Justice 2 Committee, 18 Dec 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 18, 2001

Official Report 256KB pdf

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European Document (COM (2001) 505 final)

I will not rehearse all the background to the document. Suffice to say that we agreed that it was important to have an interest in the European Community justice pillar to learn what happens. We want to track what happens with a specific document.

Members have a briefing paper that contains a French proposal on jurisdiction for parental responsibility for children. Members have options, but I cut to the chase by suggesting that we ask the Executive for a background note on where we are with this regulation. That is important because someone needs to examine how people are being consulted about the proposed regulation's impact. We also need to ensure that the UK delegation takes into account aspects of the Scottish legal system that might need to be addressed when considering mutual recognition of the proposed regulation. Is my suggestion acceptable?

It is acceptable. I appreciate that we are short of time, but it is important that we follow this matter through because we previously agreed to do so. We agreed that we would track a European regulation all the way through. You especially, convener, are concerned that we tend to just nod through major European legislation. It is important that we get information from the Executive about what it has been doing and what it proposes to do about this regulation. I agree with what you suggested.

Thank you. It concerns me greatly that citizens who could be involved in a situation that the regulation might cover will only discover the regulation's existence when they have to use it. That is not acceptable. Are we agreed on the suggested action?

Members indicated agreement.

We will discuss the final item, on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service inquiry, in private.

Meeting continued in private until 12:35.