Seòmar agus comataidhean

No points have been raised on the remaining instruments under this agenda item.

Is the committee content with the draft orders?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 5 is consideration of two instruments that are not subject to parliamentary procedure and on which no points have been raised.

We will have the minister in front of the committee in a couple of weeks’ time, so we will be able to raise the point directly with him then.

The Council Tax Reduction (State Pension Credit) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/319) are, however, yet to be consolidated. Does the committee wish to write to the Scottish Government asking whether and when those regulations will be consolidated?

Members indicated agreement.

Also, although the instrument revokes SSI 2020/344, it fails to revoke all the instruments that amended SSI 2020/344. The Scottish Government was grateful that that oversight was brought to its attention and confirmed by correspondence that the relevant amending instruments

“will be revoked at the earliest convenient opportunity.”

Does the committee wish to bring the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, and at the same time welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to revoke the relevant amending instruments at the next legislative opportunity?

Members indicated agreement.

Does anyone have any questions on the instrument?

We come to agenda item 3. No points have been raised on the following orders.

We come to agenda item 4. Issues have been raised on four of the instruments under consideration.

There also appears to be an unusual or unexpected use of the enabling powers that are conferred by the parent statute. It would be more usual and expected for the Parliament to be given the opportunity to scrutinise the code of practice where there is a requirement in law to comply with it.

Does the committee wish to bring the regulations to the Parliament’s attention on reporting ground (g), on the basis that they have been made by the Scottish ministers with what appears to be an unusual and unexpected use of the enabling power?

Members indicated agreement.