Good morning and welcome to the third meeting in 2007 of the Justice 1 Committee. It would be helpful if members would do the usual and switch off mobile phones. I have received apologies from Bruce McFee, who has unfortunately injured himself and will not be here for the rest of the day. No other apologies have been received.
On the proposed regulation on applicable law and jurisdiction in matrimonial matters, I agree with the recommendation in the paper, which is to note the United Kingdom Government's decision. The update highlights the advantages of our getting involved at an early stage, before the European bandwagon starts moving in a direction with which we are uncomfortable. I hope that the Justice 1 Committee continues to engage early with such things and that other committees will note the value of so doing in their respective areas of interest. Otherwise, I am happy with the recommendations in the paper.
I think that everyone is happy with the recommendations. The committee has, quite rightly, always taken the issue of applicable law and jurisdiction seriously. The fact that the UK Government has decided not to opt into the negotiations on Rome III is a good outcome, although members will know that it can opt in at any time, which is why it is important for us to continue to scrutinise developments. I feel strongly that we have a job to protect Scottish civil law on an issue that we think our committee system in the Scottish Parliament has reformed satisfactorily. I certainly do not want any amendments to be made to the law without the agreement of the Parliament.
That ends our short public session this morning. We will now move into private session to discuss our draft report on the Scottish Criminal Record Office inquiry.
Meeting continued in private until 12:46.