Official Report 104KB pdf
I have had to wait for notification that chamber business has finished: under standing orders, committees cannot meet while Parliament is meeting. The meeting of the Parliament will reconvene at 2.15, so we must finish our business by then, although I hope to be finished much sooner than that.
Bell College of Technology<br />(Transfer and Closure) (Scotland) Order 2007 (SSI 2007/171)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee has raised no points on SSI 2007/171. With us from the Scottish Executive are Gill Troup, Stephen O'Connor and Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre. My pronunciation there was not bad—I struggle with English, never mind French.
No.
I note that some people are writing to newspapers describing themselves as "Professor So-and-so from the University of the West of Scotland". The Parliament has not yet approved an order on the change of name, so it is highly presumptuous of anyone to say that that will be the name of the new institution. People should take cognisance of that before they sign themselves with that title.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (Scotland) Order of Council 2007<br />(SSI 2007/116)
I welcome Professor Cohen from Queen Margaret University and Gill Troup and Andrew Campbell from the Scottish Executive. The purpose of the order of council, SSI 2007/116, is set out in the explanatory note and the executive note. We congratulate Queen Margaret University on achieving full university status.
First, I thank you for the committee's support and interest in the process, which are much appreciated.
Thank you. The Subordinate Legislation Committee raised a number of technical points, but I understand that they are being dealt with satisfactorily.
No.
We have consent.
Thank you.
Education (Graduate Endowment, Student Fees and Support) (Scotland) Revocation Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/148)
I am sure that the third instrument, SSI 2007/148, will be a big election issue. The Subordinate Legislation Committee raised no points on the instrument. Do any committee members have points to raise or questions to ask?
No. Other than to say that for those for whom it is important it is important that we get it right.
Absolutely. I take it that everyone is content with the instrument.
Education (Fees and Awards) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/152)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee asked the Executive whether it intends to correct the drafting error in paragraph 11 of schedule 1 of SSI 2007/152. I believe that the Executive has agreed to do so. Do committee members wish to raise any points or ask any questions? Is the committee happy with the instrument?
Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/154)
We now move to the Education Students' Allowances—
Student Loans—
We now move to the Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 2007. The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no points to raise on the regulations. Do members have points or questions?
None.
Students' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/153)
I thought that we had missed one. My deputy convener is misleading me and getting me into trouble. We missed out the Students' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007.
My apologies.
The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no points to raise on SSI 2007/153. Do committee members have any points or questions? Is everybody happy with the regulations?
Graduate Endowment (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/155)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee considered SSI 2007/155 on 13 March. It raised three points, all of which have been satisfied by the Executive. Do committee members have any questions or points? Is everybody content?
Education Maintenance Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/156)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee also considered SSI 2007/156 on 13 March. It asked the Executive to explain why the definition of "employed" that is given in regulation 2 differs from the definition of "employment" that is used in other Scottish statutory instruments. I believe that the point has been satisfactorily explained. Do members have any points or questions? Is everybody content?
Civil Partnership Act 2004<br />(Modification of Subordinate Legislation) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2007<br />(SSI 2007/157)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no points to raise on SSI 2007/157. Do committee members have points or questions? Is everybody content?
Education (Student Loans for Tuition Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/158)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no points to raise on SSI 2007/158 Do any committee members have points or questions? Is everybody content?
Repayment of Student Loans (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007<br />(SSI 2007/159)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee considered SSI 2007/159 on 13 March and sought clarification of why new regulation 11(2) of the Repayment of Student Loans (Scotland) Regulations 2000 appears to sub-delegate to Scottish ministers powers to specify and require information. That point has been satisfactorily dealt with. Do committee members have any questions or points? Is everybody happy with the regulations?
Individual Learning Account (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007<br />(SSI 2007/164)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee raised no points on SSI 2007/164. Do committee members have points or questions? Are members content with the regulations?
Debt Arrangement Scheme (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2007<br />(SSI 2007/187)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee had no points to raise on SSI 2007/187. Do committee members have any questions or points? Are we content with the regulations?
Bankruptcy Fees (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/220)
The Subordinate Legislation Committee considered SSI 2007/220 on 20 March, so any points that arose will be drawn to our attention now. Are there any points to draw to our attention?
The Subordinate Legislation Committee found minor drafting errors and the Executive has taken them on board. No further substantive points arise.
Members have no questions or points on the regulations.
Napier University (Scotland) Order of Council 1993 Amendment Order of Council 2007 (SSI 2007/160)
We have one more instrument. Did the Subordinate Legislation Committee have any points on SSI 2007/160?
The Subordinate Legislation Committee has discussed with the Executive minor drafting errors and is now content. The Enterprise and Culture Committee has received representations about the instrument from the University and College Union, which were circulated for information to members.
Members have no points or questions about the order of council. Are members content with it?
That covers all our business. As this is the committee's last meeting of the session, I thank all committee members. On the whole, we have worked well together. Although we have had one or two moments when things have perhaps became a bit tense, we all respect one another's points of view. I have enjoyed being the convener.
Hear, hear.
Thank you.
With that, we come to the end of a long but not sad song. I certainly look forward to seeing everybody again in May.
Meeting closed at 13:27.