Subordinate Legislation Committee, 17 Jun 2008

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Official Report 122KB pdf

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Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I welcome everyone to the 21st meeting of the committee. There are no apologies and we have a full house. I ask everyone to turn off their mobiles and BlackBerrys.

I turn to the first item. When we considered the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill on 3 June, we wrote to Patrick Harvie, the member in charge of the bill, for clarification on a couple of points. We have now received Patrick Harvie's response. Our first point was on section 3, "Commencement and short title". In response to the committee's request for clarification on whether there is any intention of commencing sections 1 and 2 of the bill on different days, Patrick Harvie has indicated that the Government has no such intention. Are members content with that response?

Members indicated agreement.

Our second point related to the committee's concern that persons potentially committing offences should have sufficient notice of the commencement date of the provisions of the act. Patrick Harvie has clarified that, in line with standard practice, the Government does not intend to commence the bill's provisions any earlier than two months after royal assent. That is useful in so far as it is important that persons are given adequate notice of the date when the provisions are brought into force. There will be no excuse for not knowing that the law has been changed. Are we satisfied with that response?

Members indicated agreement.

Are we content with the delegated powers in the bill?

Members indicated agreement.

That concludes our consideration of the bill at stage 1.