European Committee, 12 Feb 2002

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 12, 2002

Official Report 176KB pdf

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Scrutiny

Item 6—scrutiny—is the final item to be discussed in public. Members will note that a new system has been adopted as part of the committee's revision of the scrutiny process. The clerks have spent some time classifying all the documents. That is much more helpful to the subject committees, which will be free to decide which documents to pursue. We are merely noting the papers and the new process.

In the paper for the Transport and the Environment Committee, I noticed something that I thought important. On the last page of that document is a proposal to set up a European maritime safety pollution and prevention agency. There was discussion about where that agency might be located, and I do not know whether that has been decided. However, we could highlight that for the Transport and the Environment Committee. I do not think that a decision was made at Laeken, although there was some discussion about the location of agencies.

Another agency is being proposed in relation to veterinary medicines. I have asked to be kept informed of developments. When such agencies are created, if there is a case for bringing them to Scotland, the parliamentary committees and the Parliament could usefully make that case.

The scrutiny paper says:

"The document is sent by the European Committee to each of the Scottish Parliament's committees for their attention."

I am not sure what that means. Is each document sent to every committee or to the relevant committee as identified in the paper?

I understand that the document is sent to all the committees. Perhaps Stephen Imrie can clarify the matter.

The phrase "the document is sent" refers to the list—the specific document that is in front of members—rather than the individual papers that are allocated to each committee. Each committee receives the list that is classified as being in its remit and is free to decide on which of the documents it wants to act. Committees can return to this committee, SPICe or the legal advisers for further advice. The committee adopted that system at a meeting earlier this year.

Thank you. Item 7 is consideration of our work programme. That is the end of the public part of our meeting. I thank members of the public for attending.

Meeting continued in private until 16:17.