Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2026 [Last updated 18:21]
I was going to come on to that. I recognise that point, and it was considered, given Ms Hamilton’s concerns. There was engagement with the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, and the convener of that committee indicated that he was content for the committee not to consider the LCM in this case. With the greatest will in the world and the greatest respect, the Government can do only so much—indeed, the Parliamentary Bureau collectively can do only so much. The Government engaged with the committee to offer it that opportunity, recognising that it would not be an ideal timescale or ideal circumstances, but the committee said that it did not want to do that.
The member will appreciate that the Government cannot compel a committee to undertake scrutiny that it does not want to undertake, and I do not think that Parliament would want the Government to do that. That is why the Parliamentary Bureau has agreed to seek to expedite the vote on the motion on legislative consent to ensure that Parliament can take its collective view next week.