Agenda item 3 is consideration of five negative Scottish statutory instruments. Our paper says that
“the purpose of all five instruments is to move toward fees that reflect the full cost of the processes involved”.
There are some
“fee exemptions to protect access to justice.”
Adults with Incapacity (Public Guardian’s Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (SSI 2015/260)
The first instrument makes provision for the fees payable to the public guardian in Scotland. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the regulations at its meeting on 1 September 2015 and agreed that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. If members have no comments on the instrument, are they content to make no recommendation on it?
Members indicated agreement.
Court of Session etc Fees Order 2015 (SSI 2015/261)
The second instrument makes provision for the fees payable to the Court of Session, the principal clerk of session, the accountant of court and auditor of the Court of Session, or any officer acting for one of those officers. The DPLR Committee considered the order at its meeting on 1 September 2015 and agreed that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. If members have no comments on the instrument, are they content to make no recommendation on it?
Members indicated agreement.
High Court of Justiciary Fees Order 2015 (SSI 2015/262)
The third instrument makes provision for the fees payable to the High Court of Justiciary, the principal clerk of justiciary and any other officer acting for the principal clerk. The DPLR Committee considered the order at its meeting on 1 September 2015 and agreed that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. If members have no comments on the instrument, are they content to make no recommendation on it?
Members indicated agreement.
Justice of the Peace Court Fees (Scotland) Order 2015 (SSI 2015/263)
The fourth instrument makes provision for the fees payable in justice of the peace courts in Scotland to the clerk of the justice of the peace court. The DPLR Committee considered the order at its meeting on 1 September 2015 and agreed that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. If members have no comments on the instrument, are they content to make no recommendation on it?
Members indicated agreement.
Sheriff Court Fees Order 2015 (SSI 2015/264)
The fifth and final instrument makes provision for the fees payable in sheriff court to the clerk or the auditor of the court. The DPLR Committee considered the order at its meeting on 1 September 2015 and agreed that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. If members have no comments on the instrument, are they content to make no recommendation on it?
Members indicated agreement.
At our next meeting on 22 September we will take evidence on the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill, consider amendments to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 and look at our on-going petitions. On the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, we will go no further than the end of part 6. We will consider amendments on stop and search and powers of arrest at a later meeting.
I will ask SPICe for a briefing on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, which seems to interact so much with the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill. It would be useful for us to have an idea about that bill—it is with the Local Government and Regeneration Committee, is it not?
The bill has been passed.
It has been passed. That went past me in a flash. I think that we need to know more about the interaction, because the bills seem to relate to each other considerably.
Meeting closed at 12:45.