Chamber and committees

Does the committee wish to welcome the fact that the Scottish Government intends to clarify the meaning of the points in rules 1 and 20 by amending instrument before the regulations come into force?

Members indicated agreement.

The clerks are willing and able to put all this together, so could your officials put together some pointers and send them to us? You mentioned that it is not just this committee but other committees that are also considering such issues. If we could have some direction to satisfy the concerns of the members of this committee, that would be helpful.

Under agenda item 4, we are considering one instrument, on which an issue has been raised.

The instrument transfers the functions of the council tax reduction review panel to the First-tier Tribunal and makes consequential amendments. The committee identified an incorrect cross-reference in regulation 94(3) of the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2021, as substituted by paragraph 2(5) of schedule 2 to the instrument. The Scottish Government confirmed that the cross-reference is an error and proposes to rectify it in the instrument when made, as an error that could be corrected by correction slip. Full details of the error can be found in paper 3 on the committee’s web page.

Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, in respect of a cross-referencing error?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee wish to note the reasons for the breach and refer them to the lead committee?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Under agenda item 6, we are considering one instrument, on which no points have been raised.

Thank you for those opening remarks. I will kick off the questions before I invite members to come in.

In your response to the committee, minister, you acknowledged that much of the detail of the bill will be set out in secondary legislation. You also said:

“It is important that we obtain Parliamentary agreement to the principle of creating the NCS”.

Why does the Scottish Government consider that it is important to obtain parliamentary agreement at this point? Why is it considered necessary to obtain such endorsement through the passage of a bill?

Does the committee wish to welcome that the Scottish Government undertakes to review this point for the future to make sure that a consistent approach is taken to these instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

We are not finished yet.

Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, in respect of cross-referencing errors in rules 20(4), 26(2)(i) and (j), 26(5), 27(1)(b), and 27(2)(a)(iii); and an error in regulation 26(2)(i)?

Members indicated agreement.