Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I remind members that, when we discussed the Bill in closed session last week, we agreed to move to informal clause-by-clause consideration. The Bill Office has advised that, if the Committee wishes to reserve its position on the Bill, there is no requirement for us to carry out clause-by-clause scrutiny. The Committee's position — that is, that it may reserve its position on the clauses of the Bill — would then be outlined in the draft Committee report, and we would present the evidence that we received as part of that report for the Assembly's consideration, should the Bill proceed to Consideration Stage.

The Committee Clerk: Members now need to decide whether or not they are content to proceed with reserving their position on the Bill, as was discussed last week. As you have set out, if members are content to reserve their position, that is what will be put down in the Committee's Bill report, and then there will be no requirement to carry out clause-by-clause scrutiny.

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): OK.

The Committee Clerk: If members are content, we can proceed. Unfortunately, I cannot see anyone, so I am relying on the Chair to see whether anyone is raising their hand. If there is assent on that, and no one wants to say anything different, we can take that reserved position. Are any members indicating that they wish to speak on that matter?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): No members are indicating at this stage. If anyone wants to raise their hand or put their name in the chat, we will give you a couple of seconds. No.

The Committee Clerk: That is the Committee's position. If members are content that the Committee reserve its position on the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill, that is what will appear in the Committee's report, which is already in draft. That is already in the copy that members have received.

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): OK.

The Committee Clerk: We do not need to

clause by clause. We can proceed to the Committee report.

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): The draft Committee report is in the tabled papers, and we can start to go through that.

The Committee will now consider the draft Committee report on the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill. I advise members that some of the page numbers that are referred to may change during reformatting. The Committee is also expecting a report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the delegated powers in the Bill. Once that is received, and provided there are no issues with it, a line to that effect will be added to the report.

I refer members to the title page, the table of contents and the Committee "Powers and Membership". Are members content with that section as drafted?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I will move on to the "Executive Summary". Are members content with that section as drafted?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I will move on to the "Introduction and Committee Approach". Are members content with that section as drafted?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I will move on to "Consideration of the Bill". Are members content with that section?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I refer members to the "Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill". Are members content with that section?

The Chairperson (Dr Archibald): I refer members to appendices 1 to 8. Are members content with that section?