09/12/2010
The first meeting of the Scotland Bill Committee has taken place to choose the Convener and Deputy and discuss areas of focus for future meetings.
Wendy Alexander MSP was named as Convener and Brian Adam MSP as Deputy Convener. The other members are Peter Peacock MSP, Tricia Marwick MSP, David McLetchie MSP and Robert Brown MSP.
The primary purpose of the Committee is to examine the Bill and any relevant Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM). Two LCMs have already been lodged - one by the Scottish Government and another by the leaders of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties in Scotland.
Relevant Ministers from the UK and Scottish Government will be invited to give evidence over the next two weeks. In following weeks, witnesses will be called to give evidence focusing on financial proposals in the Bill, including tax raising and borrowing powers. These issues are expected to form the bulk of the Committee’s scrutiny. Other sessions will look at non-financial issues, such as legislation on air guns and drink driving. The wider impact of the Bill on Scottish society will also be examined.
The Committee also agreed that it should appoint advisers to assist with its work. Further details on these will be available in due course once the necessary Parliamentary procedures are complete.
The next meeting of the Committee will be on Tuesday 14 December. It is expected to produce its report by March 2011 in advance of a Scottish Parliament debate on the Bill.
The Scotland Bill was introduced by the UK Government on 30 November to implement the Calman recommendations.
You can now get in touch with the Parliament by text message. Our interactive service enables you to get the name of your MSP by sending your postcode, lets you ask questions about the Parliament and its work, and enables you to request a selection of free leaflets. The number to take advantage of is 07786 209888. Texts are charged at standard network rates. More details can be found on our Text Service page.