 Welcome to the 11th meeting of the session 6 of the Delegate Powers and Law Reform Committee. Before we move to the first item on the agenda, I would like to remind everyone present to switch their mobile phones silent. The first item of business is to decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private. Is the committee content to take these items in private? Under agenda item number 2, we are considering an instrument subject for the affirmative procedure. No points have been raised on the following draft instrument. The best to start grants and Scottish child payment miscellaneous amendments regulations 2021. Is the committee content with this instrument? Under agenda item number 3, we are considering instruments subject to the negative procedure. Issues have been raised on SSI 2021 397, the Ethical Standards and Public Life etc., Scotland Act 2000, registered of interests, amendment regulations 2021. The instrument amends the Ethical Standards and Public Life etc. Scotland Act 2000, registered of interests, regulations 2003, in light of changes made to the code of conduct for councillors and the model code of conduct for members of the evolved public bodies. Regulation 2002 of the instrument substitutes a new schedule into the 2003 regulations in which the registered interests of councillors and members of the evolved public bodies are described by reference to various paragraphs in the councillor's code and the member's code respectively. The committee wrote to the Scottish Government to draw its attention to an error in table B of the schedule to be inserted by regulation 2002 of the instrument. In response, the Scottish Government confirmed that the emission of, excuse me, category 9 in certainly close family members was an error and has undertaken to lay an amending instrument in early course. Two details of the error in regulation 2002 can be read in the correspondence between the committee and the Scottish Government. This can be found in the published papers for this meeting on the committee's website. Does the committee wish to draw this instrument to the attention of the Parliament under reporting ground I in that the instrument's drafting appears to be defective due to the error in table B of the schedule? Does the committee also wish to welcome that the Scottish Government will lay an amending instrument in early course to rectify this error? Also under this item, no points have been raised on SSIs 2021, 409, 410, 411 and 412. Is the committee content with these instruments? Finally, in relation to SSIs 2021, 410, the Environmental Protection Single Use Plastic Products, Scotland Regulations 2021, does the committee wish to note the effect on the instrument of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, highlighted in the policy note, and highlight this to the lead committee, which is the United Zero Energy and Transport Committee? Mr Simpson. Thank you very much, convener. As you rightly say, the policy note attached to this regulation points out the effect of the UK Internal Market Act in that the policy intent behind this regulation may not actually be achieved. The actual result of all that is that the ban imposed by the instrument will apply to products produced in Scotland, but it will not apply to products that were produced in another part of the UK where they are not banned. Having said that, it seems to me that this is actually quite a significant thing. To ban any product is significant, whatever it is, and to stop its supply is significant. As you have said, the negative procedure applies on this. I would normally have been arguing that that was not appropriate, it should be an affirmative procedure. However, that is not legally available. What we should be doing here, convener, if it is okay with you, is highlighting this to the lead committee, which I think is the net zero committee. We should possibly say that, while this is subject to the negative procedure, they can still take evidence on this if they wish. If I was on that committee, I would want to, because I would probably want to hear from Scottish producers who are affected by this, potentially. I should also point out that there is a consultation going on in England at the moment. I read about that at the weekend. Ideally, you would probably want the same policy to apply across the UK. That is so that we do not end up in the position that we are potentially going to end up in one set of rules in one part and one set of rules in another. Those are matters that the lead committee could address. I think that if we were to write to the lead committee and point that out, I might suggest to them that they could also, if they so wish, write to the Scotland office. Certainly, the department that is dealing with it in England thinks that it is the environment department. I think that it sits under the environment bill down there. Having said that, content with the recommendations, we should be highlighting a number of issues to the lead committee. No problem. Thank you for that, Mr Simpson. The suggestions that you make regarding the lead committee that I am content with and to highlight the point regarding the negative procedure and the affirmative, which is the most important thing for our committee. You are correct. The affirmative procedure is not available in this particular instance. I think that writing to the lead committee would be the right thing to do. The point that you highlighted regarding asking them to consider some of their work would be the right thing to do. I am content to do that if that is agreeable with other committee members. Thank you for that. I will now move the committee into private.