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Chamber and committees

Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 6, 2012


Contents


Subordinate Legislation


Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Relevant Premises) Regulations 2012 [Draft]

The Convener

Item 2 provides the opportunity to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on one affirmative instrument—the draft Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Relevant Premises) Regulations 2012—before formally debating under item 3 the motion to recommend approval of it. The Subordinate Legislation Committee has not drawn the Parliament’s attention to the regulations on any grounds in its remit.

I welcome Kenny MacAskill, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and Richard Dennis, head of the fire and rescue services division at the Scottish Government. Before you start, cabinet secretary, I remind you that in 1999 you advised me to set up a cross-party group on Borders rail. You may not remember that, but I do. Today, the document was signed to transfer the project from Transport Scotland to Network Rail, so there you go—credit to you for that.

Thank you very much.

The Convener

I may disagree with you on lots of other things along the route, but that was a great piece of advice. I had to tell you about that because I am thrilled and I wanted to thank you.

Anyway—back to business. We will move straight to questions, as the cabinet secretary has no opening comments.

I have a brief question. Are the regulations proportionate for very small situations, such as those involving individual childminders? Has that issue been covered?

Kenny MacAskill

Such individual operations are clearly small but, given that we are dealing with vulnerable people, we have to do everything that we can and we must draw to the attention of those who are in a privileged and responsible position their obligations. That is where the regulations are coming from. You are right; we are dealing with the issue through subordinate legislation, which will focus on an area where we know that there is a growing market and that it is appropriate for people to take the necessary steps.

So you believe that the provisions are proportionate.

Absolutely.

The Convener

As there are no other questions, we will move to item 3, the formal debate on the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Justice Committee recommends that the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Relevant Premises) Regulations 2012 [draft] be approved.—[Kenny MacAskill.]

Motion agreed to.

As usual, the committee is required to report to Parliament on the affirmative instrument. Are members content to delegate to me authority for the final wording of that report?

Members indicated agreement.

I suspend the meeting for a minute so that the next set of officials can come in for the next item of business. We committee members will stay put.

10:07 Meeting suspended.

10:07 On resuming—