The purpose of agenda item 4 is to consider the delegated powers in the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
The committee is invited to agree the questions that it wishes to raise with the Scottish Government on the delegated powers in the bill. It is suggested that those questions are raised in written correspondence. The committee will have the opportunity to consider the responses at a future meeting before the draft report is considered.
Section 8 of the bill requires the Scottish ministers to secure for an adult, during the relevant period,
“such support and assistance as they consider necessary given the adult’s needs”
in circumstances in which there are reasonable grounds to believe that that person is a victim of an offence of human trafficking.
The power in section 8(2)(b)(i) enables the Scottish ministers to prescribe in regulations an end date to the relevant period during which they are required to secure support and assistance for an adult whom they have reasonable grounds to believe is a victim of an offence of human trafficking.
Does the committee agree to ask the Scottish Government to explain further why, given the significance of the provision, it is considered appropriate that it should be subject to the negative procedure?
Members indicated agreement.