Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Mr Mathison): I confirm for the record that the Committee has agreed to approve the draft explanatory and financial memorandum on the Committee's proposed Bill and the text of a letter to go to the Speaker. We had agreement that the draft Bill, the explanatory and financial memorandum and that accompanying letter will now be issued to the Speaker's Office. It will then be for the Speaker's Office to undertake the legislative competence checks, which is the next stage in the process of the Bill's introduction. It was agreed that all of the evidence that the Committee heard in relation to the Committee Bill would be collated and made ready to be shared with the Committee team, who will run the processes associated with the Ad Hoc Committee that will need to be established to scrutinise the Bill once it is introduced. It was also agreed that the evidence in relation to the Bill that was gathered through the Committee's Citizen Space survey would be published on the Committee page on the Assembly website.

That, hopefully, covers everything. Do members have anything to add, or are we all content that that reflects the conversation?

The Chairperson (Mr Mathison): We have reached quite a significant milestone in the preparation of the Committee Bill. There really is no more work for the Committee to do on it. It will now be in the hands of others in the Assembly. I record my thanks to the Clerk, her team and all the other Assembly staff who have been involved in producing the Bill, particularly those in Legal Services and the Bill Office. Their input, their expertise and the speed at which they worked to deliver it need to be recognised. They deserve the Committee's thanks and appreciation. Does anyone have anything to add?

Mrs Mason: I concur with what you said, Chair. I thank the Clerk and the team for all the work that has been done on the Bill. I also thank the Bill Office and the legal advisers, because it has been done really quickly. It is a short Bill. It is unfortunate that we have had to take such measures, but the importance of the issue outweighs all of that. I am really pleased that we have reached this stage. As you said, Chair, it is over to others now.

The Chairperson (Mr Mathison): Thank you, Cathy. I think that we all concur with that.