Meeting of the Parliament 29 November 2022
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which shows that I am a member of the Faculty of Advocates.
It is not often that I get to my feet in the chamber with reluctance or with a heavy heart. I always enjoy the cut and thrust of debate in the Parliament, the battle of ideas and the to and fro with colleagues, sometimes as friends and sometimes as opponents, but not today. Today represents a low point, because I am afraid to say that this debate is an example of the ability of the Parliament, as a legislature, to scrutinise the Executive—as it is meant to do—being utterly undermined.
To recap, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee is conducting an inquiry into the REUL bill, if I can call it that. As per chapter 9B of standing orders, the committee must report on the legislative consent motion in due course. That is the established parliamentary process, mandated by law.
Our committee has just initiated our inquiry. We began to take evidence a week or so ago, and we have other evidence sessions to come—for example, with the cabinet secretary. We have also invited a UK Government minister to give evidence. Given that we are talking about a UK Government bill, it might be thought to be important—imperative even—to allow the UK Government the opportunity to give evidence. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee is also looking at the bill.
Notwithstanding the significant work that is just starting on the topic by both committees, the Scottish Government scheduled this debate at short notice. Last week, all that the Parliament had notice of was that there would be a debate on EU retained law; there was just a reference to a corpus of law—nothing more, nothing less. It was only after that had been agreed to by the Parliament that discussions in committee and with the Scottish Government last Thursday revealed the real purpose of today’s debate.