Audit Committee, 07 Dec 2004

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 7, 2004

Official Report 171KB pdf

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Financial Scrutiny of Legislation

Agenda item 6 is financial scrutiny of legislation. The committee is asked to consider a letter from the convener of the Procedures Committee on the financial scrutiny of legislation. The item should not take a great deal of our time, but I wanted to have it on the agenda so that we could formally note the conduct of the Procedures Committee.

Members will recall that one of our earlier tasks when members of the committee came back after the first session was to consider a report by Audit Scotland on the mainstreaming of special educational needs. That report drew to public attention the issue of changes that were made to proposed legislation at stage 2 and to the financial implications of such changes. That was of interest to the committee, but we were content to let the Procedures Committee discuss the issue, having written to that committee outlining our concerns about the degree of financial risk that amendments could have for the Executive.

Members will note that there are now some proposals to change the procedures. The proposals will be subject to parliamentary approval, but they would allow a change to be introduced in the financial memorandum if amendments made a significant change to the financial costs of the legislation. Without wishing to commit members, I think that they will at least appreciate that the Procedures Committee has made some proposals. I think that we should note those proposals and move on. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Meeting suspended until 11:30 and thereafter continued in private until 12:25.