Transport and the Environment Committee, 07 Feb 2001

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 7, 2001

Official Report 180KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

The next item is consideration of the Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) (No 2) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/3250). Copies of the instrument and a covering note were circulated at our previous meeting. As members will know, we considered the instrument and agreed to seek further evidence from the Scottish Executive. We have now received a letter from the Executive, which has been circulated to members. The time limit for parliamentary action is 16 February 2001, which means that the committee must report on the instrument by 12 February. Are there any comments?

Having spoken to the clerk, I realise that it may be too late to raise any objection to the instrument. I am not entirely convinced about the order but, given that it is set out on an agency basis and it is clear that responsibility for monitoring will remain with the Scottish Executive, I do not think that we have any option but to agree to the instrument.

Your remarks will be noted in the Official Report and will therefore be available for consideration by the Executive and others.

Do members agree that the committee has nothing to report on the instrument, given that Bruce Crawford's comments will be recorded in the Official Report?

Members indicated agreement.