Communities Committee, 17 Dec 2003

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Official Report 284KB pdf

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Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill

Under agenda item 2, we are asked to consider our approach to the Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill. The bill has been referred to the committee by the Parliamentary Bureau and an approach paper has been circulated. Before asking whether members have any comments, I should say that, under the heading "Evidence", the paper says that the bill is "regarded as fairly non-controversial". That does not mean that people will not disagree with it; people may disagree with it and the paper is simply saying that the bill is fairly straightforward and that the job of gathering evidence will be fairly straightforward, too. The recommendation is that the committee tries to complete a stage 1 report before the Easter recess.

I am quite happy with the approach paper. However, it says:

"We may also wish take evidence from the Scottish Executive."

I would suggest that, when considering a member's bill, it will almost invariably be useful to know the Executive's views. So it is not that we "may" wish to invite the Executive; we really ought to.

Are members happy with the suggestions in the approach paper?

Members indicated agreement.

The clerk has asked me to remind members that their mobile phones should be switched off. Mobile phones can affect the sound system. I am not identifying anyone in particular; I am sure that we have all been guilty at times.