Subordinate Legislation Committee, 31 Aug 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, August 31, 1999

Official Report 111KB pdf

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Scottish Parliament Subordinate Legislation Committee Tuesday 31 August 1999 (Morning)

[The Convener opened the meeting at 11:03]

Good morning, and welcome to this second meeting of the Subordinate Legislation Committee. I remind members of the public that we are happy to have the democratic process viewed, but I make it clear that the purpose of this committee is to consider not policy, but dry and technical matters such as whether legislation is properly drafted and whether it is vires or ultra vires.

Although we might like to discuss policy issues, we are precluded from doing so. For example, we are discussing amnesic shellfish poisoning, which people may have heard mentioned on "Good Morning Scotland". We are not in a position to consider the whys and wherefores; we must consider simply whether the legislation that has been or is about to be brought in is appropriate. The purpose of our meeting briefly in private first was to allow us to obtain legal advice. There are two agendas—the main agenda and a supplementary one dealing with revoked orders.