Forth Crossing Bill Committee
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Official Report
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Forth Crossing Bill (Assessor)
Item 2 is consideration by the committee of whether to direct the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to appoint an assessor.
The role of an assessor is to hear and consider objections at stage 2 and report to the committee. Our briefing note makes it clear that it remains the sole duty of the committee to decide and report on any outstanding objections at stage 2. Standing orders are clear that the committee can accept—in whole or in part—or reject any report by an assessor. Furthermore, after an assessor reports, the committee can take such other steps as it thinks fit, for example referring further matters to the assessor for consideration and report, or itself taking further evidence.
A direction to the SPCB may seem to be premature, as the assessor would commence work after stage 1 has finished. However, there are several caveats, for anyone who thinks that such action now indicates a decision by the committee on objections or general principles. To allow a reasonable amount of time for an assessor to carry out the work, they would start immediately, should the bill proceed beyond stage 1. That means leaving time prior to the end of stage 1 for the SPCB to make the appointment and for an assessor to be briefed on objections and the evidence heard by the committee, so there would be a tranche of work for that person to do as preparation should the bill proceed. I invite comment from members on the possible direction to the SPCB. Are we agreed to direct the SPCB to appoint an assessor? I think that, from the evidence that we have heard to date, we are.
Members indicated agreement.
That concludes the public part of the meeting. The committee will now move into private in accordance with the decision taken at a previous meeting.
12:48
Meeting continued in private until 12:49.
If we are agreed to direct the SPCB, we also need to agree the role of the assessor. The two options are set out in the briefing paper. I recommend that we choose option 1. Are members agreed?
Members indicated agreement.