Seòmar agus comataidhean

First, convener, I apologise to you and to the committee for my tardiness earlier; it was my fault.

I have a quick question on the back of Bill Kidd’s questions that relates to Ruth Maguire’s question about socioeconomic characteristics. Notwithstanding the socioeconomic point or the issue of availability of staff in schools, in relation to the cost, have you found that there has been an improvement in outcomes in new schools or schools that have been revamped in recent years? Have you found that there are better outcomes in urban settings compared with rural settings?

Thank you. In a wide variety of policy areas, we regularly hear in the Parliament about the difference between urban and rural processes and outcomes, so I was keen to see whether there is anything to add in that regard.

Is the committee content with the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Under agenda item 3, we are considering seven instruments. Issues have been raised on the following instrument.

Under agenda item 4, we are considering three instruments, on which no points have been raised.

Good morning, and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2024 of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. I remind everyone to switch off, or put to silent, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

The first item of business is to decide whether to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private. Is the committee content to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Under agenda item 2, we are considering one instrument, on which no points have been raised.

?

The instrument makes a number of amendments to the Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (Scotland) Regulations 2023. The 2023 regulations require producers of products to collect and/or report data on the amount and type of packaging that they place on the market, as part of extended producer responsibility for packaging.

In correspondence with the Scottish Government, which has been published alongside the papers for this meeting, the committee asked about the adequacy of the explanatory note for the regulations—they amount to just one substantive paragraph—given the length and complexity of the regulations. On reflection, the Scottish Government agreed that additional information would aid understanding of the instrument and has undertaken to amend the explanatory note by way of correction slip at the earliest opportunity.

Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, on the basis that the explanatory note is too brief?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

The committee notes the correspondence that it received from the Royal College of Nursing Scotland and understands that it has written in similar terms to the lead committee.

In relation to SSI 2024/59, does the committee wish to welcome that the instrument fulfils a commitment by the Scottish Government to correct an error that the committee identified in the Non-Domestic Rates (Transitional Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/5)?

Members indicated agreement.