• consider and report on the general principles of the Bill;
• consider and report on whether the Bill should proceed as a Private Bill, that is to say—
  • is the purpose of the Bill to obtain for the promoter particular powers or benefits in excess of or in conflict with the general law?
  • do the accompanying documents to the Bill satisfy the technical criteria that are set down in the Standing Orders (the rules by which the Parliament operates) and are these documents adequate to allow proper scrutiny of the Bill?
• give preliminary consideration to the objections and reject any objection where the objector’s interests are, in the opinion of the Committee, not clearly adversely affected by the Private Bill.

The Parliament agreed that the Preliminary Stage should be completed by 12 December 2003. In fulfilling the functions listed above, the Committee took oral and written evidence on various topics. It met in Alloa Town Hall on the following dates and heard evidence from a range of witnesses on the following themes-

27 October: scope of the Bill; need for railway and associated works.

3 November: alternatives (non-rail and alternative rail routes); compensation and consultation; funding.

10 November: environmental statement; preliminary consideration of objections.

The Committee published its Preliminary Stage report on 5 December.

The Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill, and that it should proceed as a Private Bill, on 11 December 2003.

Consideration Stage

The overall purpose of Consideration Stage is to consider the detail of the Bill (its general principles having already been agreed to). Within that, there are two distinct phases, distinguished by the style of proceedings. The first involves the Committee meeting in a quasi-judicial capacity to hear evidence on the Bill and objections to it; the second involves it meeting in a legislative capacity to consider and dispose of amendments.

The first Consideration Stage meeting of the Committee took place on 18 December 2003. At this meeting, the Committee agreed the grouping of objections.

Other Consideration Stage meetings took place on 12 February when the Committee agreed its timetable for evidence-gathering meetings. These meetings were held on 8, 15 and 22 March.

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