Legal Writings Bill passes stage 3

The first bill to go through the new streamlined Holyrood procedure for uncontentious reforms proposed by the Scottish Law Commission passed its final parliamentary stage yesterday.

MSPs unanimously approved at stage 3 the Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Bill, which enables legal documents to be executed in counterpart, i.e. by different copies being signed by different parties in different places, and also allows a paper document to be legally delivered electronically.

Both measures were considered necessary to keep Scots law up to date with modern technology and with developments in other legal systems.

In yesterday's debate, MSPs from all sides welcomed the procedure for the bill, which enabled stages 1 and 2 to be taken by the Delegated Powers & Law Reform Committee. Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy & Tourism, said he looked forward to successive Commission bills being considered in this way. "To use a non-parliamentary expression, bring them on", he added.

In one further contribution to the debate, Conservative member Annabel Goldie observed: "Insomniacs might regard the bill as the equivalent of Mogadon, but to former lawyers such as the minister and myself, it is beyond fascination, because the substance of the bill is important."

Welcoming the bill's passing, the Commission commented: "We would like to thank the Delegated Powers & Law Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament for their work and look forward to the opportunity to implement further Scottish Law Commission reports under this new procedure."

A further measure implementing some of the Commission's proposals on succession law reform is likely to be the next bill to follow this course.