are involved. The answer that came back was that extensive consultation meetings had been carried out locally and with the relevant bodies. The Executive said that it would consult the Crofters Union in future. With that, and as long as such steps are implemented, I am quite satisfied.

The orders were laid under the negative procedure, which means that Parliament has the power to annul them within 40 days, excluding recess. The time limit for parliamentary action therefore expires on 22 March. Are members content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

I presume, therefore, that the committee does not wish to make any comments on the instruments in its report to Parliament?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes item 4. We have dealt already with item 5, and we agreed at the beginning of the meeting to discuss item 6 and subsequent items in private.

Meeting continued in private until 16:25.