Local Government and Transport Committee, 28 Nov 2006

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Official Report 170KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

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Registration Services (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Order 2006 (Draft)

Item 2 is subordinate legislation. I welcome George Lyon, the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business, to give evidence to the committee on the order. Supporting George Lyon are Paul Parr, who is the deputy registrar general for Scotland, and Graham Fisher, who is the principal legal officer from the office of the solicitor to the Scottish Executive.

The order has been laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that Parliament must approve it before its provisions come into force. It is our normal practice to give members the opportunity to question the minister and his officials prior to the start of the formal debate, as the officials cannot take part once we have started the formal debate. I give the minister the opportunity to make some introductory remarks on the order, after which I will allow members to ask any questions that they have.

Thank you, convener. I will be brief. The draft order makes some technical but necessary consequential amendments resulting from the provisions of part 2 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006. It simply tidies up the language in the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and some other statutes to reflect the language that is used in the 2006 act. Apart from some small changes in terminology, it maintains the status quo.

I hope that that helps the committee to understand the purpose of the draft order. My officials and I will be happy to answer or clarify any points that are raised by committee members.

As no member has any questions for the minister, I ask the minister to move motion S2M-5144, in the name of Tom McCabe.

Motion moved,

That the Local Government and Transport Committee recommends that the draft Registration Services (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Order 2006 be approved.—[George Lyon.]

As no member wishes to speak in the open debate on the motion, I will put the question on the motion.

Motion agreed to.