PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

Call for Evidence on Private Bill Procedures

The Scottish Parliament’s Procedures Committee has issued a call for written evidence from all interested parties for its inquiry on Private Bill procedures.

Convener of the Committee, Iain Smith MSP, said:

“Many of the Private Bills considered by the Parliament relate to major building works, such as the construction of a new railway. Given the considerable effect such legislation could have on the lives of many Scots, it is important that the Parliament has an open and wide ranging debate on how this legislation can best be scrutinised.

“This will be the first major piece of work undertaken by the Committee following the summer recess and we are keen to get written evidence from as many people as possible with experience of engaging with the Parliament in relation to Private Bills.”

The Committee will be considering what scope there is to streamline the current private bills process particularly in relation to “works” Private Bills (Bills to authorise the construction of major infrastructure projects) . Specifically, the Committee will consider what options there might be to reduce the Parliament’s responsibility for such Bills from the Parliament – including the possibility of some Scottish equivalent to the Transport and Works Act 1992. Options for other changes or improvements to the Private Bill process will also be considered.

Written evidence is invited from any MSP, individual or organisation with an interest in, or previous involvement in, the Private Bill process in the Scottish Parliament (or in Westminster or elsewhere). Evidence should be submitted, preferably in electronic format (MS Word preferred), to the following email address: procedures.committee@scottish.parliament.uk.

Alternatively submissions should be sent by post to the Clerk to the Procedures Committee, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP. Please keep submissions to a maximum of 6 sides of A4 if possible or include a brief summary of the main points at the beginning or end.

Please note that responses will be treated as public documents unless it is made clear at the start of the submission that it should not be published or circulated in public.

The deadline for submitting written evidence is Monday 27 September 2004 . Late submissions can be accepted only by prior arrangement with the Committee Clerk.

Notes for Editors

Private Bills are Bills introduced by a person or body who is seeking powers or benefits in excess of, or in conflict with, the general law. Private Bills are quite distinct from Public Bills (Executive Bills, Committee Bills and Members’ Bills) which are introduced by MSPs.

The procedures currently governing Private Bills are set out in Chapter 9A of the Parliament’s standing orders, and are explained in detail in the Guidance on Private Bills

The Transport and Works Act 1992 confers order-making powers on Ministers in relation to railway, tramway and similar projects, and enables Ministers to establish public inquiries to consider objections to such projects. Further information about the Act can be found on the UK Department for Transport website (www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=9656&l=1).

The Parliament’s media contact is :

Eric MacLeod 0131 348 5389
E-mail: eric.macleod@scottish.parliament.uk

The Committee’s contact is:
Lewis McNaughton 0131 348 5178.

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000

For general enquiries, contact 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)

Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome

email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk