Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, 26 Nov 2008
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Official Report
238KB pdf
Subordinate Legislation
Plant Health (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Order 2008 (SSI 2008/350)<br />Sheep and Goats (Identification and Traceability) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/368)
I welcome everyone to the meeting and remind those present—including me, it seems—to switch off mobile phones and electronic bits and pieces. We have received apologies from Karen Gillon, who is on maternity leave, and I welcome Rhoda Grant as her long-term substitute.
Under agenda item 1, we must consider two negative instruments: the Plant Health (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Order 2008 (SSI 2008/350) and the Sheep and Goats (Identification and Traceability) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/368). I feel as if I should quote some gospel rather than a Scottish statutory instrument number for the latter instrument.
The Subordinate Legislation Committee has made comments on the first instrument and the relevant extract of its report has been circulated to members. However, no member has raised any concerns and no motion to annul has been lodged.
Liam, do you wish to make a comment?
This might not be that significant, but under the heading "Financial impact" the executive note to SSI 2008/350 suggests:
"A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been carried out for this Order as … the Commission Decision"
is
"unlikely to have a significant impact on Scottish businesses."
Are such assessments carried out only if the impact is likely to be significant? It might be sloppy language, but I wonder why an RIA was ruled out on that basis.
We have to deal with the instrument today, but we could query your point in writing.
It looks more like loose phraseology than anything else.
With that caveat, do members agree not to make any recommendation on the two instruments?
Members indicated agreement.