§ 28. Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what responsibilities will be given to the European office to be opened in July in Brussels to represent the Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [70847]
§ Mr. McLeishThere are no plans to open an office to represent the Scottish Parliament in Brussels. That possibility will be a matter for consideration by the Scottish Parliament itself.
Arrangements are in hand to establish a representative office for the Scottish Executive, to be in operation when the Parliament assumes its full powers on 1 July 1999. The precise functions of that office will be determined by the Scottish Executive in due course.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) on what date the Scottish Executive will take responsibility for those matters currently the responsibility of his Department which are to be devolved under the Scotland Act 1998; [72512]
(2) what the arrangements will be in respect of accountability to Parliament for matters which are currently his responsibility but which are to be devolved under the Scotland Act 1998, between 6 May and 1 July; [72513]
(3) on what date he will cease to be responsible to the UK Parliament for those matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament. [72514]
§ Mr. McLeish[holding answer 22 February 1999]The Scotland Act 1998 (Commencement) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/3178), which was made on 16 December 1998, provides that 1 July 1999 will be the principal appointed day for the purposes of the Act. It is on this day that the Scottish Parliament will acquire its powers to make laws and that functions will be transferred to the Scottish Ministers. Until the principal appointed day the Secretary of State for Scotland will remain accountable to Parliament for the matters within his responsibility which are to be devolved.
The arrangements for financial accountability are set out in The Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Finance) Order 1999, a draft of which was approved by each House recently. The Secretary of State will render accounts to Parliament for expenditure up to the principal appointed day; and the Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Parliament for the period thereafter.