Official Report 115KB pdf
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Sustainable Development, Statutory Guidance to SEPA made under Section 31 of the Environment Act 1995 (SE/2004/257)
Members will recall that we asked about the reference to prorogation in the guidance and the fact that that phrasing was not right for the Scottish Parliament, and did not take note of the recess. The Executive acknowledges what we have said and will consider the matter at the first opportunity.
I understand that the same issue might arise elsewhere and that some sort of trawl might be about to take place or might be appropriate. What would we find out from that? What report would be made to us to the effect that such a trawl had been conducted and that the need to do that had been identified?
There is certainly no problem with asking for that. The legal advisers have made it known in the legal brief that there should not be a big problem as far as this item and the guidance are concerned.
I appreciate that, but a bigger, more general issue has been highlighted, and we might therefore wish to quiz the Executive on the matter. Such problems are liable to recur. We would want to know that the Executive is treating the matter seriously and to find out what its timescale is for completing its review and making any amendments that prove necessary in the fullness of time.
Absolutely.