Skip to main content
Loading…
Chamber and committees

Enterprise and Culture Committee, 20 Sep 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 20, 2005


Contents


Bankruptcy and Diligence Law (Reform)

The Convener:

A paper has been circulated for agenda item 4. The committee's permission in principle is sought to appoint an adviser on the forthcoming bill to reform bankruptcy and diligence law. The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning is the primary sponsor of the bill, but people from the Justice Department will also be heavily involved. As the bill will be technical and substantial, it goes without saying that we will require professional advice as we proceed. Do members agree to appoint an adviser?

Members indicated agreement.

The Convener:

The committee's agreement is also sought to invite the Executive's bill team to give us an informal briefing, ideally after the October recess, once the team knows precisely what will be in the bill. Do members agree to that suggestion?

Members indicated agreement.

I have already had one briefing paper on the matter and I confess that I struggled to understand it. I think that we will need a fair bit of support in considering the bill.

The Convener:

Absolutely. The timescale looks quite good, but, because of the size of the bill, it might be tight. The Executive wants the act to receive royal assent by May next year. That will be tight, given that we will not see the bill until at least the end of October.

We will now consider agenda item 5 in private.

Meeting continued in private until 16:59.