Official Report 132KB pdf
This is the committee's second consideration of the bill at stage 1. We wrote to the Scottish Government about a number of the delegated powers and we have received a response. As there are no comments on that response, are we content to welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to amend the bill to provide that election regulations and a pilot order or roll-out order, which contains modifications of enactments, will be subject to affirmative procedure? We might also wish to agree to review any amendments that are brought forward at stage 2. Is that a step in the right direction?
Are members content with the Scottish Government's response to our question about the proposed use of paragraph 13(2) of new schedule 1A to the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, as inserted by the bill?
Are we agreed that we should invite the relevant Scottish Government officials to give evidence on the intended use of the powers conferred by the sections listed in the summary of recommendations, namely: sections 1(5) and 1(6), on the constitution of health boards; paragraph 13 of new schedule 1A to the 1978 act, which is about the power to make election regulations, and which will be inserted by section 2(2) of the bill; section 4(1), on the pilot scheme and elected members; and section 7(1), on roll-out?
We now have an either/or question to answer. We can either report to the lead committee, or look for further evidence. Do we want to note in our report the arrangements for identifying persons who are entitled to vote and draw the attention of the lead committee to the question whether further explanation is required, or do we want to explore the issue further by taking more evidence? If we write to the lead committee, we will have fulfilled our duty, but we could bring officials before the committee and question them, although we would have to give due notice of those questions.
I am inclined to draw matters to the lead committee's attention rather than take more evidence.
Is that the committee's view?
Yes.
Okay.