Present:

The meeting opened at 9.59 am.

1. Petitions: The Committee considered petition PE 4 by Maclay, Murray & Spens on the tenancy of shops. The Committee agreed that, in view of the commitment made by the Minister for Justice to consider the issue raised in the petition, it should be referred to the Executive. The Executive would be invited to discuss the matter directly with the petitioners and to inform the Committee of the outcome. The Committee also considered PE 28 by 999 Clear Roads Campaign on emergency vehicles. The Committee agreed that, since the petition sought legislation on what appeared to be a reserved matter, the Committee could not provide the remedy sought. However, it was agreed that the Convener should write to the Executive, asking whether it had plans to increase public awareness of the need to give way to emergency vehicles and asking whether it was engaged in discussions with UK Ministers. The Convener would also write to the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee, to which the petition had also been referred.
   
   
   

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee considered and noted the following negative instruments—


Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 1999 (SSI 1999/149);

Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) 1999 (SSI 1999/150).




3. Domestic violence: The Reporter (Maureen Macmillan) reported to the Committee on her meetings with the Family Law Association, the Lord Advocate and Michael Clancy of the Law Society of Scotland.
   
   
   

4. Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee considered a revised draft Stage 1 report on the general principles of the Bill. Various amendments were agreed to. The report as amended was agreed to.

The meeting closed at 11.17 am.