Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/220)
Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) (Amendment) 2021 (SSI 2021/225)
The next item on the agenda is consideration of two Scottish statutory instruments that are subject to the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 4.
Do members have any comments to make on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 or the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) (Amendment) 2021?
I have a minor and brief point to make on the second instrument, which is that the fee increase is 6 per cent but no explanatory note has been offered with regard to that level or the rationale behind it.
I was pondering the same point. It would be useful to know why the fee has gone up—maybe it is related to the pandemic. It is also backdated to 30 June. It would be helpful to know why we are being asked to agree to that.
If members agree, I propose that we write to the cabinet secretary to ask for clarification around those two points.
Members indicated agreement.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8 September, when we will hold a round-table evidence session on the current impacts of Covid-19 in the justice sector and our next steps for recovery.
12:02 Meeting continued in private until 12:42.