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Chamber and committees

Health and Sport Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010


Contents


Subordinate Legislation

The Convener

The next item of business concerns the consideration of five negative Scottish statutory instruments. Members have a copy of each instrument with a cover note from the clerk that summarises each instrument and highlights any comments that the Subordinate Legislation Committee wished to draw to our attention.


National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/86)

The Convener

The regulations amend the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which make provisions as to the arrangements for the provision of general ophthalmic services under the national health service in Scotland.

The Subordinate Legislation Committee reported a minor drafting error in the regulations. It is set out in more detail in the cover paper.

Do members have any comments on the regulations?

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD)

Usually, when the Subordinate Legislation Committee points out even a minor defect, it also indicates the nature of the exchange of correspondence between itself and the Government and says whether the Government has told it to get lost or, as is more usual, has undertaken to correct the error. However, there is no indication in the papers before us that any response was received.

The Convener

I have a note that says that further amendments to the 2006 regulations will be made later in the year and that the Government intends to amend the error at that stage.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)

That is what I was going to ask about.

The Convener

I take it that members are satisfied with that explanation. Do we agree that we have no recommendation to make on the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.


Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/89)

The Convener

The regulations amend the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2007 to provide for the enforcement of the European Commission regulation on activated alumina and fluoride in natural mineral waters and spring water, and to implement European Council directives relating to the quality of water that is intended for human consumption.

The Subordinate Legislation Committee reported several drafting errors in the regulations—they are outlined in the cover paper—and noted the Scottish Government’s commitment to lodge a corrective instrument to resolve the errors prior to the regulations coming into force.

Do members have any comments on the instrument?

Ross Finnie

I suspect that a certain bottled water’s advertising will cease to refer to its “volcanicity”.

The Convener

That is on the record. Please, no more jokes about volcanoes.

Are members content not to make any recommendation on the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.


Fish Labelling (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/90)

The Convener

The regulations provide for the execution and enforcement of European Council regulations laying down detailed rules on the application of regulations informing consumers about fishery and aquaculture products. The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no comments to make on the regulations.

Are members content not to make any recommendation on the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.


National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts, Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements and Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/93)

The Convener

The regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004, the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Scotland) Regulations 2004. The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no comments to make on the regulations.

Are members content not to make any recommendation on the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.


National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/94)

The Convener

The regulations amend the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2003. The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no comments to make on the regulations.

Are members content not to make any recommendation on the regulations?

Members indicated agreement.

The Convener

As agreed, we move into private session.

10:05 Meeting continued in private until 11:04.