SP Paper 679 (Web Only)
Remit and membership
Remit:
To consider and report on infrastructure, capital investment, transport, Scottish Water, and other matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities; and matters relating to housing and digital infrastructure.
Membership:
James Dornan
Jim Eadie (Convener)
Mary Fee
Adam Ingram (Deputy Convener)
Alex Johnstone
Mike MacKenzie
David Stewart
Committee Clerking Team:
Clerk to the Committee
Steve Farrell
Senior Assistant Clerk
Andrew Proudfoot
Assistant Clerk
Jason Nairn
Committee Assistant
Kara Wiltshire
Subordinate Legislation
The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows—
1. On 29 January 2015, the Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2015 [draft] was laid before Parliament and was subject to affirmative resolution procedure.
Purpose of the instrument
2. It is the Scottish Government’s intention to introduce legislation to ensure that it is a requirement that seatbelts are provided on all dedicated school transport in Scotland, following agreement from the UK Government for the devolution of the necessary powers.
3. In October 2010, the UK Government’s then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport agreed that additional powers in relation to the safety of dedicated school transport, consistent with those granted to the Welsh Assembly, should be transferred to the Scottish Ministers. In January 2015 both the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland gave formal agreement in writing to the making of his Order.
4. The purpose of this Order is to amend Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 to devolve power to the Scottish Parliament to legislate in relation to the regulation of the description of motor vehicles and trailers which transport pupils and students in Scotland to and from places where they receive education or training (for example, schools and colleges).
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee consideration
5. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform (DPLR) Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 17 February 2015 and agreed not to draw the Parliament’s attention to the instrument on any grounds within its remit. The DPLR report can be found at the following link:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/86854.aspx
Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee consideration
6. At its meeting on 25 February 2015, the Infrastructure and Capital Investment (ICI) Committee took evidence on this instrument from—
Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and Islands, Scottish Government;
Brendan Rooney, Road Safety Policy Officer, Transport Scotland.
7. The Committee explored indicative timescales for implementing the regulations with the Minister for Transport and Islands. It also discussed how Parliamentary processes, such as the petitions system, from which the proposal to transfer the powers that are the subject of this instrument originated, can allow people to raise issues of concern.
8. A link to the Official Report of the meeting can be found at the following page:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9806#.VPWKTtJdW2s
9. Following the evidence session, the Minister for Transport and Islands moved the following motion—
S4M-12372—That the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee recommends that The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2015 [draft] be approved.
10. Following the debate, the Committee agreed the motion without division.
11. The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee recommends to Parliament that it approves the draft instrument.
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