Subordinate Legislation
This afternoon, Mr Jack McConnell, the Minister for Finance, and his civil servants, Bill Howat, Peter Hancock and Ann Thomson, are here.
The draft instruments were sent out to members some time ago, together with an Executive note. No points have been raised with the clerks. However, there may be issues that members wish to have clarified today. The report of the Subordinate Legislation Committee was included in your papers.
We propose a slight change of procedure today. I shall allow as much time as is necessary for questions of clarification on each instrument. Members can address questions to the minister, who may answer or may ask his civil servants to answer. I shall then announce that the time for questions is over and we shall start the debate. Jack McConnell will then read a statement and will move the motion formally. Any members whom I then call should remember that they will be speaking either for or against the motion and they should not ask questions of clarification because they will already have done that. I will then put the question on each motion. Is that clear?
Could you say that again?
It is obviously clear.
Are there any questions for the minister or his officials on the statutory instruments that we are considering? Are there any points of clarification or explanation?
I take it that we are dealing with item 2 rather than item 3. Is that right?
Yes. Which one will you talk about?
Last week, I said that I wanted to ask a question about the statutory instrument that is listed on the agenda under item 3, but I would like to ask a question on one of the instruments under item 2.
Do you want to ask about the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/166)?
That is the instrument on which I gave notice that I wanted to ask a question.
You can ask about that instrument now.
Are we also dealing with the Electricity Lands and Water Undertakings (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000 (SSI 2000/draft) and the Docks and Harbours (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/draft)? They are listed as a separate item on the agenda.
The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000 are an affirmative instrument. The minister will have left by the time we deal with them.
My question on—
I accept that I am confusing you. We will deal with item 3 in a minute or two. The question that you asked on the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000 was answered in the supplementary Executive note.
We will stick with the first instruments on the agenda. Are there any questions of clarification on the Electricity Lands and Water Undertakings (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000 or the Docks and Harbours (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 2000?
No.
In that case, I call the minister to make a statement and move the motions on the instruments.
Members may recall that on 7 March we debated seven orders relating to the rating of the prescribed industries. Those are industries that do not easily lend themselves to valuation by the conventional method. They are mostly utilities that are or were in some form of public ownership. The two draft orders that are before the committee today deal with the package of statutory instruments that are needed to finalise revaluation 2000. I hope that the Executive notes that we have circulated to explain the policy objectives, financial effects and purposes of the orders will enable agreement to be reached on the contents, so that the industries can plan ahead in the knowledge that their rates position is settled.
On 7 March, the committee approved orders prescribing rateable values for the electricity, gas, rail and water industries. However, at that time, the terms of the order relating to large docks and harbours were still in negotiation. Agreement has now been reached, and the Docks and Harbours (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 2000 prescribes rateable values for large docks and harbours in Scotland.
The Electricity Lands and Water Undertakings (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000 is more administrative in nature. It corrects minor errors in two of the orders that were approved by the committee in March—I apologise for those errors. The order deals with rateable values for the water and electricity industries.
I could deal with the orders in more detail, but I will happily finish with a few general remarks before moving the motions, if members feel that the briefing note has covered the detail—is that a correct assumption?
Yes.
I had a feeling that that might be the case.
As we have now gone through all the instruments relating to revaluation, I can say that I have been heartened by the spirit of consultation and co-operation that has been a strong feature of the revaluation. I hope that that will continue. On many occasions in the past few months, I have made it clear that I am keen to learn from revaluation 2000 and am willing to consider changes to improve the non-domestic rating system.
In answer to a parliamentary question, I have announced today the new membership and remit of the Scottish Valuation and Rating Council. Business organisations and others who are active in rating and valuation were invited to nominate members of the new council. I believe that my decisions on membership will establish an effective body, which will provide independent advice on rating and valuation issues. I have asked it to review the experience of revaluation 2000 and advise me of lessons that we can learn and improvements that we can make.
On that basis, I commend the draft orders to the committee.
I move,
That the Local Government Committee, in consideration of the Electricity Lands and Water Undertakings (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000, recommends that the order be approved.
Motion moved,
That the Local Government Committee, in consideration of the Docks and Harbours (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 2000, recommends that the order be approved.—[Mr McConnell.]
Thank you. Does anyone wish to speak for or against the motions? Please bear it in mind that you had the opportunity to ask questions earlier.
The question is, that motion S1M-955, in the name of Mr Jack McConnell, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
That the Local Government Committee, in consideration of the Electricity Lands and Water Undertakings (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2000, recommends that the order be approved.
The question is, that motion S1M-954, in the name of Mr Jack McConnell, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
That the Local Government Committee, in consideration of the Docks and Harbours (Rateable Values) (Scotland) Order 2000, recommends that the order be approved.
The next item is a negative instrument, so the minister can leave. Thank you—I think that it was painless.
I apologise to Donald Gorrie for the mix-up earlier—that was my fault. The instrument was sent out some time ago. You raised a point that I am given to understand was answered in the supplementary note from the Executive. I do not know whether you have had time to look at that; it is in today's papers.
Please also note that the report of the Subordinate Legislation Committee is included in the papers; it said that the attention of Parliament need not be drawn to the instrument. No motions to annul have been lodged and no other action can be taken on the instrument at this time.
Is the committee agreed that it does not want to make any recommendation on the instrument?
Nodding is not helpful for the official reporters; they cannot put "Kenny nodded" in the Official Report.
Yes.
Thank you. We will adjourn the meeting for five minutes because we are checking whether the next witnesses are here.
Meeting adjourned.
On resuming—