Committee
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee 09 December 2020 [Draft]
09 Dec 2020 · S5 · Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Island Communities Impact Assessments (Publication and Review of Decisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 [Draft]
Good morning, and welcome to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s 33rd meeting in 2020. Everyone should ensure that mobile phones are on silent. The meeting will be conducted in hybrid format with some members participating remotely. We have apologies from Oliver Mundell; Jamie Halcro Johnston is attending as a committee substitute. The first item of business is subordinate legislation and the consideration of one affirmative instrument. The committee will take evidence on the draft Island Communities Impact Assessments (Publication and Review of Decisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. The motion seeking the approval of the affirmative instrument will be considered at item 2. Members should note that there have been no representations to the committee on the instrument. Before I welcome colleagues from the Scottish Government to the meeting, would any members like to declare any interests?
In the same item of business
The Convener (Edward Mountain)
Con
Good morning, and welcome to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s 33rd meeting in 2020. Everyone should ensure that mobile phones are on silent. Th...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Given today’s agenda, particularly items 1 and 2 and part of item 4, I am obliged to declare that I own a private residence and two non-domestic properties i...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am a partner in an agricultural business in Orkney and I own property in the islands.
The Convener
Con
I welcome the panel from the Scottish Government: Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands; Erica Clarkson, head of islands and rur...
The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
I am pleased to be here today for the consideration of the draft Island Communities Impact Assessments (Publication and Review of Decisions) (Scotland) Regul...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
I have a question on a technical aspect of the 2018 act. There are a large number of public bodies that have to do an island communities impact assessment, a...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I thank Jamie Halcro Johnston for that useful question. Clearly, there are provisions in the 2018 act and regulations to cover the issue of publication. I ce...
The Convener
Con
Good morning, Paul. Are you there? I think that you are live now—off you go.
Paul Maxton (Scottish Government)
The regulations contain an obligation to publish the ICIA and so on. The relevant authority can use its own website; whether it uses another website would be...
The Convener
Con
As there are no further questions, we move to item 2, which is formal consideration of motion S5M-23257, in the name of the Minister for Energy, Connectivity...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I agree with the point that Paul Maxton made. We are happy to look at anything that we can do to make the process of understanding what reviews and island co...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
The affirmative instrument strengthens the act, and I particularly welcome the requirement for island communities impact assessments to be published online, ...
The Convener
Con
That concludes our consideration of this item. I thank the minister and his team.