By KUNA
London : Plans to adopt new EU proposals on terrorism were blocked after ministers failed to consult the Scottish Parliament, it was reported Thursday.
A committee of MPs instead told Home Office ministers they must consult the Scottish Parliament before the proposal for a framework of anti-terrorism laws is adopted, the Scotsman newspaper said.
The move was agreed by the European Scrutiny Committee, the newspaper added.
Committee chairman Michael Connarty told the Scotsman that Home Office minister Tony McNulty argued the Scottish Government was not consulted as the matter was reserved to the British Parliament, but this was not the case.
The committee report said “Whilst we accept that terrorist networks may operate across national borders and that, consequently, bilateral and collective co-operation between states is desirable, even essential, the minister’s explanations are not convincing.” It went on “The minister states there is no interest of the devolved administrations in this matter as ‘counter-terrorism is not devolved’. However, it is to be inferred from the minister’s comments on that report that the subject of this proposal also concerns the administration of the ordinary criminal law, which is not a reserved matter.” The Home Office today had no immediate comment.