Subordinate Legislation Committee, 14 Jun 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Official Report 141KB pdf

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International Conference

There is a paper on the possibility of the Parliament hosting one of the biennial conferences on delegated legislation. I have always been keen that we should try to host such a conference. David Mundell went to the conference that was held in Sydney and Alasdair Rankin and I went to the one that was held in Toronto, which was excellent. Among the parliamentarians from all over who attended the Toronto conference, there was a genuine interest in the Scottish Parliament. We floated the idea that the conference might come to Scotland and everyone liked it; to be honest, I think that they liked the idea of a trip to Scotland. Scotland was a popular destination among the Canadians and Australians, but they were also interested in the new Parliament. I do not know what other members think, but I am keen that we should strive continuously—in a reasonable way—to put the institution of the Parliament on the map.

Although we suggested holding the conference a while ago, I suspect that none of us will be on the committee by the time that it is held. The idea is nice, but as someone who has been to a previous conference, I did not find realistic the suggestion in the paper that we could plan to hold the conference in 2006. We could decide in principle that we would like to do it in 2008. With that guidance, Ruth Cooper and others could try to plan it.

I say openly that sometimes the system treats the Subordinate Legislation Committee as if it were a—

Sin bin.

Yes. You remember the problems that we had with another conference. Sometimes the system does not recognise the importance of subordinate legislation, given that almost all legislation in Scotland comes out in statutory instruments. We should suggest that we host an international conference on the subject, but not until 2008.

The benefit of having the conference here is that members of the committee would, presumably, be allowed to attend.

Just do not put in a lunch claim or anything; you would get into trouble for it. You have read the paper.

Yes. I agree with what you say, convener.

We will proceed on that basis.

Before you close the meeting, I want to draw to members' attention something that is relevant to the committee. I was out with RSPB Scotland last Saturday looking at the puffins in the Forth. There was an announcement on the radio on Saturday morning that the Executive has banned fishing for sand eels in waters around Scotland because there is concern about bird numbers. We should expect the relevant regulation before the committee next week. That is an example of a matter of concern to many people being dealt with quickly by the committee.

Absolutely. Ruth Cooper says I have to close the meeting.

Meeting closed at 11:01.