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Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

The Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on:

checking secondary legislation coming before the Parliament for legal and technical accuracy
checking whether proposed powers to make secondary legislation in Bills are appropriate
reporting its findings to the Parliament so all laws and proposals for laws get proper oversight from MSPs
looking at certain Bills which are based on reports from the Scottish Law Commission. The Commission recommends changes to the law so it keeps pace with the way we live and work.

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Facal-luirg

Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill

Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers

Inquiry into use of the made affirmative procedure during the coronavirus pandemic

Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill

Leases (Automatic Continuation etc.) (Scotland) Bill

Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Bill

Scottish Statutory Instrument Tracker

Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Functions and Transfer of Property etc.) Order 2019

24 March 2026

A letter to the Convener from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, 24 March 2026

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Update on UK Government SIs which make provision in devolved areas

18 March 2026

A letter to the Convener from the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, 18 March 2026

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

13 March 2026

A letter to the Convener from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, 13 March 2026

See all of this committee's correspondence

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016, Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 (Modifications) Resolution 2026

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Made Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure, Document subject to Parliamentary Control

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Proposed Draft Instrument subject to Consultation

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure, Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Instruments subject to Affirmative Procedure, Instruments subject to Negative Procedure, Instruments not subject to Parliamentary Procedure

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

Annual report of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee 2025-26

Published: 25 March 2026

Annual Report 2025-26 for the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.

Instruments considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee during the fourth quarter of the Parliamentary Year 2025-26

Published: 25 March 2026

This report sets out the Committee's consideration of all instruments during 27 January to 24 March 2026.

Subordinate Legislation considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on 24 March 2026

Published: 24 March 2026

A report on the subordinate legislation considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on 24 March 2026.

See all of this committee's reports

Work of the Committee: Committee Remit

To consider and report on the following (and any additional matter added under Rule 6.1.5A)—

any—
subordinate legislation laid before the Parliament or requiring the consent of the Parliament under section 9 of the Public Bodies Act 2011;

[deleted]
pension or grants motion as described in Rule 8.11A.1; and, in particular, to determine whether the attention of the Parliament should be drawn to any of the matters mentioned in Rule 10.3.1;

proposed powers to make subordinate legislation in particular Bills or other proposed legislation;
general questions relating to powers to make subordinate legislation;
whether any proposed delegated powers in particular Bills or other legislation should be expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation;
any failure to lay an instrument in accordance with section 28(2), 30(2) or 31 of the 2010 Act;
proposed changes to the procedure to which subordinate legislation laid before the Parliament is subject;
any Scottish Law Commission Bill as defined in Rule 9.17A.1;
any draft proposal for a Scottish Law Commission Bill as defined in that Rule; and
any Consolidation Bill as defined in Rule 9.18.1 referred to it in accordance with Rule 9.18.3.

Membership

Convener

Stuart McMillan, Scottish National Party (22 June 2021 to 8 April 2026)

Deputy Convener

Bill Kidd, Scottish National Party (22 June 2021 to 8 April 2026)

Members

Jeremy Balfour, Independent (29 May 2024 to 8 April 2026)

Foysol Choudhury, Independent (31 January 2024 to 3 September 2024)

Katy Clark, Scottish Labour (15 January 2025 to 8 April 2026)

Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (21 March 2024 to 10 October 2024)

Craig Hoy, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (17 June 2021 to 25 May 2022)

Daniel Johnson, Scottish Labour (4 September 2024 to 15 January 2025)

Roz McCall, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (10 October 2024 to 8 April 2026)

Carol Mochan, Scottish Labour (19 January 2023 to 25 April 2023)

Oliver Mundell, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (22 September 2022 to 28 May 2024)

Graham Simpson, Reform UK (17 June 2021 to 22 September 2022)

Colin Smyth, Independent (16 November 2023 to 31 January 2024)

Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour (17 June 2021 to 19 January 2023)

Mercedes Villalba, Scottish Labour (25 April 2023 to 16 November 2023)

Substitute Members

Maurice Golden, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (8 September 2021 to 29 June 2023)

Rhoda Grant, Scottish Labour (22 September 2021 to 2 September 2025)

Rona Mackay, Scottish National Party (18 April 2023 to 8 April 2026)

Jenni Minto, Scottish National Party (8 September 2021 to 31 March 2023)

Alexander Stewart, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (29 June 2023 to 10 October 2024)