That gives me an opportunity to observe, for the sake of the record, that this morning we received a letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business, Joe FitzPatrick, in which he confirms:
“It would be our intention to lay a new order by revoking the instrument and replacing it with a new and corrected version at the earliest possible convenience.
The timing of the laying of the new order is not completely within the control of Scottish Ministers. The new version, and the accompanying revocation order, will require the consent of the Lords Commissioners of Treasury. I have asked my officials to explore how quickly this can be progressed, and to ensure that your officials are kept informed of progress.”
I am grateful to the minister for those comments, but it is worth observing that we have to go through the process of considering and reporting on regulations that have been laid and which need to be reported on.
We have agreed that the drafting of the regulations is defective. There are two other provisions the meaning of which could be clearer. The Scottish Government appears to accept that there is a lack of clarity in respect of one of those provisions and has undertaken to consider the drafting of the other.
Does the committee agree to report the regulations under reporting ground (h), as there are two provisions the meaning of which could be clearer?
Members indicated agreement.