Minutes: 04 October 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6, 7 and 8 in private.

2. Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (UK Parliament legislation):

Edward Mountain indicated that he is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, through his previous profession as a qualified surveyor.

Edward Mountain indicated that he has experience in the planning sector, from private practice.

The Committee took evidence on Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-S6-23 from—

Robbie Calvert, Policy, Practice and Research Officer, Royal Town Planning Institute;

Lloyd Austin, Convener, Governance Group, Scottish Environment LINK;

David Melhuish, Director, Scottish Property Federation.

3. UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

The Biocidal Products (Health and Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

from—

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Dan Merckel, Chemicals Team Leader and Luigi Pedreschi, Solicitor, Scottish Government.

4. UK subordinate legislation:

Under the Statutory Instruments Protocol, the Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

The Biocidal Products (Health and Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

The Committee agreed that the provision set out in the notification should be included in the UK statutory instrument.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, and delegated to the Convener authority to approve the letter informing the Scottish Government of the Committee's decision.

5. UK subordinate legislation:

Under the Statutory Instruments Protocol, the Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022

The Committee agreed that the provision set out in the notification should be included in the UK statutory instrument.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, and delegated to the Convener authority to approve the letter informing the Scottish Government of the Committee's decision.

6. Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish and UK governments to seek further information.

7. Work programme (in private):

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee agreed—

• Its approach to its inquiry into a modern and sustainable ferry service for Scotland, including witnesses for future evidence sessions and engagement;
• Its approach to pre-budget scrutiny for 2023-24;
• To invite the Climate Change Committee to give evidence on its 2022 Scottish Progress Report; and
• To invite Scottish Water to give evidence at a later date.

8. Advisers (in private):

The Committee agreed its preferred candidate for appointment as adviser on climate change.