European and External Relations Committee, 24 Feb 2004

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Official Report 241KB pdf

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EC Legislation (Implementation)

The next item on the agenda is the implementation of EC legislation. We have received another letter from the Executive about that matter. Once again, it has had recourse to section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998, which enables Westminster to legislate in devolved areas. Once again, we have to ask ourselves whether there is justification for doing that or whether there is any case for separate Scottish legislation in the case that has been brought to our attention. Is there any feedback from the committee on the paper before us that relates to the Council regulation on customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights? The Executive has laid out the case for introducing the legislation on a UK-wide basis, given that it relates to customs controls.

I am relaxed about the matter. Implementing the regulation in UK legislation is entirely in keeping with what we would expect. I do not have a problem with it.

In this instance, I do not envisage that any committee members will want to raise any points.

It is coming up to 5 to 4. As I bring the meeting to a close, I remind members that there is a meeting next week so we will not have our usual gap. At the next meeting, we will take the first tranche of evidence on our new inquiry into promoting Scotland worldwide.

When will the papers for next Tuesday's meeting come out?

Tomorrow or Thursday, according to the usual format.

Meeting closed at 15:54.