Committee
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee 09 March 2011
09 Mar 2011 · S3 · Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Item of business
Annual Report
I am mindful of comments that Peter Peacock made earlier. I am mindful of the risks of making too much comment on the intra vires versus ultra vires issues relating to the order that was before us today, and of giving that further weight by including it in the annual report. I am not entirely sure that we need to do that. The discussion will be fully documented in the Official Report, and I might not be entirely comfortable with elevating the matter to such a point. However, I am here to be persuaded.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
I ask members for general comments on our draft annual report and whether they think that anything needs to be added to it.
Liam McArthur
LD
The start of paragraph 26 on page 5 of the report, which is on the Public Services Reform (Agricultural Holdings) (Scotland) Order 2011, is odd. It states:“T...
The Convener
SNP
Okay. We will add to that.
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
I am mindful of comments that Peter Peacock made earlier. I am mindful of the risks of making too much comment on the intra vires versus ultra vires issues r...
Liam McArthur
LD
I certainly accept that there are risks in the debate that we have just had and in what we have put on the record. I envisage something in the annual report ...
Peter Peacock
Lab
If we want to cover the point, we need say only, “In arriving at its conclusion, the committee was mindful of the advice of the Subordinate Legislation Commi...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
We could add, “but concluded ... .”
Peter Peacock
Lab
That is right.
Bill Wilson
SNP
On stretching the envelope in future, the only other thing that we might want to note is that the cabinet secretary did not lodge two possible amendments and...
The Convener
SNP
I think that we are tying ourselves in knots, and it seems that my colleagues at the end of the table—Elaine Murray and Karen Gillon—are not very supportive ...
John Scott
Con
I think that we should simply note that we had our first super-affirmative instrument. Time will tell whether we did the right thing, but I believe that we did.
The Convener
SNP
We will simply update paragraph 26 on the basis of this morning’s discussion, without going into too much detail.Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
SNP
Are there any further points on page 5 or page 6?Members: No.
The Convener
SNP
Okay. Do members agree to the draft annual report?Members indicated agreement.
John Scott
Con
Well done to the clerks.
The Convener
SNP
Yes, well done.That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. I thank everyone in the public gallery for their attendance.11:11 Meeting continued in priv...