Chamber and committees

I see. School visits are very important.

I have a wee tale, which might or might not be interesting. When I was 10, which was about, oh, 12 years ago, I went to a school in Partick. The local authority took pupils away from three primary schools in the area, including mine, for five straight weeks to a place called Galloway house, which, obviously, is down in Galloway. Our teachers came with us—we did not have separate staff in the area or anything like that. We stayed over and we were taken out into the country, which most of us had never really been to much at all, and to the seaside and so on. We also had our straight school classes; we still had our normal education added on.

I do not know whether that is anything like what the witnesses are talking about—I know that you are talking about periods shorter than five straight weeks—but I am aware that the people who were there felt that they benefited from doing it. It was not as if a class would be taken every year—it was a one-off thing, as far as I know, anyway. Our parents had to pay two pounds 12 shillings and sixpence for the five weeks, which does not seem like very much money, and we stayed in a huge place called Galloway house, as I said. We benefited from our normal primary school education continuing, but we also had the other experiences, which we otherwise never would have had.

I do not know whether that type of thing is similar to what you are talking about—if my description is of any use at all—but I think that going away like that benefited everybody who went, boys and girls. Are there different, or differing, roles for school staff and outdoor education centre staff? Do they co-operate and work together?

Welcome to the 30th meeting in 2024 of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. We have received apologies from the convener, Stuart McMillan MSP, and from Jeremy Balfour MSP. I welcome Rona Mackay MSP in Stuart McMillan’s place. I remind everyone to switch off, or put to silent, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Under the first agenda item, the committee is considering an instrument subject to the affirmative procedure, on which no points have been raised.

Is the committee content with the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

In relation to SSI 2024/272, does the committee wish to note that an error in the policy note concerning the contribution rate was identified following a question by the committee, and that the Scottish Government intends to correct that?

Members indicated agreement.

Under agenda item 2, we are considering two instruments. An issue has been raised on one of the instruments.

The instrument makes various changes in relation to fees payable and information required to register as a property factor. In correspondence with the Scottish Government, which is published alongside the papers for this meeting, the committee queried the numbering in regulation 5(3) of the instrument, which refers to a paragraph (5), which does not exist. The Scottish Government indicated that that is a formatting error and confirmed that it intends to correct it by way of a correction slip.

Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, in respect of an error in the numbering of regulation 5(5)?

Members indicated agreement.

Also under this agenda item, no points have been raised on the following instrument.

Is the committee content with the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee wish to note that the Scottish Government intends to correct the error by way of a correction slip?

Members indicated agreement.