Chamber and committees

Under item 6, we are considering four instruments subject to the negative procedure.

Does the committee wish to note that those regulations address an issue that was identified by the committee at its meeting on 9 November 2021 regarding regulation 4(d) of SSI 2021/359?

Members indicated agreement.

Item 5 is consideration of two draft instruments subject to the affirmative procedure—a set of draft regulations and a relaid draft order—on which no points have been raised.

Good morning and welcome to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee’s 13th meeting in session 6. I remind everyone who is present to switch their mobile phones to silent.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take item 8 in private. Is the committee content to take that item in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee wish to welcome the fact that the relaid draft order addresses issues that were reported by the session 5 committee at its meeting on 12 January 2021 in respect of the draft Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2021?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, Dr Fox.

Members will note that the instrument removes the requirement for products of animal origin and animal by-products to be accompanied by health certificates. That differs from previous instruments, which postponed the implementation of border control measures. As the approach appears to constitute a policy choice, does the committee agree that the categorisation should be of medium, rather than low, significance?

Members indicated agreement.

Before we finish the evidence session, I have a final question for our two witnesses. Would it be useful to have a procedure that was in between the affirmative procedure, which is subject to the 40-day period, and the made affirmative procedure, given the current circumstances that we face and the Covid regulations that are coming through?

I mean something with different time limits. Could a new procedure be created that was beneficial and enabled the committee and the Parliament to do the scrutiny work that has been discussed this morning?