Health and Sport Committee, 11 Feb 2009

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Official Report 114KB pdf

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Forthcoming Legislation

The next item is forthcoming legislation. Specifically, a bill to make provision on tobacco control and general medical services is expected to be introduced in the Parliament in the near future. I am not really required to declare an interest in this regard, but I am sure that members are aware that I had a consultation on positive licensing of tobacco retailers and tobacco sales. I put that on the record because I have expressed a view in public on certain issues.

I refer members to the paper from the clerks and invite the committee to agree that a call for written evidence should be published following the bill's introduction; that possible candidates for oral evidence should be considered in private, following consideration of written evidence received; that responsibility for arranging for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to pay, under rule 12.4.3 of standing orders, any witness expenses in respect of consideration of the bill should be delegated to the convener; and that drafts of the committee's report to Parliament on the bill should be considered in private. I think that members would concur that those are the usual procedures. Are members content with that?

Members indicated agreement.

I understood that the bill was due in January. Have you any idea when it will be introduced?

I understand that it is likely to be introduced shortly after the February recess.