Minutes: 07 January 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following— 

Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023 Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/Draft)
Registers of Scotland (Fees and Plain Copies) Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2025 (SSI 2025/Draft)
International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/Draft)

3. Instruments subject to negative procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following— 

Financial Assistance for Environmental Purposes (Variation) (Scotland) Order 2024 (SSI 2024/371)
Local Government Pension Scheme (Remediable Service) (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/374)
Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/376)
Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/377)
Moveable Transactions (Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/379)
Moveable Transactions (Register of Assignations and Register of Statutory Pledges Rules) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/381)

4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure:

The Committee agreed that no points arose on the following— 

Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/373 (C.25))
Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 8) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/375 (C.26))
Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/378 (C.27))

5. Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers:

The Committee took evidence from—

Dr Ruth Fox, Director, Hansard Society;

Dr Dexter Govan, Director of Research, Constitution Society;

Dr Pablo Grez Hidalgo, Lecturer in Public Law, University of Strathclyde;

Professor Colin T Reid, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law, University of Dundee;

Dr Andrew Tickell, Head of Department for Economics and Law, Glasgow Caledonian University;

Professor Richard Whitaker, Parliamentary Academic Fellow, University of Leicester;

and then from—

Jessica De Mounteney, First Parliamentary Counsel and Diggory Bailey, Legislative Drafter, Office of the Parliamentary Counsel .

6. Budget (Scotland) (No. 4) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the delegated powers in this Bill at Stage 1. It agreed to report to the lead committee on the Bill, the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

7. Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier in the meeting.

8. Leases (Automatic Continuation etc.) (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered and agreed its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.