 Welcome to the sixth meeting in 2024 of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. I'd like to remind everyone to please switch off or put to silent your mobile phones and other electronic devices. I'd like to welcome Christine Grahame attending the public part of this meeting. The next item of business is to decide whether to take items five and six in private, as the committee contented these items in private. Under agenda item number two, we're considering instruments that are subject to the affirmative procedure. No points have been raised on the draft Scottish Food Commission appointment regulations 2024, the draft budget Scotland Act 2023 amendment regulations 2024 and the draft local government finance Scotland order 2024 as a committee content with these instruments. Under agenda item number three, we're considering five instruments subject to the negative procedure. Issues have been raised on two of the instruments. The first instrument is SSI 2024-26, the firefighters pension schemes Scotland amendment order 2024. The instrument amends the firemen's pension scheme order 1992 and the firefighters pension scheme Scotland order 2007 to extend the period during which persons who were employed in Scotland and retained firefighters have access to their pension scheme. The order states at rule 1C3 that, where the deceased was not married or a member of a civil partnership at the time of the deceased's death, a child of the deceased may apply and writing to the authority for a death grant and any such application must be made on or before 30 September 2024. Elsewhere in the order, the date 31 March 2025 is given for similar eligibility for civil partners and spouses. In correspondence with the Scottish Government, published alongside the papers for this meeting, the committee queried this and the Scottish Government confirmed that it is an error and is regretted. The Scottish Government proposed to correct this in the next amending instrument. The committee wished to draw this instrument to the attention of the Parliament on reporting ground I that the instrument's drafting appears to be defective on the basis that the date specified in the new rule 1C3 inserted by article 4 of the instrument is incorrect. Whilst acknowledging that the Scottish Government proposes to amend the instrument to correct the error at the next opportunity and with retrospective effect if necessary, does the committee wish to call upon the Government to fix the error sooner rather than waiting until the next amending instrument? Yes. Also in relation to the instrument that the committee queried, what would happen if an eligible spouse, civil partner or child of a firefighter who died close to or on 31 March 2025 did not make their application before this date? The Scottish Government confirmed that it is the intention that 31 March 2025 is specified as a deadline for applications, but it is also the intention that eligible spouses, civil partners or children will be entitled to the grant if they miss the deadline. However, late applications are not provided for by the order as amended. Does the committee wish to report this under the general reporting ground and that the Scottish Government's answer suggests that late applications will be allowed, but no provision for this is made in the order? Does the committee wish to invite the Scottish Government to consider correcting that along with the issue with the dates and highlight the Scottish Government's response regarding the deadline to the lead committee? The second instrument that issues have been raised is SSI 202431, the dangerous dogs designated types Scotland Order 2024. The committee has received a considerable level of correspondence in relation to this SSI. The instrument designates the XL bully as a dog type bread for fighting and subject to controls and safeguards under the dangerous dogs Act 1991. Under section 282 of the interpretation and legislative reform Scotland Act 2010, instruments that are subject to the negative procedure must be laid at least 28 days before they come into force, not counting recess periods of more than four days. The instrument breaches the requirement as it was laid on 31 March 2023 and comes into force on Friday 23 February 2024. In correspondence with the presenting officer, copied to this committee, which will be published in the committee's report on subordinate legislation considered at today's meeting, the Scottish Government stated that it did not meet the blame requirements because it considered it necessary to act in a quote with urgency to address growing public safety and animal welfare concerns. Following reports of some owners coming to Scotland to sell their XL bully dogs after changes to the law in relation to those dogs in England and Wales. It stated that, by introducing the same safeguards that operate in England and Wales, the instrument breaches the loophole that is created by the UK Government in relation to English and Wales XL bully dog owners who come to Scotland. Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament under reporting ground to J for failure to comply with lane requirements as it was not laid 28 counting days before it comes into force? Oliver? I am happy to report it on those grounds, convener, but I think that it is regrettable that the 28-day breach occurred, given the statements made by the First Minister in the chamber. I think that there was sufficient time to bring the legislation earlier, given that it essentially replicates existing legislation elsewhere in England and Wales. Any other colleagues have any comments? No. Certainly, we all recognise that that has been a delay, but we also recognise that the Scottish Government had indicated that it wanted to consult with organisations and individuals in Scotland. It is safe to say that part of that delay, at least, would have been because of the consultation process, because we know that there was no dialogue with the Scottish Government prior to the England and Wales regulations being introduced. That is a technical question. What remedies are open to the committee if there is a 28-day breach? Can you just complain about it, or is there anything else that is open to you to do? We can bring it to the attention of the Parliament and we will report it to the Parliament. Apart from just reporting, is there any remedy that you would like? Can you say that we are not prepared to accept this if it falls without you? Are you just asking what is a nuclear option? Certainly, that has been more of an issue regarding the committee. We also reported to the Parliament and the committee that they could then take that forward. In correspondence with the Scottish Government, it published alongside the papers for this meeting. The committee also questioned whether the instrument was sufficiently clear on identifying what an Exile bully type of dog is. Does the committee wish to draw the attention of the lead committee to its correspondence with the Scottish Government as it provides further information on definitions for Exile bully dogs? Also, under this agenda item, no points have been raised on SSIs 2024, 30, 35 and 36. Is the committee content with those instruments? In relation to SSI 2024-35, does the committee welcome that the instrument fulfills an early commitment by the Scottish Government to amend schedule 4 of the council tax reduction of Scotland regulations 2021 to insert a new part and section heading? Under agenda item number 4, reconsidering an instrument not subject to any parliamentary procedure. No points have been raised on SSI 2024-29. Is the committee content with this instrument? Thank you and with that, I'll move the committee into private.