committees of the Scottish submit reports to, and appear, before committees Parliament. of the Scottish Parliament. A representative from the Scottish Government attends quarterly meetings of the MCA Advisory Board. Discussions with Transport Scotland on the MoU are well advanced. Abortion 61. The parties are strongly of the view Following the Commission Agreement, UK and Scottish Government Ministers and officials to recommend the devolution of held discussions on this issue. Following these abortion and regard it as an anomalous discussions, the Scotland Bill was amended at its health reservation. They agree that House of Commons Report Stage to devolve further serious consideration should be responsibility for abortion to the Scottish given to its devolution and a process Parliament. should be established immediately to consider the matter further. The existing abortion law under the 1967 Act will continue to apply in Scotland unless and until the Scottish Parliament chooses to amend it. The Scottish Government has set out that it has no plans to change the law on abortion. UK and Scottish Government officials will continue to work together and share information in preparation for the transfer of responsibility. Xenotransplantation; embryology, 62. The devolution of The UK Government’s view is that it would not be surrogacy and genetics in the interests of Scotland and the rest of the UK xenotransplantation; embryology, to devolve these matters to the Scottish Parliament. surrogacy and genetics; There are policy and legislative advantages to medicines, medical supplies and poisons; managing these policies at a UK wide level such – and welfare foods (i.e. matters reserved as making the most of the growth opportunities in under Sections J2 to J5 of Head J – the UK genomics industry which is currently valued Health and Medicines, Schedule 5 to the at £0.8 billion. Scotland Act 1998) should be the subject
committees of the Scottish Parliament. submit reports to, and appear, before committees of the Scottish Parliament. A representative from the Scottish Government attends quarterly meetings of the MCA Advisory Board. Discussions with Transport Scotland on the MoU are well advanced. Abortion 61. The parties are strongly of the view to recommend the devolution of abortion and regard it as an anomalous health reservation. They agree that further serious consideration should be given to its devolution and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further. Following the Commission Agreement, UK and Scottish Government Ministers and officials held discussions on this issue. Following these discussions, the Scotland Bill was amended at its House of Commons Report Stage to devolve responsibility for abortion to the Scottish Parliament. The existing abortion law under the 1967 Act will continue to apply in Scotland unless and until the Scottish Parliament chooses to amend it. The Scottish Government has set out that it has no plans to change the law on abortion. UK and Scottish Government officials will continue to work together and share information in preparation for the transfer of responsibility. Xenotransplantation; embryology, surrogacy and genetics 62. The devolution of xenotransplantation; embryology, surrogacy and genetics; medicines, medical supplies and poisons; and welfare foods (i.e. matters reserved under Sections J2 to J5 of Head J – Health and Medicines, Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998) should be the subject The UK Government’s view is that it would not be in the interests of Scotland and the rest of the UK to devolve these matters to the Scottish Parliament. There are policy and legislative advantages to managing these policies at a UK wide level – such as making the most of the growth opportunities in the UK genomics industry which is currently valued at £0.8 billion.