First, David Stewart’s comment on the success of this Parliament is a fair one. Petitioners—citizens of Scotland—can, in the very heart of our democracy, raise matters of importance to them. We can progress those issues where we have the power to do so. In this instance we did not have the power. but we sought it in order to deliver on aspirations.
The section 30 order is very specific, so we will be able to set only the rule around use of seatbelts, but not their specification—there is a particular request for three-point seatbelts. It would therefore be better if we had greater power, so that we could be more prescriptive. However, perhaps we can achieve that through guidance rather than necessarily having to do so through legislation.
As transport minister, I also want to take other action including improved signage on school buses, which another petitioner of Parliament has raised. That is another example of where this Parliament and I, as the responsible minister, do not have the power to make a decision. However, I will continue to pursue the matter with the UK Government.
In addition to the Smith commission proposals for further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament, the general election and the command paper “Scotland in the United Kingdom: An enduring settlement”, we will want to pursue, on a cross-party basis, further powers to make our young people even safer.
That was a consensual point made to take forward agreement on the principle of empowerment.
On Alex Johnstone’s question about the timescale, when the power becomes available, the earliest that we could introduce legislation would be in the first year of the next session of Parliament, because of the time it will take for the order to go through, including the Privy Council’s approval. It would be a matter for the next session of Scottish Parliament.
This Scottish Government has committed to introducing legislation very quickly. In order to achieve the timescale of implementation by 2018 for vehicles that transport primary school children, and by 2021 for vehicles carrying secondary school pupils, we have to introduce legislation in good time.
Members may put the point that it is presumptuous to say that that this Scottish Government will be the next Scottish Government, but because of the level of cross-party support the policy seems to have, surely any party will want to continue with the legislation, if it has the power to do so.
I hope that that gives further clarity on timescales.