Chamber and committees

Thank you, Lady Paton. That is a good outline of the bill and a good rationale for why it has been introduced. It is all very positive as far as I am concerned.

We move to questions from the committee. Questions can be answered by Lady Paton, Professor Gretton or Professor Steven. If our guests would like to give the lead answer on any question, they should please let us know by giving us a wee wave, and we will be fine with that.

I will open up with three wee questions. I think that they have been answered before by the professors in particular, but it would be useful for the committee to get an outline on them.

First, why did the Scottish Law Commission review the law on moveable transactions? Following on from that, how does Scots law compare with the law in other countries? Did international comparisons inform what was proposed?

The second item of business, of which there seem to be many, is a decision on taking in private items 6 and 7. Is the committee content to those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Under item 4, we are considering two instruments on which no points have been raised.

Under item 5, we are considering three instruments on which no points have been raised.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

As agreed earlier, I move the meeting into private.

Both of your answers were very helpful indeed.

It sounds as though there have not been very many previous attempts to reform the law in this area. Why do you think that the proposals in the bill are more likely to work than any of the previous attempts in Scotland?

Welcome to the 24th meeting in 2022 of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. We have received apologies from Stuart McMillan MSP. I welcome Jenni Minto MSP as a substitute. Thank you very much for being here and contributing, Jenni.

The first item of business is a declaration of interests. In accordance with section 3 of the “Code of Conduct for Members of the Scottish Parliament”, I invite Oliver Mundell MSP to declare any interests that are relevant to the remit of the committee.

Thank you, Mr Mundell, and welcome to the committee. It is good to have you here.

On behalf of the committee, I thank Graham Simpson MSP for his time with us. As both a member and convener of the committee over a number of years, Graham recognised the importance of delegated powers, and he was passionate about the need for their proper scrutiny. We all wish him well in his new role.

The committee’s next meeting will take place on Tuesday 26 April.