Official Report 98KB pdf
Agricultural Holdings (Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (SSI 2004/497)
Members will recall that we pointed out the lack of any requirement to provide an up-to-date address on the form, as detailed in schedule 2. The Executive does not seem to consider that a problem. However, the Executive will be keeping an eye on the matter and will produce an amendment if there turns out to be an issue.
I note what the Executive has said, but I return to what I said last week: it is important for the effective working of the regulations that there is an up-to-date register. We should report the regulations on the ground that the power is being applied too narrowly. We need to make that point to the lead committee and the Parliament. If there is a way of doing that without impinging on the policy considerations, which are the responsibility of other committees, we should do it.
I agree with Christine May. It is important to have an up-to-date register. The Executive has been slightly disingenuous in its response.
It is suggested—and I take my words from the legal brief—that there has been an
We welcome Mike Pringle to the meeting.
The late Mike Pringle.
You had said that you might be late, Mike—that is fine.
Sorry about that.