Minutes: 08 March 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6, 7 and 8 in private.

2. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1:

The Committee took evidence on the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 from—

John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for COVID Recovery, Steven Macgregor, Head of Parliament and Legislation Unit, Rachel Rayner, SGLD Deputy Legislation Co-ordinator, Erin McCreadie, Team Leader, Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus, and Infectious Disease, Clare Morley, Unit Head - School Funding, Infrastructure and Organisation and Craig Robertson, Interim Deputy Director, Advanced Learning COVID Response, Scottish Government.

3. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Prohibition of Smoking Outside Hospital Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/Draft)

4. Instruments subject to negative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/66)
Registration Services (Fees, etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/68)
National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/70)
National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/71)
National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment (Scotland) (No.2) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/72)
Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2022 (SSI 2022/73)

5. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provision) Amendment Regulations 2022 SSI 2022/67 (C.5))
Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018 (Commencement, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/78 (C.6))

6. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2 and will consider a draft report, in private, at a future meeting.

7. Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1 and agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

8. Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):

The Committee considered the legislative consent memorandum on the Bill which was lodged on Friday 4 March 2022 and is expected to be debated by Parliament on Wednesday 10 March. The Committee noted that there was insufficient time to fully consider the relevant delegated powers ahead of the Parliament’s consideration. It nevertheless agreed to consider the relevant powers in the Bill in more detail at a future meeting.