Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Official Report 332KB pdf

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Scotland Bill

Agenda item 2 is the Scotland Bill. Members have paper SPPA/S4/11/2/1, which takes us through the progress of the bill. Do members have any comments on the paper before we make our decision on what to do?

It is helpful to have the Scottish Parliament information centre briefing that is attached to the paper. The briefing is hugely helpful, because it updates us on exactly where we have reached and it complements what we read in the daily newspapers. I thank the clerks for going to the extent of giving us all this information. I see from the paper that it is recommended that we simply note the information for the moment, but it is good to have it. I put our appreciation on the record.

Thank you, Helen. I support your comments.

Are we agreed that we should include consideration of the Scotland Bill—probably early in 2012—in our work programme? We will deal with consideration of the Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Act 2006 at the same time. Are members happy that we consider that and come back with it formally fitted into our work programme for a meeting in September?

I note that the paper states:

“The Bill needs to complete all its stages by spring 2012.”

If we are to consider it only in early 2012, will there be enough time for us to feed in?

The clerks can correct me if I am wrong, but we will not deal with the bill until it has finished its progress through both Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. We will come in after that, because our work is to deal with any changes that are required in consequence of the bill, so we will need to wait until its progress has finished.

So it will be afterwards.

Yes.

Okay.

Are we happy to include that in discussions on our work programme?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you.