Minutes: 24 October 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6, 7, 8 and 9 in private.

2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Parking Prohibitions (Enforcement and Accounts) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/Draft)
Social Security (Residence and Presence Requirements) (Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Lebanon) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/Draft)

3. Instruments subject to negative procedure:

The Committee agreed to bring to the attention of the Parliament the following—

Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/268)

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (Conservation Bodies and Rural Housing Bodies) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Order 2023 (SSI 2023/278)
National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/281)

4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following—

Act of Adjournal (Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 Amendment) (Witness Citations in Solemn Proceedings) 2023 (SSI 2023/276)

5. Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence from—

Esther Roberton, Author of Fit for the Future, Report of the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland ;

and then from—

Rachel Wood, Executive Director of Regulation, The Law Society of Scotland;

Morag Ross KC, Faculty of Advocates.

6. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill:

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

7. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee considered the Scottish Government's response to points raised on the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1. It agreed to report to the lead Committee on the Bill, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.

8. Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

The Committee considered the supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Bill and agreed to report to the lead committee and Parliament. It also agreed to write to the Scottish Government.

9. Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 5 and agreed to write to the Scottish Government.