Reg Reform Act and Fire (Scotland) Bill

[Chris Houston]

Rather than continue the discussion on these things within "Risk Assessments" forum, I think it is best to sart a new topic.

Some people had voiced opinions on both of them explaining why the Scots approach differs from the English and Welsh.

I'd be very grateful if someone who has a knowledge of both bits of proposed legislation could summarise the main differences between the two.  I am sure most of us on here would also benefit from a summary of both too, just in case anyone is feeling really helpful.

[logan_lewis]

To sum up the differences in the proposed legislation would take some time.  The extent of application is explained by the Select Committee on Regulatory Reform:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmdereg/684/68408.htm

"The Vision" is a framework of three pieces of legislation:

Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, for England & Wales (exists)
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040021.htm

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2004?) for England & Wales (proposed)
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmdereg/684/68402.htm

Fire (Scotland) Act (200X) for Scotland. (proposed)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2004/06/5738

The Regulatory Reform Act cannot be used in Scotland "as there is no regulatory reform procedure in Scotland, therefore any similar legislative reform would have to be achieved by an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

Following a three-month consultation period, the Scottish Executive introduced the Fire (Scotland) Bill into the Scottish Parliament on 28 June 2004. The Executive expects Parliamentary stages of the Bill to have been completed by the spring of 2005."

[colin todd]

Chris, The Scottish draft is written by articulate thinkers. The English draft is a cobbled up Workplace Regs, extended to protect everyone, but lazily copying out the wording of the European Directives just to make sure people dont understand it and to give work to the ODPM's friends the fire consultants. Is that summary enough?

[Chris Houston]

Colin,

I'm starting to think I'm seeking the impossible, but had hoped I could bring myself up to speed on the new acts without having to read them, perhaps hoping that someone had done an article or something that would provide me with the basics.  Looks like I might have to read the things.  Oh joy.

Anyway, obviously it is no shock that the Scot's have done it properly. :lol:

I'm off down the evac chute to make myself a cuppa.

[Guest]

Of course if you read the Scots proposals you would see that the body of the requirements for fire safety law are to be in separate Regulations.... Which - as they have to implement the same European requirements as the England and Wales RRO - might well be very similar in language......

[Chris Houston]

I see the September edition IFE journal reports that the parliamentary comittee assessing the proposed Order felt it was unfortunate that identical legislation was not being passed on both sides of the border.

[Guest]

Hi Guys I think this is where I came in in the first place! I don't really care who has the monopoly on clear thinking and I am sure most of us don't either, but what we should be caring about is that there is the same legislation applying to all of the UK and NI rather than different ones. Whatever is best should be chosen and as a Celtic Anglo I can go along with either the English, Scots or Welsh as long as it is the same - so how do we change it? thats the real conundrum
Cheers
BOB
I'm just away to check out my philosophers stone to see if I can get an answer!!!

[proteus]

what stage is the RRO at at the moment?

[colin todd]

It was signed by the Minister, following being passed by the old duffers in the House of Lords, on the evening of Tuesday 7 June.