Committee
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, 25 Sep 2006
25 Sep 2006 · S2 · Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee
Item of business
Consideration Stage<br />(Assessor and Approach)
We move on to agenda item 4, which is perhaps more controversial. It concerns the appointment of an assessor to consider the objections. The committee's consideration of the matter in no way pre-empts the recommendations that we will make in our preliminary stage report or the Parliament's decision about whether the bill should proceed to the next stage. We are working to a tight timetable and, in the interests of good planning and with the interests of the objectors and the promoter in mind, we simply seek to indicate how the bill might be handled at the next stage, should it get that far. That will allow the objectors and the promoter to plan accordingly. Paper AB/S2/06/5/4 is clear on the matter. It sets out provisional groupings and suggests lead objectors and a provisional timetable. If the bill proceeds to the next stage, we shall then formally consider and agree groupings, lead objectors, the approach that will be taken and the timetable.Do members agree to direct the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to appoint an assessor to report to the committee at consideration stage?
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Con
We move on to agenda item 4, which is perhaps more controversial. It concerns the appointment of an assessor to consider the objections. The committee's cons...
Cathy Peattie:
Lab
Is that the norm with private bills? I am thinking about the number of objections that have been made to the bill that we are discussing.
The Convener:
Con
It is a new norm. In the past, members undertook long and detailed assessments of objections to private bills and dealt with nearly all of them. Somebody wil...
Cathy Peattie:
Lab
What is the timescale for identifying an assessor?
The Convener:
Con
It is hoped that an assessor would be approved once—and if—the Parliament agrees to the bill at preliminary stage, but we must first produce a report on the ...
Cathy Peattie:
Lab
What timescale is involved? Will the assessor have enough time to do what he or she must do before the bill is brought back to us?
The Convener:
Con
Yes.
Cathy Peattie:
Lab
That is fine.
The Convener:
Con
Do members therefore agree to direct the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to appoint an assessor to report to the committee at consideration stage?
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
Con
Do members agree that the assessor should undertake the role at consideration stage that is set out in option 2 in paper AB/S2/06/5/4?
Jeremy Purvis:
LD
I have a question that may be easily answered. Option 1 is to ask the assessor to deal with the groupings and the invitations to objectors to give evidence—m...
The Convener:
Con
The clerks have advised me that option 2 would be quicker.
Jeremy Purvis:
LD
I accept their view.
Alasdair Morgan:
SNP
Option 1 would mean that we would have to meet once or twice to agree other matters.
The Convener:
Con
Members are content that the assessor should undertake the role that is set out in option 2. Do members agree to the provisional groupings and suggested lead...
Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
Con
I turn to the timescale for consideration stage. Do members agree to the provisional timetable that is set out in annex B to the paper?
Members indicated agreement.