Chamber and committees

Emma suggested that Gordon MacRae might want to come in on that. Gordon, do you have any further brief reflections?

Under item 4, the committee is invited to consider a negative Scottish statutory instrument. Background information to the regulations is outlined in paper 7. Members will note that the regulations were drawn to the attention of the Parliament by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on reporting ground (j), because the instrument was laid less than 28 days before coming into force. However, that committee also noted that the regulations were introduced on an emergency basis in order to provide people arriving from Afghanistan access to the council tax reduction scheme. The DPLR Committee was therefore satisfied with the reasons that were given for the breach of the 28-day rule.

As members have no comments on the regulations, are they content to note the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

That was very helpful. My only other question before we decide whether to allow you to proceed without having to reconsult is about your intentions with regard to liaising with the Scottish Government before you reintroduce your proposed bill.

Thank you very much. The committee will now decide whether it is satisfied with the statement of reasons. I thank Mr Griffin and Mary Dinsdale for their time this morning and invite them to step away from the table while the committee comes to an agreement.

I suspend the meeting briefly.

The committee is now required to decide whether it is satisfied with the statement of reasons and that a further consultation on the proposal is not necessary. At this stage, we are not required to give our views on the proposed bill’s contents.

Is the committee satisfied with the statement of reasons?

Members indicated agreement.

The minutes will reflect that decision. Before we move on, I again thank Mr Griffin.

Thank you very much, Mr Griffin. I thank all those correspondents who have been in touch ahead of today’s meeting. My inbox has been rather full of emails on the subject.

I invite colleagues to ask any questions.

Thank you, Mr Balfour and minister. I reiterate those thanks on behalf of the committee.

Do colleagues, in the interests of time, agree that the clerks and I will produce a short factual report on the committee’s decisions and arrange to have it published?

Members indicated agreement.

As there are no further questions, we move to agenda item 2, which is the formal debate on the motion. I remind the committee that only members and the minister may take part in the formal debate, and I invite the minister to move motion S6M-01183.

Motion moved,

That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.—[Ben Macpherson]

Motion agreed to.