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A substantial amount of information was sent out to the committee by the clerks but regrettably we did not receive the memorandum from the Executive until this morning. My view is that the committee is expected to work under considerable pressure in terms of the volume and amount of information that we have to read. To be expected to speed-read a two-and-a-half-page memorandum on an extremely technical, complicated and major item of legislation is unfair. How do other committee members feel about that?
We need to consider very carefully any major bill that brings in a range of new powers to introduce subordinate legislation. Since we only received the Executive explanation of those powers today, I agree with Kenny that we should delay our consideration for at least a week. I think that will still fit the agreed time scale.
As this is the first such bill to come before us, we should draw to the Executive's attention that we require any report within a reasonable time scale if we are to play our proper part.
I agree. We can draw it to the Executive's attention that we meet every Tuesday, that we like to get our papers out on Fridays, which is why we said last week we needed an intimation on Thursday. Although yesterday was an Edinburgh holiday, the Executive ought to have been aware that the committee was meeting this morning and would require prior sight of the memorandum. We will give that due consideration next week.