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The fifth and final item is consideration of a paper from the clerk on the proposed visits by reporters to legislative regions, as part of the committee's inquiry into the transposition of EU directives. Do members have any comments on the paper?
I have a minor one: I do not want to use up a Sunday in the recess, so can I go out on a Monday?
I am sure that the clerk will try to take that on board. Are there any other comments?
It is always advisable for reporters to be present on the day that the visits are carved up.
I have a point on the section about good comparator regions. Perhaps I am making too much of this, but the regions in the countries that are mentioned implement law, whereas we make law. Am I making too much of the difference?
Given the proximity to lunch, the answer is yes.
I agree with that, Alex.
The regional Parliaments that are being visited make laws.
However, they are in homogeneous systems of law. The difference is that Scotland has a unique system of law, whereas the Parliaments that are being visited are integral parts of their states that are given the right to implement law. The point that I am trying to make is that, because our law is entirely different from English law, we should look at the situation somewhat more dynamically.
We take that point. Are you suggesting a specific amendment to the paper?
No, just that the reporters should keep that in mind when they go.
Indeed they should.
We are all conscious of that. The United Kingdom is unique in that it has a separate legal system in one part of the union. The other countries that operate on a devolved basis do not have that.
It is unique and temporary.
Are you suggesting that we adopt English law?
We are in danger of returning to item 1 if we go on with this much longer. Do members agree with the recommendations that are set out in the clerk's paper?
As that is the last item on the agenda, I close the meeting. I thank members for attending.
Meeting closed at 12:16.
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