Scotland Act 1998
There shall be a Scottish Parliament.
One member of the Parliament shall be returned for each constituency (under the simple majority system) at an election held in the constituency.
Members of the Parliament for each region shall be returned at a general election under the additional member system of proportional representation provided for in this Part and vacancies among such members shall be filled in accordance with this Part.
The validity of any proceedings of the Parliament is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.
Schedule 1 (which makes provision for the constituencies and regions for the purposes of this Act and the number of regional members) shall have effect.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The day on which the poll at an ordinary general election for membership of the Parliament is to be held is the first Thursday in May in the fifth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held, unless
subsection (2A) prevents the poll being held on that day, or
the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under subsection (5).
If the poll is to be held on the first Thursday in May, or on the day specified by an order under subsection (2B) , the Parliament—
is dissolved by virtue of this section at the beginning of the minimum period which ends with that day, and
shall meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
The poll shall not be held on the same date as the date of the poll at—
a parliamentary general election ..., ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In subsection (3), “the minimum period” means the period determined in accordance with an order under section 12(1).
Where subsection (2A) prevents the poll being held on the day specified in subsection (2), the poll shall be held on such day, subject to subsection (2A), as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify, unless the day of the poll is determined by a proclamation under subsection (5) as modified by subsection (5ZA).
Subject to subsection (2A), if the Presiding Officer proposes a day for the holding of the poll which is not more than 4 weeks earlier, nor more than 8 weeks later, than the first Thursday in May, Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Scottish Seal—
dissolve the Parliament (unless the Parliament is already dissolved),
require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and
require the Parliament to meet as soon as reasonably practicable after the day of the poll.
In this Act “the Scottish Seal” means Her Majesty’s Seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and used in Scotland in place of the Great Seal of Scotland.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where a day is specified by order under subsection (2B), subsection (5) applies as if the reference to the first Thursday in May were a reference to that day.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subsection (5E) applies if a proclamation is made in accordance with subsection (5).
Subject to subsection (2A), if the Presiding Officer proposes another day for the holding of the poll which is not more than 8 weeks later than the day on which the poll is required to be held under the proclamation, His Majesty may by further proclamation under the Scottish Seal—
require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and
require the Parliament to meet as soon as reasonably practicable after the day of the poll.
Before proposing a day for the holding of the poll under subsection (5) or (as the case may be) subsection (5E), the Presiding Officer must consult—
the Electoral Commission, and
the convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland.
As soon as reasonably practicable after proposing a day for the holding of the poll under subsection (5) or (as the case may be) subsection (5E), the Presiding Officer must publish, in such manner as the Presiding Officer considers appropriate, a statement setting out—
the day proposed for the holding of the poll, and
the reasons for the making of the proposal.
The Presiding Officer shall propose a day for the holding of a poll if—
the Parliament resolves that it should be dissolved and, if the resolution is passed on a division, the number of members voting in favour of it is not less than two-thirds of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament, or
any period during which the Parliament is required under section 46 to nominate one of its members for appointment as First Minister ends without such a nomination being made.
If the Presiding Officer makes such a proposal, Her Majesty may by proclamation under the Scottish Seal—
dissolve the Parliament and require an extraordinary general election to be held,
require the poll at the election to be held on the day proposed, and
require the Parliament to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
But, despite subsection (1), the Presiding Officer may not propose a day for the holding of a poll if an event mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection occurs within the period of 8 weeks ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 2(5)).
If a poll is held under this section within the period of six months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 2(5)), that ordinary general election shall not be held.
Subsection (3) does not affect the year in which the subsequent ordinary general election is to be held.
Subsection (2B) applies if a proclamation is made under subsection (2).
If the Presiding Officer proposes another day for the holding of the poll at the extraordinary general election which is not more than 4 weeks later than the day on which the poll is required to be held under the proclamation, Her Majesty may by further proclamation under the Scottish Seal—
require the poll at the election to be held instead on the day proposed under this subsection, and
require the Parliament to meet within the period of seven days beginning immediately after the day of the poll.
Before proposing a day for the holding of the poll under subsection (2B), the Presiding Officer must consult the Electoral Commission.
In calculating any period of days for the purposes of section 2(3)(b) or (5)(c) or section 3(2)(c), Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, a bank holiday in Scotland or a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded.
At a general election, the candidates may stand for return as constituency members or regional members.
A person may not be a candidate to be a constituency member for more than one constituency.
The candidates to be regional members shall be those included in a list submitted under subsection (4) or individual candidates.
Any registered political party may submit to the regional returning officer a list of candidates to be regional members for a particular region (referred to in this Act, in relation to the region, as the party’s “regional list”).
A registered political party’s regional list has effect in relation to the general election and any vacancy occurring among the regional members after that election and before the next general election.
Not more than twelve persons may be included in the list (but the list may include only one person).
A registered political party’s regional list must not include a person—
who is included in any other list submitted under subsection (4) for the region or any list submitted under that subsection for another region,
who is an individual candidate to be a regional member for the region or another region,
who is a candidate to be a constituency member for a constituency not included in the region, or
who is a candidate to be a constituency member for a constituency included in the region but is not a candidate of that party.
A person may not be an individual candidate to be a regional member for a particular region if he is—
included in a list submitted under subsection (4) for the region or another region,
an individual candidate to be a regional member for another region,
a candidate to be a constituency member for a constituency not included in the region, or
a candidate of any registered political party to be a constituency member for a constituency included in the region.
In this Act, “registered political party” means a party registered under Part II of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 .
This section and sections 7 and 8 are about the return of regional members at a general election.
In each of the constituencies for the Parliament, a poll shall be held at which each person entitled to vote as elector may give a vote (referred to in this Act as a “regional vote”) for—
a registered political party which has submitted a regional list, or
an individual candidate to be a regional member for the region.
The right conferred on a person by subsection (2) is in addition to any right the person may have to vote in any poll for the return of a constituency member.
The persons who are to be returned as constituency members for constituencies included in the region must be determined before the persons who are to be returned as the regional members for the region.
“Benefits” includes pensions, allowances, grants, loans and any other form of financial assistance.
the total number of regional votes given for the party in all the constituencies included in the region,
a company registered under the Companies Act 1985 which has its registered office for the purposes of that Act in Scotland and satisfies the relevant conditions.
the aggregate of one plus the number of candidates of the party returned as constituency members for any of those constituencies.
Each time a seat is allocated to the party under section 8, that figure shall be recalculated by increasing (or further increasing) the aggregate in subsection (2)(b) by one.
For each individual candidate to be a regional member for the region, the regional figure for the purposes of section 8 is the total number of regional votes given for him in all the constituencies included in the region.
The first regional member seat shall be allocated to the registered political party or individual candidate with the highest regional figure.
The second and subsequent regional member seats shall be allocated to the registered political party or individual candidate with the highest regional figure, after any recalculation required by section 7(3) has been carried out.
An individual candidate already returned as a constituency or regional member shall be disregarded.
Seats for the region which are allocated to a registered political party shall be filled by the persons in the party’s regional list in the order in which they appear in the list.
For the purposes of this section and section 10, a person in a registered political party’s regional list who is returned as a member of the Parliament shall be treated as ceasing to be in the list (even if his return is void).
Once a party’s regional list has been exhausted (by the return of persons included in it as constituency members or by the previous application of subsection (1) or (2)) the party shall be disregarded.
If (on the application of subsection (1) or any application of subsection (2)) the highest regional figure is the regional figure of two or more parties or individual candidates,
the subsection in question shall apply to each of them; or
if paragraph (a) would result in more than the correct number of seats for the region being allocated, the subsection in question shall apply as if the regional figure for each of those parties or candidates had been adjusted in accordance with subsection (8).
The regional figure for a party or candidate is adjusted in accordance with this subsection by—
adding one vote to the total number of regional votes given for the party or candidate in all the constituencies included in the region; and
(in the case of a party) recalculating the regional figure accordingly.
If, on the application of the subsection in question in accordance with subsection (7)(b), seats would be allocated to two or more parties or individual candidates and that would result in more than the correct number of seats for the region being allocated, the regional returning officer shall decide between them by lot.
Where the seat of a constituency member is vacant, an election shall be held to fill the vacancy (subject to subsection (4)).
The date of the poll shall be fixed by the Presiding Officer.
The date shall fall within the period of three months—
beginning with the occurrence of the vacancy, or
if the vacancy does not come to the notice of the Presiding Officer within the period of one month beginning with its occurrence, beginning when it does come to his notice.
The election shall not be held if the latest date for holding the poll would fall within the period of three months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 2(5)).
For the purposes of this section, the date on which a vacancy is to be treated as occurring shall be determined under standing orders.
Subsection (4B) applies where—
the Presiding Officer fixes a date under subsection (2), and
the date fixed does not fall within the period of 6 months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 2(5)).
A person may not be a candidate at such an election if he is a member of the Parliament or a candidate in another election to fill a vacancy.
The Presiding Officer may fix another date for the holding of the poll which is to be within the period of 3 months beginning with the date of the poll fixed by the Presiding Officer under subsection (2).
Subsection (4D) applies where—
the Presiding Officer fixes a date under subsection (2) or (4B), and
the date fixed falls within the period of 6 months ending with the day on which the poll at the next ordinary general election would be held (disregarding section 2(5)).
If the Presiding Officer considers it necessary or appropriate for any reason to do so, the Presiding Officer may determine that an election to fill the vacancy is not to be held.
Before fixing a date under subsection (4B) or (as the case may be) determining that an election is not to be held under subsection (4D), the Presiding Officer must consult—
the Electoral Commission,
the convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, and
the officer appointed by order in accordance with section 12(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 to act as the returning officer for the constituency in which the seat is vacant.
As soon as reasonably practicable after fixing a date under subsection (4B) or (as the case may be) determining that an election is not to be held under subsection (4D), the Presiding Officer must publish, in such manner as the Presiding Officer considers appropriate, a statement setting out—
either—
the date fixed for the holding of the poll, or (as the case may be)
that an election is not to be held, and
the reasons for the exercise of the power.
This section applies where the seat of a regional member is vacant.
If the regional member was returned as an individual candidate, or the vacancy is not filled in accordance with the following provisions, the seat shall remain vacant until the next general election.
If the regional member was returned (under section 8 or this section) from a registered political party’s regional list, the regional returning officer shall notify the Presiding Officer of the name of the person who is to fill the vacancy.
The regional returning officer shall ascertain from that party's regional list the name and address of the person whose name appears highest on that list (“ the first choice ”) and shall take such steps as appear to him to be reasonable to contact the first choice to ask whether he will—
state in writing that he is willing and able to serve as a regional member for that region; and
deliver a certificate signed by or on behalf of the nominating officer of the registered party which submitted that regional list stating that the first choice may be returned as a regional member from that list.
Where a person whose name appears on that list provides the statement and certificate referred to in subsection (4), the regional returning officer shall notify to the Presiding Officer the name of that person.
Where— the regional returning officer shall repeat the procedure required by subsection (4) in respect of the person (if any) whose name appears next in that list (“ the second choice ”) or, where paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection applies in respect of that person, in respect of the person (if any) whose name appears next highest after the second choice in that list; and the regional returning officer shall continue to repeat the procedure until the regional returning officer has notified the Presiding Officer of the name of the person who is to fill the vacancy or the names in the list are exhausted.
within such period as the regional returning officer considers reasonable—
he decides that the steps he has taken to contact the first choice have been unsuccessful; or
he has not received from that person the statement and certificate referred to in subsection (4); or
the first choice has—
stated in writing that he is not willing to serve as a regional member for that region; or
failed to deliver the certificate referred to in subsection (4)(b),
Where a person’s name has been notified under subsection (3), this Act shall apply as if he had been declared to be returned as a regional member for the region on the day on which notification of his name was received by the Presiding Officer.
For the purposes of this section, the date on which a vacancy is to be treated as occurring shall be determined under standing orders.
Where— that statement and certificate shall have no effect unless and until the circumstances described in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4A) apply in respect of the second choice or, as the case may be, of the subsequent choice.
under subsection (4A), the regional returning officer has asked the second choice or a subsequent choice the questions referred to in subsection (4); and
the person who was asked those questions on an earlier occasion then provides the statement and certificate referred to in that subsection,
The persons entitled to vote as electors at an election for membership of the Parliament held in any constituency are those who on the day of the poll—
would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in an electoral area falling wholly or partly within the constituency, and
are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the constituency.
A person is not entitled to vote as elector in any constituency— or to vote as elector in more than one constituency at a general election.
more than once at a poll for the return of a constituency member, or
more than once at a poll for the return of regional members,
The Scottish Ministers may by order make any provision that would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament, if included in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, as to—
the conduct of elections for membership of the Parliament,
the questioning of such an election and the consequences of irregularities, and
the return of members of the Parliament otherwise than at an election.
The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, provision—
about the registration of electors,
for disregarding alterations in a register of electors,
about the limitation of the election expenses of candidates,
for the combination of polls,
for modifying the application of section 7(1) where the poll at an election for the return of a constituency member is abandoned (or notice of it is countermanded), and
for modifying section 8(7) to ensure the allocation of the correct number of seats for the region.
The provision that may be made under subsection (1)(c) includes, in particular, provision modifying section 10(4) to (5A).
An order under subsection (1) may—
apply, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision made by or under the Representation of the People Acts ... or by any other enactment relating to parliamentary elections ... or local government elections, and
so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by an order under subsection (1), modify any provision made by any enactment relating to the registration of parliamentary electors or local government electors.
so far as may be necessary in consequence of any provision made by this Act or an order under subsection (1), modify any provision made by any enactment relating to the registration of parliamentary electors or local government electors.
The return of a member of the Parliament at an election may be questioned only under Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 as applied by an order under subsection (1).
For the purposes of this Act, the regional returning officer for any region is the person designated as such in accordance with an order made by the Scottish Ministers under this subsection.
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for—
the combination of polls at ordinary general elections for membership of the Parliament with polls at parliamentary by-elections, and
the combination of polls at extraordinary general elections for membership of the Parliament, and by-elections for membership of the Parliament, with polls at parliamentary by-elections or parliamentary general elections.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this section without the agreement of the Scottish Ministers.
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
apply, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision made by or under the Representation of the People Acts ... or by any other enactment relating to parliamentary elections ... or local government elections, and
modify any form contained in, or in regulations or rules made under, the Representation of the People Acts so far as may be necessary to enable it to be used both for the original purpose and in relation to elections for membership of the Parliament.
A Minister of the Crown or the Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about the use of the UK digital service in relation to absent voting applications.
The provision that may be made under subsection (1) includes, in particular, provision—
conferring functions on a Minister of the Crown to enable absent voting applications to be submitted through the UK digital service;
where such applications are, or are to be, so submitted—
authorising a Minister of the Crown, in prescribed circumstances, to complete applications in part for people;
about how any requirement for an applicant to provide a signature in connection with an application may be satisfied;
about the disclosure of prescribed information or evidence through the UK digital service;
about the disclosure of prescribed information or evidence in connection with an absent voting application in relation to which the UK digital service is, or is to be, used.
Subject to subsection (4), the disclosure or other processing of information in accordance with provision made under this section does not breach—
any obligation of confidence owed by the person processing the information;
any other restriction on the processing of information (however imposed).
Provision made under this section does not require or authorise the disclosure or other processing of personal data that would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether particular processing of data would do so, take into account the duty imposed or the powers conferred by such provision).
The Scottish Ministers may not make regulations under this section without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown.
In this section—
The term of office of a member of the Parliament begins on the day on which the member is declared to be returned and ends with the dissolution of the Parliament.
A member of the Parliament may at any time resign his seat by giving notice in writing to the Presiding Officer.
A person is disqualified from being a member of the Parliament (subject to section 16) if—
the person would be disqualified from being a member of the House of Commons under paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 1(1) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (judges, civil servants, members of the armed forces, members of police forces and members of foreign legislatures) as that Act had effect on 27 April 2022,
the person would be disqualified (either generally or in relation to a particular parliamentary constituency) from being a member of the House of Commons or from sitting and voting in it under any other enactment or rule of law as that enactment or rule of law had effect on 27 April 2022,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the person is a member of the House of Commons,
he is an office-holder of a description specified in an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this subsection.
the person is a member of the House of Lords,
the person is a councillor,
the person is subject to—
any relevant notification requirements, or
a relevant sexual harm or risk order,
the person is subject to a Scottish disqualification order under section 8 of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025,
the person is subject to a disqualification order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022 (disqualification of offenders from holding elective office etc),
An office-holder of a description specified in an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this subsection is disqualified from being a member of the Parliament for any constituency or region of a description specified in the Order in relation to the office-holder.
In this section “office-holder” includes employee or other post-holder.
In this section and in section 16—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
he is a peer (whether of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, England or Scotland), or
he has been ordained or is a minister of any religious denomination.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A person who is a member of the House of Commons and is subsequently returned as a member of the Parliament is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bza) (disqualification by virtue of being a member of the House of Commons) at any time in the period of 49 days beginning with the day on which the person is returned as a member of the Parliament.
Subsection (4) applies where a person was, or is alleged to have been, disqualified from being a member of the Parliament (either generally or in relation to a particular constituency or region) on any ground other than one falling within section 15(1)(b), (ba), (bb) or (bc).
A person who is a member of the Parliament and is subsequently returned as a member of the House of Commons is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bza) at any time in the period of 49 days beginning with the day on which the person is returned as a member of the House of Commons.
The Parliament may resolve to disregard any disqualification incurred by that person on the ground in question if it considers that—
the ground has been removed, and
it is proper to disregard any disqualification so incurred.
A person who is a member of the House of Lords and is subsequently returned as a member of the Parliament is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bzb) (disqualification by virtue of being a member of the House of Lords) at any time in the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the person is returned as a member of the Parliament.
A resolution under this section shall not—
affect any proceedings under Part III of the Representation of the People Act 1983 as applied by an order under section 12, or
enable the Parliament to disregard any disqualification which has been established in such proceedings or in proceedings under section 18.
A person who is a member of the Parliament and subsequently becomes a member of the House of Lords is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bzb) at any time before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the member makes and subscribes the oath (or corresponding affirmation) required of members of the House of Lords by the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866.
A person who is a member of the Parliament and is subsequently returned as a councillor is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bzc) (disqualification by virtue of being a councillor) at any time in the period of 49 days beginning with the day on which the person is returned as a councillor.
Subsection (1ZG) applies if—
a person who is a councillor is subsequently returned as a member of the Parliament, and
on the day on which the councillor is so returned (the “return day”), the expected day of the next ordinary election of councillors is within the period of 372 days beginning with the return day.
The person is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 15(1)(bzc) at any time in the period beginning with the day on which the person is returned as a member of the Parliament and ending on the day of the poll at the next ordinary election of councillors.
Otherwise, a person who is a councillor and is subsequently returned as a member of the Parliament is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament because of section 15(1)(bzc) at any time in the period of 49 days beginning with the day on which the councillor is returned as a member of the Parliament.
For the purposes of subsection (1ZF) “the expected day of the next ordinary election of councillors” is the day fixed or specified for the poll at the next ordinary election of councillors by, or under, section 43 or section 43A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which has effect at the beginning of the return day.
A person who is subject to— is not disqualified merely because of section 15(1)(ba), (bb) or, as the case may be, (bc) until the appropriate time.
any relevant notification requirements,
a relevant sexual harm or risk order, or
a relevant disqualification order,
The appropriate time is—
the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the date of the imposition of the requirements or of the order date, or
if earlier, the expiry of the ordinary period allowed for making—
an appeal or application in respect of the conviction, finding, order or certification to which the relevant notification requirements relate,
an appeal against the relevant sexual harm or risk order, or
an appeal against the conviction or the making of the disqualification order.
But if, before the appropriate time mentioned in subsection (1B), the person makes such an appeal or application, the person is disqualified at the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the date of the imposition of the requirements or of the order date unless—
the appeal or application is dismissed or abandoned at any earlier time (in which case the person is disqualified at that time), or
at any time within that period of 3 months the appeal or application is upheld (in which case the person is not disqualified).
A person is not disqualified from being a member of the Parliament merely because of section 3 of the Act of Settlement, provided the person—
is resident in the United Kingdom, and
meets one of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2B).
The conditions are that the person—
is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom (excluding a person who does not require such leave by virtue only of section 8 of the Immigration Act 1971 (exceptions to requirement for leave in special cases)), or
is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In this section—
If a person who is disqualified from being a member of the Parliament or from being a member for a particular constituency or region is returned as a member of the Parliament or (as the case may be) as a member for the constituency or region, his return shall be void and his seat vacant.
If a member of the Parliament becomes disqualified from being a member of the Parliament or from being a member for the particular constituency or region for which he is sitting, he shall cease to be a member of the Parliament (so that his seat is vacant).
Subsections (1) and (2) have effect subject to any resolution of the Parliament under section 16.
Subsection (2) also has effect subject to section 16(1A) and ... section 427 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (sequestration etc); and where, in consequence of those sections, the seat of a disqualified member of the Parliament is not vacant he shall not cease to be a member of the Parliament until his seat becomes vacant but—
he shall not participate in any proceedings of the Parliament, and
any of his other rights and privileges as a member of the Parliament may be withdrawn by a resolution of the Parliament.
The validity of any proceedings of the Parliament is not affected by the disqualification of any person from being a member of the Parliament or from being a member for the constituency or region for which he purports to sit.
Any person who claims that a person purporting to be a member of the Parliament is disqualified or has been disqualified at any time since being returned may apply to the Court of Session for a declarator to that effect.
An application in respect of any person may be made whether the grounds on which it is made are alleged to have subsisted when the person was returned or to have arisen subsequently.
No declarator shall be made—
on grounds which subsisted when the person was returned, if an election petition is pending or has been tried in which the disqualification on those grounds of the person concerned is or was in issue, or
on any ground, if a resolution under section 16 requires that any disqualification incurred on that ground by the person concerned is to be disregarded.
The person in respect of whom an application is made shall be the defender.
The applicant shall give such caution for the expenses of the proceedings as the Court of Session may direct; but any such caution shall not exceed £5,000 or such other sum as the Scottish Ministers may by order specify.
The decision of the court on an application under this section shall be final.
In this section “disqualified” means disqualified from being a member of the Parliament or from being a member for the constituency or region for which the person concerned purports to sit.
The Parliament shall, ... following a general election, elect from among its members a Presiding Officer and two deputies.
A person elected Presiding Officer or deputy shall hold office until the conclusion of the next election for Presiding Officer under subsection (1) unless he previously resigns, ceases to be a member of the Parliament otherwise than by virtue of a dissolution or is removed from office by resolution of the Parliament.
The Parliament must do so—
before it conducts any other proceedings, except the taking by its members of the oath of allegiance (see section 84), and
in any event, within the period of 14 days beginning immediately after the day of the poll at the election.
If the Presiding Officer or a deputy elected under subsection (1) ceases to hold office before the Parliament is dissolved, the Parliament shall elect another from among its members to fill his place.
But where a general election was held on a day proposed by the Presiding Officer in accordance with a proclamation made by His Majesty under section 2(5) or (5E), subsection (1A) has effect as if for the words “within the period of 14 days beginning immediately” there were substituted “as soon as reasonably practicable”.
The Presiding Officer’s functions may be exercised by a deputy if the office of Presiding Officer is vacant or the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act.
The Parliament may, at any time, elect from among its members one or more additional deputies.
The Presiding Officer may (subject to standing orders) authorise any deputy to exercise functions on his behalf.
Standing orders may include provision as to the participation (including voting) of the Presiding Officer and deputies in the proceedings of the Parliament.
But standing orders may make provision for additional deputies to hold office for a shorter time than provided by subsection (2).
The validity of any act of the Presiding Officer or a deputy is not affected by any defect in his election.
There shall be a Clerk of the Parliament.
The Clerk shall be appointed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (established under section 21).
The Clerk’s functions may be exercised by any Assistant Clerk if the office of Clerk is vacant or the Clerk is for any reason unable to act.
The Clerk may authorise any Assistant Clerk or other member of the staff of the Parliament to exercise functions on his behalf.
There shall be a body corporate to be known as “The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body” (referred to in this Act as the Parliamentary corporation) to perform the functions conferred on the corporation by virtue of this Act or any other enactment.
The members of the corporation shall be—
the Presiding Officer, and
at least four members of the Parliament appointed in accordance with standing orders.
The corporation shall provide the Parliament, or ensure that the Parliament is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Parliament’s purposes.
The Parliament may give special or general directions to the corporation for the purpose of or in connection with the exercise of the corporation’s functions.
Any property or liabilities acquired or incurred in relation to matters within the general responsibility of the corporation to which (apart from this subsection) the Parliament would be entitled or subject shall be treated for all purposes as property or (as the case may be) liabilities of the corporation.
Any expenses of the corporation shall be payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Any sums received by the corporation shall be paid into that Fund, subject to any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament for the disposal of or accounting for such sums.
Schedule 2 (which makes further provision about the corporation) shall have effect.
The proceedings of the Parliament shall be regulated by standing orders.
Schedule 3 (which makes provision as to how certain matters are to be dealt with by standing orders) shall have effect.
The Parliament may require any person— concerning any subject for which any member of the Scottish Government has general responsibility.
to attend its proceedings for the purpose of giving evidence, or
to produce documents in his custody or under his control,
Subject to subsection (3), the Parliament may impose such a requirement on a person outside Scotland only in connection with the discharge by him of—
functions of the Scottish Administration, or
functions of a Scottish public authority or cross-border public authority, or Border rivers functions (within the meaning of section 111(4)), which concern a subject for which any member of the Scottish Government has general responsibility.
In relation to the exercise of functions of a Minister of the Crown, the Parliament may not impose such a requirement on— unless the exercise concerns a subject for which any member of the Scottish Government has general responsibility.
him (whether or not he continues to be a Minister of the Crown), or
a person who is or has been in Crown employment, within the meaning of section 191(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996,
But the Parliament may not impose such a requirement in pursuance of subsection (3) in connection with the exercise of functions which are exercisable—
by the Scottish Ministers as well as by a Minister of the Crown, or
by a Minister of the Crown only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Scottish Ministers.
Subsection (4)(b) does not prevent the Parliament imposing such a requirement in connection with the exercise of functions which do not relate to reserved matters.
Where all the functions of a body relate to reserved matters, the Parliament may not impose such a requirement on any person in connection with the discharge by him of those functions.
The Parliament may not impose such a requirement on—
a judge of any court, or
a member of any tribunal in connection with the discharge by him of his functions as such.
Such a requirement may be imposed by a committee or sub-committee of the Parliament only if the committee or sub-committee is expressly authorised to do so (whether by standing orders or otherwise).
A person is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document which he would be entitled to refuse to answer or produce in proceedings in a court in Scotland.
A procurator fiscal is not obliged under this section to answer any question or produce any document concerning the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if the Lord Advocate—
considers that answering the question or producing the document might prejudice criminal proceedings in that case or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest, and
has authorised the procurator fiscal to decline to answer the question or produce the document on that ground.
A requirement under section 23 shall be imposed by the Clerk giving the person in question notice in writing specifying—
the time and place at which the person is to attend and the particular subjects concerning which he is required to give evidence, or
the documents, or types of documents, which he is to produce, the date by which he is to produce them and the particular subjects concerning which they are required.
Such notice shall be given—
in the case of an individual, by sending it, by registered post or the recorded delivery service, addressed to him at his usual or last known address or, where he has given an address for service, at that address,
in any other case, by sending it, by registered post or the recorded delivery service, addressed to the person at the person’s registered or principal office.
Section 23 applies in relation to requirements imposed on a person in connection with the discharge of the functions of a body mentioned in subsection (2) in relation to Scotland with the omission of—
the words after paragraph (b) in subsection (1), and
subsections (2) and (6).
The bodies are—
the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses,
the Office of Communications, and
the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority.
Any person to whom a notice under section 24(1) has been given who— is guilty of an offence.
refuses or fails to attend proceedings as required by the notice,
refuses or fails, when attending proceedings as required by the notice, to answer any question concerning the subjects specified in the notice,
deliberately alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys any document which he is required to produce by the notice, or
refuses or fails to produce any such document,
Subsection (1) is subject to sections 23(9) and (10) and 27(3).
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (d) to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for the refusal or failure.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
Where an offence under this section which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of— he, as well as the body corporate, is guilty of that offence and liable to be proceeded against accordingly.
a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or
any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,
The Presiding Officer or such other person as may be authorised by standing orders may—
administer an oath to any person giving evidence in proceedings of the Parliament, and
require him to take the oath.
Any person who refuses to take an oath when required to do so under subsection (1)(b) is guilty of an offence.
Subsection (4) of section 25 applies to an offence under subsection (2) as it applies to an offence under that section.
Standing orders may provide for the payment of allowances and expenses to persons— whether or not in pursuance of a notice under section 24(1).
attending proceedings of the Parliament to give evidence, or
producing documents which they have been required or requested to produce,
For the purposes of sections 23 to 25 and this section, a person shall be taken to comply with a requirement to produce a document if he produces a copy of, or an extract of the relevant part of, the document.
If the Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General for Scotland is not a member of the Parliament—
he may participate in the proceedings of the Parliament to the extent permitted by standing orders, but may not vote, and
standing orders may in other respects provide that they are to apply to him as if he were such a member.
Subsection (1) is without prejudice to section 39.
The Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General for Scotland may, in any proceedings of the Parliament, decline to answer any question or produce any document relating to the operation of the system of criminal prosecution in any particular case if he considers that answering the question or producing the document—
might prejudice criminal proceedings in that case, or
would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.
Subject to section 29, the Parliament may make laws, to be known as Acts of the Scottish Parliament.
Proposed Acts of the Scottish Parliament shall be known as Bills; and a Bill shall become an Act of the Scottish Parliament when it has been passed by the Parliament and has received Royal Assent.
A Bill receives Royal Assent at the beginning of the day on which Letters Patent under the Scottish Seal signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent are recorded in the Register of the Great Seal.
The date of Royal Assent shall be written on the Act of the Scottish Parliament by the Clerk, and shall form part of the Act.
The validity of an Act of the Scottish Parliament is not affected by any invalidity in the proceedings of the Parliament leading to its enactment.
Every Act of the Scottish Parliament shall be judicially noticed.
This section does not affect the power of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to make laws for Scotland.
But it is recognised that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
An Act of the Scottish Parliament is not law so far as any provision of the Act is outside the legislative competence of the Parliament.
A provision is outside that competence so far as any of the following paragraphs apply—
it would form part of the law of a country or territory other than Scotland, or confer or remove functions exercisable otherwise than in or as regards Scotland,
it relates to reserved matters,
it is in breach of the restrictions in Schedule 4,
it is incompatible with any of the Convention rights ...,
it would remove the Lord Advocate from his position as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland.
For the purposes of this section, the question whether a provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament relates to a reserved matter is to be determined, subject to subsection (4), by reference to the purpose of the provision, having regard (among other things) to its effect in all the circumstances.
A provision which— is to be treated as relating to reserved matters unless the purpose of the provision is to make the law in question apply consistently to reserved matters and otherwise.
would otherwise not relate to reserved matters, but
makes modifications of Scots private law, or Scots criminal law, as it applies to reserved matters,
Subsection (1) is subject to section 30(6).
Schedule 5 (which defines reserved matters) shall have effect.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make any modifications of Schedule 4 or 5 which She considers necessary or expedient.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify functions which are to be treated, for such purposes of this Act as may be specified, as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland.
An Order in Council under this section may also make such modifications of— as Her Majesty considers necessary or expedient in connection with other provision made by the Order.
any enactment or prerogative instrument (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act), or
any other instrument or document,
Subsection (6) applies where any alteration is made— (whether by virtue of the making, revocation or expiry of an Order in Council under this section or otherwise).
to the matters which are reserved matters, or
to Schedule 4,
Where the effect of the alteration is that a provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament ceases to be within the legislative competence of the Parliament, the provision does not for that reason cease to have effect (unless an enactment provides otherwise).
A person in charge of a Bill shall, on or before introduction of the Bill in the Parliament, state that in his view the provisions of the Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
The Presiding Officer shall, on or before the introduction of a Bill in the Parliament, decide whether or not in his view the provisions of the Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament and state his decision.
The form of any statement, and the manner in which it is to be made, shall be determined under standing orders, and standing orders may provide for any statement to be published.
The Presiding Officer shall, after the last time when a Bill may be amended but before the decision whether to pass or reject it, decide whether or not in his view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter and state his decision.
For the purposes of this Part a provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter if it would modify, or confer power to modify, any of the matters listed in subsection (5) (but not if the provision is incidental to or consequential on another provision of the Bill).
The matters are—
the persons entitled to vote as electors at an election for membership of the Parliament,
the system by which members of the Parliament are returned,
the number of constituencies, regions or any equivalent electoral area, and
the number of members to be returned for each constituency, region or equivalent electoral area.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It is for the Presiding Officer to submit Bills for Royal Assent.
The Presiding Officer shall not submit a Bill for Royal Assent at any time when—
the Advocate General, the Lord Advocate or the Attorney General is entitled to make a reference in relation to the Bill under section 32A or 33,
any such reference has been made but has not been decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court, or
an order may be made in relation to the Bill under section 35.
The Presiding Officer shall not submit a Bill in its unamended form for Royal Assent if—
the Supreme Court has decided that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the legislative competence of the Parliament. ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Presiding Officer shall not submit a Bill for Royal Assent if the Supreme Court has decided on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(b) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, unless since the decision the Bill has been approved in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5).
In this Act—
houses for occupation by members of the body, where the rules of the body restrict membership to persons entitled or prospectively entitled (as tenants or otherwise) to occupy a house provided or managed by the body, or
a disqualification order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022 (disqualification of offenders from holding elective office etc).
The Advocate General, the Lord Advocate or the Attorney General may refer the question of whether a Bill or any provision of a Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament to the Supreme Court for decision.
Subject to subsection (3), he may make a reference in relation to a Bill at any time during—
the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, and
any period of four weeks beginning with any ... approval of the Bill in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5).
He shall not make a reference in relation to a Bill if he has notified the Presiding Officer that he does not intend to make a reference in relation to the Bill, unless the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) since the notification.
If the Presiding Officer states under section 31(2A) that in his view any provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, the Bill is not passed unless the number of members voting in favour of it at the final stage is at least two-thirds of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This section applies where—
a reference has been made in relation to a Bill under section 33,
a reference for a preliminary ruling has been made by the Judicial Committee in connection with that reference, and
neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.
If the Parliament resolves that it wishes to reconsider the Bill—
the Presiding Officer shall notify the Advocate General, the Lord Advocate and the Attorney General of that fact, and
the person who made the reference in relation to the Bill under section 33 shall request the withdrawal of the reference.
In this section “a reference for a preliminary ruling” means a reference of a question to the European Court under Article 177 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community or Article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.
If a Bill contains provisions— he may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent.
which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would be incompatible with any international obligations or the interests of defence or national security, or
which make modifications of the law as it applies to reserved matters and which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies to reserved matters,
The order must identify the Bill and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.
The order may be made at any time during—
the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill,
any period of four weeks beginning with any ... approval of the Bill in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5),
if a reference is made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(b) or 33, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Supreme Court.
The Secretary of State shall not make an order in relation to a Bill if he has notified the Presiding Officer that he does not intend to do so, unless the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (3)(b) since the notification.
An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given shall cease to have effect.
The Advocate General, the Lord Advocate or the Attorney General may refer the question of whether a Bill or any provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter to the Supreme Court for decision.
Subject to subsection (3), he may make a reference in relation to a Bill—
at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the rejection of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has made a statement under section 31(2A) that in his view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, and
at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has made a statement under section 31(2A) that in his view no provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, unless the number of members voting in favour of the Bill at its passing is at least two-thirds of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament.
He shall not make a reference in relation to a Bill if he has notified the Presiding Officer that he does not intend to make a reference in relation to the Bill, unless since the notification the Bill has been approved or rejected in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5).
Standing orders shall include provision—
for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for members to vote on its general principles,
for the consideration of, and an opportunity for members to vote on, the details of a Bill, and
for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.
Subsection (1) does not prevent standing orders making provision to enable the Parliament to expedite proceedings in relation to a particular Bill.
Standing orders may make provision different from that required by subsection (1) for the procedure applicable to Bills of any of the following kinds—
Bills which restate the law,
Bills which repeal spent enactments,
private Bills.
Standing orders shall provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its passing if (and only if)—
the Supreme Court decides that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the legislative competence of the Parliament,
... or
the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(b) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter,
an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 35.
Standing orders shall, in particular, ensure that — is subject to a final stage at which it can be approved or rejected.
any Bill amended on reconsideration in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (4)(a) ... or (c), and
any Bill reconsidered in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of subsection (4)(aa) or (4A),
Standing orders shall provide for an opportunity for the reconsideration of a Bill after its rejection if (and only if), on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(a), the Supreme Court decides that no provision that is subject to the reference relates to a protected subject-matter.
References in subsection (4), sections 28(2), 31(2A), 31A, 32A(2)(b) and 38(1)(a) and paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the passing of a Bill shall, in the case of a Bill to which subsection (5)(a) or (b) applies, be read as references to the approval of the Bill.
The Union with Scotland Act 1706 and the Union with England Act 1707 have effect subject to this Act.
The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland shall record in the Register of the Great Seal— which have passed under the Scottish Seal.
all Letters Patent signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent to a Bill passed by the Parliament, and
all royal proclamations under sections 2(5) and 3(2),
On recording such Letters Patent he shall intimate the date of recording to the Clerk.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision as to— of such Letters Patent and proclamations.
the form and manner of preparation, and
the publication,
If the First Minister so directs, impressions with the same device as the Scottish Seal shall be taken in such manner, of such size and on such material as is specified in the direction.
Each such impression—
shall be known as a Wafer Scottish Seal, and
shall be kept in accordance with directions of the First Minister.
If a Wafer Scottish Seal has been applied to Letters Patent or a proclamation mentioned in subsection (1), the document has the same validity as if it had passed under the Scottish Seal.
Provision shall be made for a register of interests of members of the Parliament and for the register to be published and made available for public inspection.
Provision shall be made—
requiring members of the Parliament to register in that register financial interests (including benefits in kind), as defined for the purposes of this paragraph,
requiring that any member of the Parliament who has a financial interest (including benefits in kind), as defined for the purposes of this paragraph, in any matter declares that interest before taking part in any proceedings of the Parliament relating to that matter.
Provision made in pursuance of subsection (2) shall include any provision which the Parliament considers appropriate for preventing or restricting the participation in proceedings of the Parliament of a member with an interest defined for the purposes of subsection (2)(a) or (b) in a matter to which the proceedings relate.
Provision shall be made prohibiting a member of the Parliament from—
advocating or initiating any cause or matter on behalf of any person, by any means specified in the provision, in consideration of any payment or benefit in kind of a description so specified, or
urging, in consideration of any such payment or benefit in kind, any other member of the Parliament to advocate or initiate any cause or matter on behalf of any person by any such means.
Provision may be made for— if the member fails to comply with, or contravenes, any provision made in pursuance of subsections (2) to (4) or this subsection.
excluding a member from the proceedings of the Parliament,
imposing on a member such other sanctions as the Parliament considers appropriate,
Any requirement or prohibition (however expressed) imposed by provision made in pursuance of subsections (2) to (4) may be subject to such exceptions as are specified in the provision.
Provision made under subsection (5) may include provision that the member is guilty of an offence.
takes part in any proceedings of the Parliament without having complied with, or in contravention of, any provision made in pursuance of subsection (2) or (3), or
contravenes any provision made in pursuance of subsection (4),
A person guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
Provision made under subsection (5) may include provision that a sanction is not to be imposed in such circumstances as are specified in the provision.
In this section—
“provision” means provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
references to members of the Parliament include references to the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland, whether or not they are such members.
Proceedings by or against the Parliament shall be instituted by or (as the case may be) against the Parliamentary corporation on behalf of the Parliament.
Proceedings by or against— shall be instituted by or (as the case may be) against the corporation on his behalf.
the Presiding Officer or a deputy, or
any member of the staff of the Parliament,
In any proceedings against the Parliament, the court shall not make an order for suspension, interdict, reduction or specific performance (or other like order) but may instead make a declarator.
In any proceedings against— the court shall not make an order for suspension, interdict, reduction or specific performance (or other like order) if the effect of doing so would be to give any relief against the Parliament which could not have been given in proceedings against the Parliament.
any member of the Parliament,
the Presiding Officer or a deputy,
any member of the staff of the Parliament, or
the Parliamentary corporation,
References in this section to an order include an interim order.
For the purposes of the law of defamation— shall be absolutely privileged.
any statement made in proceedings of the Parliament, and
the publication under the authority of the Parliament of any statement,
In subsection (1), “statement” has the same meaning as in the Defamation Act 1996.
The strict liability rule shall not apply in relation to any publication—
made in proceedings of the Parliament in relation to a Bill or subordinate legislation, or
to the extent that it consists of a fair and accurate report of such proceedings made in good faith.
In subsection (1), “the strict liability rule” and “publication” have the same meanings as in the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There shall be a Scottish Government, whose members shall be—
the First Minister,
such Ministers as the First Minister may appoint under section 47, and
the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland.
The members of the Scottish Government are referred to collectively as the Scottish Ministers.
A person who holds a Ministerial office may not be appointed a member of the Scottish Government ; and if a member of the Scottish Government is appointed to a Ministerial office he shall cease to hold office as a member of the Scottish Government.
In subsection (3), references to a member of the Scottish Government include a junior Scottish Minister and “Ministerial office” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.
The First Minister shall be appointed by Her Majesty from among the members of the Parliament and shall hold office at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
The First Minister may at any time tender his resignation to Her Majesty and shall do so if the Parliament resolves that the Scottish Government no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament.
The First Minister shall cease to hold office if a person is appointed in his place.
If the office of First Minister is vacant or he is for any reason unable to act, the functions exercisable by him shall be exercisable by a person designated by the Presiding Officer.
A person shall be so designated only if—
he is a member of the Parliament, or
if the Parliament has been dissolved, he is a person who ceased to be a member by virtue of the dissolution.
Functions exercisable by a person by virtue of subsection (5)(a) shall continue to be exercisable by him even if the Parliament is dissolved.
The First Minister shall be the Keeper of the Scottish Seal.
If one of the following events occurs, the Parliament shall within the period allowed nominate one of its members for appointment as First Minister.
The events are—
the holding of a poll at a general election,
the First Minister tendering his resignation to Her Majesty,
the office of First Minister becoming vacant (otherwise than in consequence of his so tendering his resignation),
the First Minister ceasing to be a member of the Parliament otherwise than by virtue of a dissolution.
The period allowed is—
the period of 28 days which begins with the day on which the event in question occurs, but—
if another of those events occurs within the period allowed, that period is extended (subject to sub-paragraph (ii)) so that it ends with the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which that other event occurred, and
the period ends if the Parliament passes a resolution under section 3(1)(a) or when His Majesty appoints a person as First Minister, but
if the Parliament does not meet within the period of 7 days beginning immediately after the day of the poll at a general election that was held on a day proposed by the Presiding Officer in accordance with a proclamation made by His Majesty under section 2(5) or (5E), the initial period of 28 days calculated under paragraph (a) is to be extended by disregarding any days in the period subsequent to that 7 day period and before the Parliament first meets.
The Presiding Officer shall recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of any member of the Parliament who is nominated by the Parliament under this section.
The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint Ministers from among the members of the Parliament.
The First Minister shall not seek Her Majesty’s approval for any appointment under this section without the agreement of the Parliament.
A Minister appointed under this section—
shall hold office at Her Majesty’s pleasure,
may be removed from office by the First Minister,
may at any time resign and shall do so if the Parliament resolves that the Scottish Government no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament,
if he resigns, shall cease to hold office immediately, and
shall cease to hold office if he ceases to be a member of the Parliament otherwise than by virtue of a dissolution.
It is for the First Minister to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment or removal of a person as Lord Advocate or Solicitor General for Scotland; but he shall not do so without the agreement of the Parliament.
The Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland may at any time resign and shall do so if the Parliament resolves that the Scottish Government no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament.
Where the Lord Advocate resigns in consequence of such a resolution, he shall be deemed to continue in office until the warrant of appointment of the person succeeding to the office of Lord Advocate is granted, but only for the purpose of exercising his retained functions.
Subsection (3) is without prejudice to section 287 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (demission of office by Lord Advocate).
Any decision of the Lord Advocate in his capacity as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland shall continue to be taken by him independently of any other person.
In Schedule 2 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (Ministerial offices) and Part III of Schedule 1 to the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (salaries of the Law Officers), the entries for the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland are omitted.
The First Minister may, with the approval of Her Majesty, appoint persons from among the members of the Parliament to assist the Scottish Ministers in the exercise of their functions.
They shall be known as junior Scottish Ministers.
The First Minister shall not seek Her Majesty’s approval for any appointment under this section without the agreement of the Parliament.
A junior Scottish Minister—
shall hold office at Her Majesty’s pleasure,
may be removed from office by the First Minister,
may at any time resign and shall do so if the Parliament resolves that the Scottish Government no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament,
if he resigns, shall cease to hold office immediately, and
shall cease to hold office if he ceases to be a member of the Parliament otherwise than by virtue of a dissolution.
The validity of any act of a member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister is not affected by any defect in his nomination by the Parliament or (as the case may be) in the Parliament’s agreement to his appointment.
The Scottish Ministers may appoint persons to be members of the staff of the Scottish Administration.
Service as— shall be service in the civil service of the State.
the holder of any office in the Scottish Administration which is not a ministerial office, or
a member of the staff of the Scottish Administration,
See Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (in particular, sections 3 and 4) for provision affecting—
subsection (1), and
any other enactment about the appointment of persons mentioned in subsection (2).
See also section 1 of the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 under which functions conferred on the Minister for the Civil Service by section 3 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 may be delegated to the Scottish Ministers etc.
Any salary or allowances payable to or in respect of the persons mentioned in subsection (2) (including contributions to any pension scheme) shall be payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Section 1(2) and (3) of the Superannuation Act 1972 (delegation of functions relating to civil service superannuation schemes etc.) shall have effect as if references to a Minister of the Crown (other than the Minister for the Civil Service) included the Scottish Ministers.
The Scottish Ministers shall make payments to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as he may determine, of such amounts as he may determine in respect of—
the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities by virtue of section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 to or in respect of persons who are or have been in such service as is mentioned in subsection (2), and
any expenses to be incurred in administering those pensions, allowances or gratuities.
Amounts required for payments under subsection (7) shall be charged on the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“relevant notification requirements” has the same meaning as in section 31(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and
its tributary streams (which for this purpose include the River Sark and its tributary streams), and
a person's having suffered personal injury caused by accident arising out of and in the course of his or her employment, or
who qualify by reason of low income, or
Statutory functions may be conferred on the Scottish Ministers by that name.
Statutory functions of the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate shall be exercisable on behalf of Her Majesty.
Statutory functions of the Scottish Ministers shall be exercisable by any member of the Scottish Government.
Any act or omission of, or in relation to, any member of the Scottish Government shall be treated as an act or omission of, or in relation to, each of them; and any property acquired, or liability incurred, by any member of the Scottish Government shall be treated accordingly.
Subsection (4) does not apply in relation to the exercise of—
functions conferred on the First Minister alone, or
retained functions of the Lord Advocate.
In this Act, “retained functions” in relation to the Lord Advocate means—
any functions exercisable by him immediately before he ceases to be a Minister of the Crown, and
other statutory functions conferred on him alone after he ceases to be a Minister of the Crown.
In this section, “statutory functions” means functions conferred by virtue of any enactment.
The functions mentioned in subsection (2) shall, so far as they are exercisable within devolved competence, be exercisable by the Scottish Ministers instead of by a Minister of the Crown.
Those functions are— but do not include any retained functions of the Lord Advocate.
those of Her Majesty’s prerogative and other executive functions which are exercisable on behalf of Her Majesty by a Minister of the Crown,
other functions conferred on a Minister of the Crown by a prerogative instrument, and
functions conferred on a Minister of the Crown by any pre-commencement enactment,
In this Act, “pre-commencement enactment” means—
an Act passed before or in the same session as this Act and any other enactment made before the passing of this Act,
an enactment made, before the commencement of this section, under such an Act or such other enactment,
subordinate legislation under section 106, to the extent that the legislation states that it is to be treated as a pre-commencement enactment.
This section and section 54 are modified by Part III of Schedule 4.
But see sections 9, 32 and 51 of the Scotland Act 2016 (which give “pre-commencement enactment” a different meaning for functions exercisable within devolved competence by virtue of certain provisions of that Act).
References in this Act to the exercise of a function being within or outside devolved competence are to be read in accordance with this section.
It is outside devolved competence—
to make any provision by subordinate legislation which would be outside the legislative competence of the Parliament if it were included in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or
to confirm or approve any subordinate legislation containing such provision.
In the case of any function other than a function of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation, it is outside devolved competence to exercise the function (or exercise it in any way) so far as a provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament conferring the function (or, as the case may be, conferring it so as to be exercisable in that way) would be outside the legislative competence of the Parliament.
A statutory provision, or any provision not contained in an enactment, which provides for a Minister of the Crown to exercise a function with the agreement of, or after consultation with, any other Minister of the Crown shall cease to have effect in relation to the exercise of the function by a member of the Scottish Government by virtue of section 53.
In subsection (1) “statutory provision” means any provision in a pre-commencement enactment other than paragraph 5 or 15 of Schedule 32 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (designation of enterprise zones).
Despite the transfer by virtue of section 53 of any function under— the function shall be exercisable by a Minister of the Crown as well as by the Scottish Ministers.
section 17(1) of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 (power to make advances for certain purposes),
any Order in Council under section 1 of the United Nations Act 1946 (measures to give effect to Security Council decisions),
section 9 of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947 (levies for scientific research, promotion of exports, etc.),
section 5 of the Science and Technology Act 1965 (funding of scientific research),
section 1 of the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972 (contributions in respect of mineral exploration),
sections 10 to 12 of the Industry Act 1972 (credits and grants for construction of ships and offshore installations),
sections 2, 11(3) and 12(4) of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (power to make arrangements for employment and training etc. and to make certain payments),
sections 7 to 9 and 11 to 13 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 (financial and other assistance for industry), and
sections 39 and 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (road safety information and training),
Despite the transfer of any other function by virtue of section 53, the function shall, if subordinate legislation so provides, be exercisable (or be exercisable so far as the legislation provides) by a Minister of the Crown as well as by the Scottish Ministers.
Subordinate legislation under subsection (2) may not be made so as to come into force at any time after the function in question has become exercisable by the Scottish Ministers.
Any power referred to in section 53(2)(a) to establish, maintain or abolish a body, office or office-holder having functions which include both— shall, despite that section, be exercisable jointly by the Minister of the Crown and the Scottish Ministers.
functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland and do not relate to reserved matters, and
other functions,
In subsection (4), “office-holder” includes employee or other post-holder.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A member of the Scottish Government has no power to make any subordinate legislation, or to do any other act, so far as the legislation or act is incompatible with any of the Convention rights ....
Subsection (2) does not apply to an act of the Lord Advocate— ...
in prosecuting any offence, or
in his capacity as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe that any action proposed to be taken by a member of the Scottish Government would be incompatible with any international obligations, he may by order direct that the proposed action shall not be taken.
If the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe that any action capable of being taken by a member of the Scottish Government is required for the purpose of giving effect to any such obligations, he may by order direct that the action shall be taken.
In subsections (1) and (2), “action” includes making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation and, in subsection (2), includes introducing a Bill in the Parliament.
If any subordinate legislation made or which could be revoked by a member of the Scottish Government contains provisions— the Secretary of State may by order revoke the legislation.
which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe to be incompatible with any international obligations or the interests of defence or national security, or
which make modifications of the law as it applies to reserved matters and which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe to have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies to reserved matters,
An order under this section must state the reasons for making the order.
Property may be held by the Scottish Ministers by that name.
Property acquired by or transferred to the Scottish Ministers shall belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Scottish Ministers shall be liabilities of, the Scottish Ministers for the time being.
In relation to property to be acquired by or transferred to, or belonging to, the Scottish Ministers or liabilities incurred by the Scottish Ministers, references to the Scottish Ministers— shall be read in accordance with subsection (2).
in any title recorded in the Register of Sasines or registered in the Land Register of Scotland, or
in any other document,
A document shall be validly executed by the Scottish Ministers if it is executed by any member of the Scottish Government.
Subordinate legislation may provide—
for the transfer to the Scottish Ministers of any property belonging to a Minister of the Crown or government department, or
for the Scottish Ministers to have such rights or interests in relation to any property belonging to a Minister of the Crown or government department as the person making the legislation considers appropriate (whether in connection with a transfer or otherwise).
Subordinate legislation may provide for the transfer to the Scottish Ministers of any liabilities to which a Minister of the Crown or government department is subject.
Subordinate legislation under this section may only be made in connection with any transfer or sharing of functions of a Minister of the Crown by virtue of section 53, 63 or 89 or in any other circumstances in which the person making the legislation considers it appropriate to do so for the purposes of this Act or the Scotland Act 2016.
Property may be held by the Lord Advocate by that name.
Property acquired by or transferred to the Lord Advocate shall belong to, and liabilities incurred by the Lord Advocate shall be liabilities of, the Lord Advocate for the time being.
In relation to property to be acquired by or transferred to, or belonging to, the Lord Advocate or liabilities incurred by the Lord Advocate, references to the Lord Advocate— shall be read in accordance with subsection (2).
in any title recorded in the Register of Sasines or registered in the Land Register of Scotland, or
in any other document,
Any rights and liabilities acquired or incurred by the First Minister shall be rights or (as the case may be) liabilities of the First Minister for the time being.
Subordinate legislation may provide—
for the transfer to the Lord Advocate of any property belonging to a Minister of the Crown or government department, or
for the Lord Advocate to have such rights or interests in relation to any property belonging to a Minister of the Crown or government department as the person making the legislation considers appropriate (whether in connection with a transfer or otherwise).
Subordinate legislation may provide for the transfer to the Lord Advocate of any liabilities to which a Minister of the Crown or government department is subject.
Subordinate legislation under this section may only be made in connection with the Lord Advocate becoming a member of the Scottish Government or having any retained functions or in any other circumstances in which the person making the legislation considers it appropriate to do so for the purposes of this Act.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for any functions, so far as they are exercisable by a Minister of the Crown in or as regards Scotland, to be exercisable—
by the Scottish Ministers instead of by the Minister of the Crown,
by the Scottish Ministers concurrently with the Minister of the Crown, or
by the Minister of the Crown only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, the Scottish Ministers.
Where an Order is made under subsection (1)(a) or (b) in relation to a function of a Minister of the Crown which is exercisable only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, another Minister of the Crown, the function shall, unless the Order provides otherwise, be exercisable by the Scottish Ministers free from any such requirement.
An Order under this section may, in particular, provide for any function exercisable by the Scottish Ministers by virtue of an Order under subsection (1)(a) or (b) to be exercisable subject to a requirement for the function to be exercised with the agreement of, or after consultation with, a Minister of the Crown or other person.
There shall be a Scottish Consolidated Fund.
The Secretary of State shall from time to time make payments into the Fund out of money provided by Parliament of such amounts as he may determine.
Sums received by an office-holder in the Scottish Administration shall be paid into the Fund.
The Secretary of State shall in accordance with section 64A pay into the Fund out of money provided by Parliament any amounts payable under that section.
Subsection (3) is subject to any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament for the disposal of or accounting for such sums.
The Treasury may, after consulting with the Scottish Ministers, by order designate receipts of any description specified in the order which are payable into the Fund (or would be but for any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament).
The Scottish Ministers shall make payments to the Secretary of State, at such times and by such methods as the Treasury may from time to time determine, of sums equal to the total amount outstanding in respect of designated receipts.
Amounts required for the payment of sums under subsection (6) shall be charged on the Fund.
The Fund shall be held with the Paymaster General.
A sum may only be paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund if—
it has been charged on the Fund by any enactment,
it is payable out of the Fund without further approval by virtue of this Act, or
it is paid out for or in connection with any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (2) in accordance with rules made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
Those purposes are—
meeting expenditure of the Scottish Administration,
meeting expenditure payable out of the Fund under any enactment.
A sum paid out of the Fund shall not be applied for any purpose other than that for which it was charged or (as the case may be) paid out.
Where there is an agreement between the Treasury and the Scottish Ministers for identifying an amount agreed to represent the standard rate VAT attributable to Scotland for any period (“the agreed standard rate amount”), the amount described in subsection (3) is payable under this section in respect of that period.
Where there is an agreement between the Treasury and the Scottish Ministers for identifying an amount agreed to represent the reduced rate VAT attributable to Scotland for that period (“the agreed reduced rate amount”), the amount described in subsection (4) is payable under this section in respect of that period.
The amount payable in accordance with subsection (1) is the amount obtained by multiplying the agreed standard rate amount by— where SR is the number of percentage points in the rate at which value added tax is charged under section 2(1) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 for the period.
The amount payable in accordance with subsection (2) is the amount obtained by multiplying the agreed reduced rate amount by— where RR is the number of percentage points in the rate at which value added tax is charged under section 29A(1) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 for the period.
The payment of those amounts under section 64(2A) is to be made in accordance with any agreement between the Treasury and the Scottish Ministers as to the time of the payment or otherwise.
The Scottish Ministers may borrow from the Secretary of State—
any sums required by them for the purpose of meeting a temporary excess of sums paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund over sums paid into that Fund,
any sums required by them for the purpose of providing a working balance in the Scottish Consolidated Fund, ...
any sums which in accordance with rules determined by the Treasury are required by them to meet current expenditure because of a shortfall in receipts from devolved taxes, ... from income tax charged by virtue of a Scottish rate resolution, or from amounts payable under section 64A, against forecast receipts.
any sums which in accordance with rules determined by the Treasury are required by them to meet current expenditure because of an excess of welfare payments over forecast welfare payments, and
any sums which in accordance with rules made by the Treasury are required by them to meet current expenditure because of a Scotland-specific negative economic shock.
Amounts required for the repayment of, or the payment of interest on, sums borrowed under this section shall be charged on the Fund.
In subsection (1)(d) “welfare payments” means—
payments under any provision relating to matters within exceptions 1 to 10 in Section F1 of Part 2 of Schedule 5 or exception 1 in Section H3 of that Part, and
payments attributable to regulations made by the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 29 or 30 of the Scotland Act 2016 (powers in relation to universal credit).
Sums borrowed under this section from the Secretary of State shall be repaid to the Secretary of State at such times and by such methods, and interest on them shall be paid to him at such rates and at such times, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.
The Scottish Ministers may, with the approval of the Treasury, borrow by way of loan or by the issue of bonds (but not bonds transferable by delivery) any sums required by them for the purpose of meeting capital expenditure.
A member of the Scottish Government may borrow money only under this section or under any power conferred by any other Act of Parliament.
A sum is required for the purpose of meeting capital expenditure if the expenditure would be capital expenditure for the purposes of accounts under section 70.
The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury amend subsection (1A) so as to vary the means by which the Scottish Ministers may borrow money.
The Treasury may issue to the Secretary of State out of the National Loans Fund such sums as are required by him for making loans under section 66.
The aggregate at any time outstanding in respect of the principal of sums borrowed under section 66(1) shall not exceed £1,910.141 million.
The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury substitute for the amount (or substituted amount) specified in subsection (2) such ... amount as may be specified in the order.
Sums received by the Secretary of State under section 66(3) shall be paid into the National Loans Fund.
An amount substituted under subsection (3) may be more or less than the amount for which it is substituted but may not be less than £1.75 billion.
Where an Act of Parliament or subordinate legislation under an Act of Parliament requires or authorises a sum to be paid into the Consolidated Fund, and the sum appears to the Secretary of State to be a fine, forfeiture or fixed penalty, the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury by regulations modify the Act or subordinate legislation so as to require or authorise the sum to be paid instead into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
If a member of the Scottish Government lends money to a body established under any enactment, the rate of interest on the loan shall not be less than the lowest rate determined by the Treasury under section 5 of the National Loans Act 1968 in respect of similar loans made out of the National Loans Fund on the day the loan is made.
A body established under any enactment shall not, in pursuance of a power conferred by virtue of an Act of the Scottish Parliament, borrow money in a currency other than sterling except with the consent of the Scottish Ministers given with the approval of the Treasury.
There shall be an Auditor General for Scotland who shall be an individual appointed by Her Majesty on the nomination of the Parliament.
A recommendation shall not be made to Her Majesty for the removal from office of the Auditor General for Scotland unless the Parliament so resolves and, if the resolution is passed on a division, the number of members voting in favour is not less than two-thirds of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament.
The validity of any act of the Auditor General for Scotland is not affected by any defect in his nomination by the Parliament.
The Auditor General for Scotland shall not, in the exercise of any of his functions, be subject to the direction or control of any member of the Scottish Government or of the Parliament.
Subsection (4) does not apply in relation to any function conferred on him of preparing accounts.
Scottish legislation shall provide—
for proper accounts to be prepared by the Scottish Ministers, by the Lord Advocate and by other persons to whom sums are paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, of their expenditure and receipts,
for the Scottish Ministers to prepare an account of payments into and out of the Fund,
for the Auditor General for Scotland to exercise, or ensure the exercise by other persons of, the functions mentioned in subsection (2),
for access by persons exercising those functions to such documents as they may reasonably require,
for members of the staff of the Scottish Administration designated for the purpose to be answerable to the Parliament in respect of the expenditure and receipts of each part of the Scottish Administration, and
for the publication of parliamentary accounts and of reports on such accounts and for the laying of such accounts and reports before the Parliament.
The functions referred to in subsection (1)(c) are—
issuing credits for the payment of sums out of the Fund,
examining parliamentary accounts (which includes determining whether sums paid out of the Fund have been paid out and applied in accordance with section 65), and certifying and reporting on them,
carrying out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Scottish Ministers and the Lord Advocate have used their resources in discharging their functions, and
carrying out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which other persons determined under Scottish legislation to whom sums are paid out of the Fund have used those sums in discharging their functions.
Standing orders shall provide for the consideration by the Parliament of accounts and reports laid before it in pursuance of subsection (1)(f).
Scottish legislation may make further provision for the purpose of ensuring that persons who receive sums derived from the Fund are accountable including, in particular, provision for any person to whom subsection (1)(a) does not apply to be accountable for his expenditure and receipts in respect of functions for which he receives sums derived from the Fund.
Persons (other than the Auditor General for Scotland) charged with the exercise of any function mentioned in subsection (2) or other like function conferred by Scottish legislation shall not, in the exercise of that or any ancillary function, be subject to the direction or control of any member of the Scottish Government or of the Parliament.
Scottish legislation may not require any cross-border public authority to prepare accounts if any other legislation requires—
the authority to prepare accounts of its expenditure and receipts, and
the accounts to be examined, certified and reported on by the Auditor General for Scotland, the Comptroller and Auditor General or a person appointed by either of them.
Subsection (2)(b) does not apply to accounts prepared by the Auditor General for Scotland.
This section does not require Scottish legislation to impose any requirement which is imposed by any other legislation.
In this section—
“office-holder” includes employee or other post-holder,
“Food” has the same meaning as it has in Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (as at 7th December 2004).
The aggregate at any time outstanding in respect of the principal of sums borrowed under section 66(1A) shall not exceed £3,274.527 million.
The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury substitute for the amount (or substituted amount) specified in subsection (1) such amount as may be specified in the order.
An amount substituted under subsection (2) may be more or less than the amount for which it is substituted but may not be less than £3 billion.
A person lending money to a member of the Scottish Government is not bound to enquire whether the member of the Scottish Government has power to borrow the money and is not to be prejudiced by the absence of any such power.
The Scottish Ministers may not mortgage or charge any of their property as security for money which they have borrowed under section 66(1A). This is subject to section 66(2).
Security given in breach of subsection (5) is unenforceable.
Subsections (2) to (4) apply where—
power to lend money under a provision of a pre-commencement enactment was exercised by the Secretary of State,
the sums required by him for the exercise of the power were issued by the Treasury out of the National Loans Fund, and
the power is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53, or would have been so exercisable but for the repeal of the pre-commencement enactment.
Any amount payable by way of repayment of or interest on the loan shall be paid to the Scottish Ministers and into the Scottish Consolidated Fund (instead of to the Secretary of State and into the National Loans Fund).
Amounts equal to those which are to be received by the Scottish Ministers in repayment of principal shall be treated as being amounts of advances made on the commencement of this section to the Scottish Ministers by the Secretary of State.
Such advances shall be repaid to the Secretary of State at such times and by such methods, and interest on them shall be paid to him at such rates and at such times, as the Treasury may from time to time determine.
Subsection (6) applies to any amount outstanding immediately before the commencement of this subsection in respect of the principal of the sum treated by virtue of section 2(3) of the Government Trading Funds Act 1973 as issued to the Registers of Scotland Executive Agency Trading Fund on the day on which the order establishing that fund came into force (“the issue date”).
The Secretary of State may, with the agreement of the Treasury, by order provide—
for the amount to be treated as an advance made by him to the Scottish Ministers on the issue date, and
for the advance to be repaid to him at such times and by such methods, and for interest on the advance to be paid to him at such rates and at such times, as were determined by the Treasury under section 2B(3) of that Act in respect of the sum referred to in subsection (5).
Sums required to be paid under subsection (4) or (6) shall be charged on the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Sums received under subsection (4) or (6) shall be paid into the National Loans Fund.
The Secretary of State shall, for each financial year— and the Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on the account and shall lay copies of it and of his report before each House of Parliament.
prepare, in such form and manner as the Treasury may direct, an account of sums paid and received by him under sections 66, 67 and 71, and
send the account to the Comptroller and Auditor General not later than the end of November in the following financial year,
The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are a permanent part of the United Kingdom's constitutional arrangements.
The purpose of this section is, with due regard to the other provisions of this Act, to signify the commitment of the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government.
In view of that commitment it is declared that the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are not to be abolished except on the basis of a decision of the people of Scotland voting in a referendum.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to section 74, this section applies for any year of assessment for which income tax is charged if—
the Parliament has passed a resolution providing for the percentage determined to be the basic rate for that year to be increased or reduced for Scottish taxpayers in accordance with the resolution,
the increase or reduction provided for is confined to an increase or reduction by a number not exceeding three which is specified in the resolution and is either a whole number or half of a whole number, and
the resolution has not been cancelled by a subsequent resolution of the Parliament.
Where this section applies for any year of assessment the Income Tax Acts (excluding this Part) shall have effect in relation to the income of Scottish taxpayers as if any rate determined by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to be the basic rate for that year were increased or reduced in accordance with the resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
In subsection (2) the reference to the income of Scottish taxpayers does not include a reference to any income of Scottish taxpayers which, had it been income for the year 1998-99, would have been income to which section 1A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (income from savings and distributions) applied for that year.
In this section—
a reference, in relation to any year of assessment, to income tax being charged for that year includes a reference to the passing of a PCTA resolution that provides for the charging of that tax for that year, and
a reference, in relation to a year of assessment, to the determination by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of a rate to be the basic rate for that year includes a reference to the passing of a PCTA resolution specifying a percentage to be the basic rate for that year.
In this section “a PCTA resolution” means a resolution of the House of Commons containing such a declaration as is mentioned in section 1(2)(b) of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This section applies to any resolution of the Parliament (“a tax-varying resolution”) which—
provides, in accordance with section 73, for an increase or reduction for Scottish taxpayers of the basic rate for any year of assessment, or
cancels a previous resolution of the Parliament providing for such an increase or reduction.
Subject to subsection (3), a tax-varying resolution—
must be expressed so as to relate to no more than a single year of assessment beginning after, but no more than twelve months after, the passing of the resolution, but
shall have effect in relation to a determination by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of the rate to be the basic rate for that year irrespective of whether that determination had been made at the time of the passing of the resolution.
Subsection (2) shall not prevent a tax-varying resolution relating to any year of assessment from being passed and having effect where—
a determination by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of the rate to be the basic rate for that year is made after, or less than a month before, the beginning of that year,
that determination is not confined to the passing of the enactment by which a determination of the same rate by a PCTA resolution is ratified, and
the tax-varying resolution is passed within the period of one month beginning with the day of the making by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of its determination.
Where, in a case to which subsection (3) applies, a tax-varying resolution is passed after the beginning of the year of assessment to which it relates—
the resolution shall have effect as from the beginning of that year, and
all such payments, repayments, deductions and other adjustments shall be made as are required to restore the position to what it would have been if the resolution had been passed before the beginning of that year.
Standing orders shall ensure that only a member of the Scottish Executive may move a motion for a tax-varying resolution.
A tax-varying resolution shall not be passed so as to have effect in relation to any year of assessment before the year 2000-01.
Subsections (4) and (5) of section 73 apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the purposes of this Part a person is a Scottish taxpayer in relation to any year of assessment if—
he is an individual who, for income tax purposes, is treated as resident in the United Kingdom in that year, and
Scotland is the part of the United Kingdom with which he has the closest connection during that year.
For the purposes of this section an individual who is treated for income tax purposes as resident in the United Kingdom in any year of assessment has his closest connection with Scotland during that year if, but only if, one or more of the following paragraphs applies in his case—
he is an individual to whom subsection (3) applies for that year,
the number of days which he spends in Scotland in that year is equal to or exceeds the number of days in that year which he spends elsewhere in the United Kingdom,
he is an individual who, for the whole or any part of that year, is a member of Parliament for a constituency in Scotland, a member of the European Parliament for Scotland or a member of the Scottish Parliament.
This subsection applies to an individual for a year of assessment if—
he spends at least a part of that year in Scotland,
for at least a part of the time that he spends in Scotland in that year, his principal UK home is located in Scotland and he makes use of it as a place of residence, and
the times in that year when Scotland is where his principal UK home is located comprise (in aggregate) at least as much of that year as the times (if any) in that year when the location of his principal UK home is not in Scotland.
For the purposes of this section—
an individual spends a day in Scotland if, but only if, he is in Scotland at the end of that day, and
an individual spends a day elsewhere in the United Kingdom if, but only if, he is in the United Kingdom at the end of that day and it is not a day that he spends in Scotland.
For the purposes of this section an individual’s principal UK home at any time is located in Scotland if at that time—
he is an individual with a place of residence in Scotland, and
in the case of an individual with two or more places of residence in the United Kingdom, Scotland is the location of such one of those places as at that time is his main place of residence in the United Kingdom.
In this section “place” includes a place on board a vessel or other means of transport.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This section applies where—
there has been a proposal for the modification of any provision made by or under the Income Tax Acts,
that proposal is one made and published by the Treasury or the Board, or (without having been so made and published) appears to the Treasury to be a proposal to which effect is likely to be given by Act of Parliament, and
it appears to the Treasury that the proposed modification would have a significant effect on the practical extent for any year of assessment of the Parliament’s tax-varying powers.
It shall be the duty of the Treasury, as soon as reasonably practicable after the publication of the proposal, or (as the case may be) as soon as reasonably practicable after it first appears to the Treasury that the proposal is likely to be enacted, to lay before the House of Commons—
a statement of whether, in the Treasury’s opinion, an amendment of the Parliament’s tax-varying powers is required as a consequence of the proposal, and
if in their opinion an amendment of those powers is required, the Treasury’s proposals for amending those powers.
Any proposals for amending the Parliament’s tax-varying powers that are laid before the House of Commons by the Treasury under this section—
must be confined to income tax,
must appear to the Treasury to satisfy the conditions set out in subsections (4) and (5), and
must not contain any proposal for the Parliament’s tax-varying powers to be exercisable in relation to the taxation of income from savings or distributions.
The first condition mentioned in subsection (3)(b) is that the proposals would secure— that the practical extent of the Parliament’s tax-varying powers would remain broadly the same from year to year as it would be if (apart from any resolution of the Parliament) the law relating to income tax were the same from year to year as it was in relation to the year 1997-98.
so far as possible, and
after making due allowance for annual changes in the retail prices index,
The second condition so mentioned is that the proposals would not enable the Parliament’s tax-varying powers to be exercised for any year of assessment so as to have an effect on the levels of the after-tax income of Scottish taxpayers generally that would be significantly different from the effect their exercise could have had in any previous year of assessment.
References in this section to the practical extent of the Parliament’s tax-varying powers are references to the amounts of income tax for any year of assessment which appear to be or (as the case may be) to have been the maximum amounts capable of being raised and foregone in that year in pursuance of a resolution of the Parliament.
In this section “income from savings or distributions” means income which, had it been income for the year 1998-99, would have been income to which section 1A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applied for that year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where the basic rate for any year of assessment is increased for Scottish taxpayers by a resolution of the Parliament, it shall be the duty of the Board to pay amounts into the Scottish Consolidated Fund in accordance with this section.
The amounts of the payments to be made by the Board under this section, and the times at which they are to be made, shall be determined by the Board and notified to the Scottish Ministers as soon as reasonably practicable after the passing of the resolution providing for the increase to which they relate.
Any determination made by the Board under subsection (2) for any year of assessment shall be such as appears to the Board to be necessary for securing that, in the course of that year, amounts are paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund which are equal in total to the amount estimated by the Board to represent the proportion of the income tax receipts for that year that is properly attributable to a resolution of the Parliament.
For the purposes of this section the Board shall make and maintain arrangements as to—
the manner of estimating the proportion of the income tax receipts for a year of assessment that is properly attributable to a resolution of the Parliament,
the circumstances and manner in which an estimate of that proportion or of those receipts may be revised before or in the course of the year of assessment to which it relates,
the manner of determining the amount of each payment to be made in respect of any such estimate, and
the times at which, and manner in which, those amounts are to be paid by the Board into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Arrangements under subsection (4) may include provision for the making of adjustments to the amounts paid by the Board where any estimate made for the purposes of this section in respect of any year of assessment (whether the current year or a previous year) turns out to have been inaccurate.
Before making or modifying any arrangements under subsection (4) or (5), the Board shall consult with the Scottish Ministers.
In this section “income tax receipts”, in relation to any year of assessment, means so much as is referable to income tax charged for that year of any sums which, disregarding both— are sums that have to be paid into the Consolidated Fund under section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866 (gross revenues of Board’s department to be paid into that Fund after the making of specified deductions).
subsection (8), and
any regulations or direction made or given by the Treasury,
Sums required by the Board for making payments under this section shall be paid out of the gross revenues of the Board’s department; and, accordingly, those sums shall be treated as included in the amounts to be deducted from those revenues before they are paid into the Consolidated Fund under section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where the basic rate for any year of assessment is reduced for Scottish taxpayers by a resolution of the Parliament, payments to the Board in accordance with this section shall be charged on the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
The amounts of the payments to be made out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund under this section, and the times at which they are to be made, shall be determined by the Board and notified to the Scottish Ministers as soon as reasonably practicable after the passing of the resolution providing for the reduction to which they relate.
Any determination made by the Board under subsection (2) for any year of assessment shall be such as appears to the Board to be necessary for securing that in the course of that year amounts are paid to the Board which are equal in total to the amount estimated by the Board to represent the shortfall in income tax receipts for that year that is properly attributable to a resolution of the Parliament.
For the purposes of this section the Board shall make and maintain arrangements as to—
the manner of estimating the shortfall in income tax receipts for any year of assessment that is properly attributable to a resolution of the Parliament,
the circumstances and manner in which an estimate of that shortfall may be revised before or in the course of the year of assessment to which it relates,
the manner of determining the amount of each payment to be made in respect of any such estimate, and
the times at which, and manner in which, those amounts are to be paid to the Board.
Arrangements under subsection (4) may include provision for the making of adjustments to the amounts paid to the Board where any estimate made for the purposes of this section in respect of any year of assessment (whether the current year or a previous year) turns out to have been inaccurate.
Before making or modifying any arrangements under subsection (4) or (5), the Board shall consult with the Scottish Ministers.
In this section “income tax receipts” has the same meaning as in section 77.
The sums paid to the Board under this section shall be treated for the purposes of section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866 (payment, after the making of the specified deductions, of gross revenues into the Consolidated Fund) as comprised in their department’s gross revenues.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Treasury may by order make such modifications of any enactment as they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of—
the fact that the Parliament has, or is to have, the power to pass a tax-varying resolution, or
the fact (where it is the case) that the Parliament has passed such a resolution.
The Treasury may by order make provision—
excluding the operation of section 73(2) in relation to any enactment, and
making any such other modifications of any enactment as they consider necessary or expedient in connection with, or for the purposes of, any such exclusion.
Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by the preceding provisions of this section, an order under this section may provide that, where any tax-varying resolution relating to any year of assessment is passed, that resolution does not require any change in the amounts repayable or deductible under section 203 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (PAYE) between—
the beginning of that year, and
such day falling after the passing of the resolution as may be specified in the order.
An order under this section may, to the extent that the Treasury consider it to be appropriate, take effect retrospectively from the beginning of the year of assessment in which it is made.
In this section “tax-varying resolution” has the same meaning as in section 74.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Parliament shall make provision for the payment of salaries to members of the Parliament and members of the Scottish Government.
The Parliament may make provision for the payment of allowances to members of the Parliament or members of the Scottish Government.
The Parliament may make provision for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who—
has ceased to be a member of the Parliament or the Scottish Government, or
has ceased to hold such office, employment or other post in connection with the Parliament or the Scottish Government as the Parliament may determine but continues to be a member of the Parliament or the Scottish Government.
Such provision may, in particular, include provision for—
contributions or payments towards provision for such pensions, gratuities or allowances,
the establishment and administration (whether by the Parliamentary corporation or otherwise) of one or more pension schemes.
In this section “provision” includes provision— and references to a member of the Scottish Government include a junior Scottish Minister.
by an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or
by a resolution of the Parliament conferring functions on the Parliamentary corporation;
The Parliament shall ensure that the amount of salary payable to a member of the Parliament in accordance with section 81 is reduced if any salary is payable to him—
pursuant to a resolution (or combination of resolutions) of the House of Lords relating to the remuneration of members of that House, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Parliament shall ensure that the amount of salary is reduced—
to a particular proportion of what it would otherwise be or to a particular amount, or
by the amount of any salary payable to the member as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), by a particular proportion of that amount or by some other particular amount.
The Parliament is to make no payment of salary to a member of the Parliament in accordance with section 81(1) in respect of any period in which the member is or was also a member of the House of Commons.
Subsection (2A) does not apply to any salary payable to a member of the Parliament under section 81(1) in their capacity as—
the First Minister,
a Minister or junior Scottish Minister,
the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General for Scotland,
the Presiding Officer or a Deputy Presiding Officer.
The Parliament must ensure that the amount of salary payable to a member of the Parliament in accordance with section 81(1) is reduced by the amount specified in subsection (2D) if remuneration is also payable to the member in respect of the same period under regulations made under section 11(1) of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (“the 2004 Act”).
The amount of the reduction for the purposes of subsection (2C) is the amount specified as payable to a councillor (who is not designated the Leader of the Council, the Civic Head or a senior councillor) by regulations made under section 11(1) of the 2004 Act.
The Parliament shall ensure that information concerning sums paid as salaries, allowances, pensions or gratuities of the kind mentioned in section 81 is published for each financial year.
No payment of salary or allowances of the kind mentioned in section 81(1) or (2) shall be made to a person who is required by section 84 to take an oath unless he has done so.
Subsection (2) does not affect any entitlement to payments in respect of the period before the person concerned took the oath once he has done so.
For the purposes of sections 81 and 82, a person who is a member of the Parliament immediately before the Parliament is dissolved shall be treated—
if he continues to hold office by virtue of section 19(2) or paragraph 1 of Schedule 2, as if he were such a member until the end of the day on which he ceases to hold such office, and
if he does not fall within paragraph (a) but is nominated as a candidate at the subsequent general election, as if he were such a member until the end of the day on which the election is held.
Different provision may be made under section 81 or 82 for different cases.
A person who is returned as a member of the Parliament shall take the oath of allegiance (whether or not he has taken the oath after being returned on a previous occasion or otherwise than as a member of the Parliament).
He shall do so at a meeting of the Parliament and shall not take part in any other proceedings of the Parliament until he has done so.
If he has not done so within the period of two months beginning with the day on which he was returned, or such longer period as the Parliament may have allowed before the end of that period, he shall cease to be a member of the Parliament (so that his seat is vacant).
Each member of the Scottish Government shall on appointment—
take the official oath in the form provided by the Promissory Oaths Act 1868, and
take the oath of allegiance.
Each junior Scottish Minister shall on appointment take the oath of allegiance.
Subsections (4) and (5) do not require a member of the Parliament to take the oath of allegiance again if he has already done so in compliance with his duty as a member.
In this section, references to taking the oath of allegiance are to taking it in the form provided by the Promissory Oaths Act 1868.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In Part III of Schedule 1 to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 (persons excusable as of right from jury service), after the entries in Group A there is inserted—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (rules for redistribution of seats) is amended as follows.
Rule 1(2) (Scotland to have not less than 71 constituencies) is omitted.
After rule 3 there is inserted—; and in rule 4, for “3” there is substituted “3A”.
In applying rule 5 (electoral quotas for each part of the United Kingdom) to Scotland for the purposes of the first report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland to be submitted under section 3(1) of that Act after the commencement of this subsection, “electoral quota” means the number which, on the enumeration date in relation to that report, is the electoral quota for England.
In paragraph 7 (Commissions do not have to give full effect to all rules), after “rules” there is inserted “(except rule 3A)”.
Advocate General for Scotland
The validity of anything done in relation to the Advocate General is not affected by a vacancy in that office.
If that office is vacant or the Advocate General is for any reason unable to act, his functions shall be exercisable by such other Minister of the Crown as the Prime Minister may determine in writing.
Sections 53 and 118 to 121 shall not apply in relation to any function which is specifically exercisable in relation to a cross-border public authority; and section 118 shall not apply in relation to any function of such an authority.
A Minister of the Crown shall consult the Scottish Ministers before he exercises, in relation to a cross-border public authority, any specific function—
which relates to any appointment or removal of the cross-border public authority concerned or of any members or office-holders of the cross-border public authority concerned, or
whose exercise might affect Scotland otherwise than wholly in relation to reserved matters.
Any cross-border public authority or other person which is required by a pre-commencement enactment or a prerogative instrument to lay any report relating to a cross-border public authority before Parliament or either House of Parliament shall also lay the report before the Scottish Parliament.
Subsections (1) to (3) are subject to any Order in Council made under section 89.
In this Act “cross-border public authority” means any body, government department, office or office-holder specified in an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this section.
Such an Order may only specify a body, government department, office or office-holder which (at the time when the Order is made) has, in addition to other functions, functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland and do not relate to reserved matters.
In this section—
“office-holder” includes employee or other post-holder,
“work” and “at work” in that Part are to be taken to have the meaning they have on the principal appointed day;
that subject-matter includes– but does not include any other aspect of fire safety.
process fire precautions;
fire precautions in relation to petroleum and petroleum spirit; and
fire safety on . . . ships and hovercraft, in mines and on offshore installations; . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such provision in relation to a cross-border public authority as She considers necessary or expedient in consequence of this Act.
Such provision may, in particular, include provision—
modifying any function of a cross-border public authority or of a Minister of the Crown in relation to such an authority,
conferring any function on a cross-border public authority or on a Minister of the Crown or the Scottish Ministers in relation to such an authority,
modifying the constitution of a cross-border public authority,
modifying the application of section 56(4) or 88(1), (2) or (3),
for any function to be exercisable by the Scottish Ministers instead of by a Minister of the Crown, or by the one concurrently with the other, or by both jointly or by either with the agreement of or after consultation with the other,
apportioning any assets or liabilities,
imposing, or enabling the imposition of, any limits or other restrictions in addition to or in substitution for existing limits or restrictions,
providing for sums to be charged on or payable out of, or paid into, the Scottish Consolidated Fund (instead of or in addition to payments into or out of the Consolidated Fund or the National Loans Fund or out of money provided by Parliament),
requiring payments, with or without interest, to a Minister of the Crown or into the Consolidated Fund or National Loans Fund.
No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless the cross-border public authority concerned has been consulted.
This section applies if an Act of the Scottish Parliament provides for any functions of a cross-border public authority to be no longer exercisable in or as regards Scotland.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide—
for the transfer of any property to which this section applies, or
for any person to have such rights or interests in relation to any property to which this section applies as Her Majesty considers appropriate (whether in connection with a transfer or otherwise).
This section applies to property belonging to the cross-border public authority concerned which appears to Her Majesty—
to be held or used wholly or partly for or in connection with the exercise of any of the functions concerned, or
not to be within paragraph (a) but, when last held or used for or in connection with the exercise of any function, to have been so held or used for or in connection with the exercise of any of the functions concerned.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for the transfer of any liabilities—
to which the cross-border public authority concerned is subject, and
which appear to Her Majesty to have been incurred wholly or partly for or in connection with the exercise of any of the functions concerned.
No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless the cross-border public authority concerned has been consulted.
The Parliament shall make provision for the investigation of relevant complaints made to its members in respect of any action taken by or on behalf of—
a member of the Scottish Government in the exercise of functions conferred on the Scottish Ministers, or
any other office-holder in the Scottish Administration.
For the purposes of subsection (1), a complaint is a relevant complaint if it is a complaint of a kind which could be investigated under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 if it were made to a member of the House of Commons in respect of a government department or other authority to which that Act applies.
The Parliament may make provision for the investigation of complaints in respect of—
any action taken by or on behalf of an office-holder in the Scottish Administration,
any action taken by or on behalf of the Parliamentary corporation,
any action taken by or on behalf of a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, or
any action concerning Scotland and not relating to reserved matters which is taken by or on behalf of a cross-border public authority.
In making provision of the kind required by subsection (1), the Parliament shall have regard (among other things) to the Act of 1967.
Sections 53 and 117 to 121 shall not apply in relation to functions conferred by or under the Act of 1967.
In this section— and the references to the Act of 1967 are to that Act as it has effect on the commencement of this section.
“report” includes accounts and any statement.
There shall be a Queen’s Printer for Scotland who shall—
exercise the Queen’s Printer functions in relation to Acts of the Scottish Parliament and subordinate legislation (other than Scottish statutory instruments) to which this section applies, and
exercise any other functions conferred on her by this Act or any other enactment.
In subsection (1), “the Queen’s Printer functions” means the printing functions in relation to Acts of Parliament and subordinate legislation of the Queen’s Printer of Acts of Parliament.
The Queen’s Printer for Scotland shall also on behalf of Her Majesty exercise Her rights and privileges in connection with—
Crown copyright in Acts of the Scottish Parliament,
Crown copyright in subordinate legislation to which this section applies,
Crown copyright in any existing or future works (other than subordinate legislation) made in the exercise of a function which is exercisable by any office-holder in, or member of the staff of, the Scottish Administration (or would be so exercisable if the function had not ceased to exist),
other copyright assigned to Her Majesty in works made in connection with the exercise of functions by any such office-holder or member.
This section applies to subordinate legislation made, confirmed or approved—
by a member of the Scottish Government,
by a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, or
within devolved competence by a person other than a Minister of the Crown or such a member or authority.
The Queen’s Printer of Acts of Parliament shall hold the office of Queen’s Printer for Scotland.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
References in this Act to a Scottish public authority include the Queen’s Printer for Scotland.
If, following an alteration such as is mentioned in section 30(5)— the subordinate legislation is to be regarded for the purposes of this section as being made, confirmed or approved within devolved competence.
subordinate legislation is made, confirmed or approved under a provision which continues to have effect by virtue of section 30(6), and
the making, confirmation or approval would be within devolved competence but for the alteration,
A Minister of the Crown may make arrangements for any of his specified functions to be exercised on his behalf by the Scottish Ministers; and the Scottish Ministers may make arrangements for any of their specified functions to be exercised on their behalf by a Minister of the Crown.
An arrangement under this section does not affect a person’s responsibility for the exercise of his functions.
In this section— and this section applies to the Lord Advocate as it applies to the Scottish Ministers.
any accounts prepared in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) or (b), and
“property” includes rights and interests of any description,
“financial year” means a year ending with 31st March,
“specified” means specified in an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this subsection;
The collection and management of a devolved tax is a specified function of the Scottish Ministers.
This section applies where a pre-commencement enactment makes provision which has the effect of— and power to make, confirm or approve the order in question is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53.
requiring any order to be confirmed by Act of Parliament, or
requiring any order (within the meaning of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945) to be subject to special parliamentary procedure,
The provision shall have effect, so far as it relates to the exercise of the power to make, confirm or approve the order by virtue of section 53, as if it required the order—
to be confirmed by an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or
(as the case may be) to be subject to such special procedure as may be provided by or under such an Act.
It shall continue to be for the Prime Minister to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of a person as Lord President of the Court of Session or Lord Justice Clerk.
The Prime Minister shall not recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of any person who has not been nominated by the First Minister for such appointment.
Before nominating persons for such appointment the First Minister shall consult the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk (unless, in either case, the office is vacant).
It is for the First Minister, after consulting the Lord President, to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of a person as—
a judge of the Court of Session (other than the Lord President or the Lord Justice Clerk), or
a sheriff principal or a sheriff.
The First Minister shall comply with any requirement in relation to— imposed by virtue of any enactment.
a nomination under subsection (2), or
a recommendation under subsection (4),
A judge of the Court of Session and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court may be removed from office only by Her Majesty; and any recommendation to Her Majesty for such removal shall be made by the First Minister.
The First Minister shall make such a recommendation if (and only if) the Parliament, on a motion made by the First Minister, resolves that such a recommendation should be made.
Provision shall be made for a tribunal constituted by the First Minister to investigate and report on whether a judge of the Court of Session or the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is unfit for office by reason of inability, neglect of duty or misbehaviour and for the report to be laid before the Parliament.
Such provision shall include provision— and may include provision for suspension from office.
for the constitution of the tribunal by the First Minister when requested by the Lord President to do so and in such other circumstances as the First Minister thinks fit, and
for the appointment to chair the tribunal of a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council who holds or has held high judicial office,
The First Minister may make a motion under subsection (7) only if—
he has received from a tribunal constituted in pursuance of subsection (8) a written report concluding that the person in question is unfit for office by reason of inability, neglect of duty or misbehaviour and giving reasons for that conclusion,
where the person in question is the Lord President or the Lord Justice Clerk, he has consulted the Prime Minister, and
he has complied with any other requirement imposed by virtue of any enactment.
In subsections (8) to (10)—
“Advocate General” means the Advocate General for Scotland,
“ high judicial office ” has the meaning given by section 60 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,
The Treasury may require the Scottish Ministers to provide, within such period as the Treasury may reasonably specify, such information, in such form and prepared in such manner, as the Treasury may reasonably specify.
If the information is not in their possession or under their control, their duty under subsection (1) is to take all reasonable steps to comply with the requirement.
The Parliament may by resolution make provision for payments to be made to registered political parties for the purpose of assisting members of the Parliament who are connected with the parties to perform their Parliamentary duties.
A resolution under subsection (1) may—
confer functions on the Parliamentary corporation,
determine, or make provision for determining, the circumstances in which a member of the Parliament and a registered political party are to be regarded for the purposes of the resolution as connected,
make different provision for different purposes.
But such an Order may, in any circumstances specified in the Order, require the fact that any members who are connected with a party are also members of the Scottish Executive or junior Scottish Ministers to be disregarded.
Such an Order may determine the circumstances in which a member of the Parliament and a registered political party are to be regarded for the purposes of this section as connected.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has a right of access at any reasonable time to all Scottish public finances information which it may reasonably require for the purpose of the performance of its duty under section 4 of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (duty to examine and report on the sustainability of the public finances).
The Office is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any Scottish public finances information any assistance or explanation which the Office reasonably thinks necessary for that purpose.
“Scottish public finances information” means information held by the Scottish Ministers or by any Scottish public authority specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
This section is subject to any enactment or rule of law which operates to prohibit or restrict the disclosure of information or the giving of any assistance or explanation.
A Minister of the Crown must not exercise without the agreement of the Scottish Ministers functions relating to selection for a particular appointment by which—
a person is to become a member of the BBC Trust and hold a Scottish post, or
an existing member of the Trust is to hold a Scottish post.
“Scottish post” means a position, held as a member of the Trust, with specific reference to Scotland.
Schedule 6 (which makes provision in relation to devolution issues) shall have effect.
Rights and liabilities may arise between the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Crown in right of the Scottish Administration by virtue of a contract, by operation of law or by virtue of an enactment as they may arise between subjects.
Property and liabilities may be transferred between the Crown in one of those capacities and the Crown in the other capacity as they may be transferred between subjects; and they may together create, vary or extinguish any property or liability as subjects may.
Proceedings in respect of— may be instituted by the Crown in either capacity; and the Crown in the other capacity may be a separate party in the proceedings.
any property or liabilities to which the Crown in one of those capacities is entitled or subject under subsection (1) or (2), or
the exercise of, or failure to exercise, any function exercisable by an office-holder of the Crown in one of those capacities,
This section applies to a unilateral obligation as it applies to a contract.
In this section—
This Act does not enable a person— unless he would be a victim for the purposes of Article 34 of the Convention (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998) if proceedings in respect of the act were brought in the European Court of Human Rights.
to bring any proceedings in a court or tribunal on the ground that an act is incompatible with the Convention rights, or
to rely on any of the Convention rights in any such proceedings,
Subsection (1) does not apply to the Lord Advocate, the Advocate General, the Attorney General , the Advocate General for Northern Ireland or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
This Act does not enable a court or tribunal to award any damages in respect of an act which is incompatible with any of the Convention rights which it could not award if section 8(3) and (4) of the Human Rights Act 1998 applied.
... Subject to subsection (3D),in this section “act” means—
making any legislation,
any other act or failure to act, if it is the act or failure of a member of the Scottish Government.
Subsection (3B) applies to any proceedings brought by virtue of this Act against the Scottish Ministers or a member of the Scottish Government in a court or tribunal on the ground that an act of the Scottish Ministers or a member of the Scottish Government is incompatible with the Convention rights.
Proceedings to which this subsection applies must be brought before the end of— but that is subject to any rule imposing a stricter time limit in relation to the procedure in question.
the period of one year beginning with the date on which the act complained of took place, or
such longer period as the court or tribunal considers equitable having regard to all the circumstances,
Subsection (3B) does not apply to proceedings brought by the Lord Advocate, the Advocate General, the Attorney General, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland or the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
In subsections (3A) and (3B) “ act ” does not include the making of any legislation but it does include any other act or failure to act (including a failure to make legislation).
In subsection (3B) “ rule ” has the same meaning as it has in section 7(5) of the Human Rights Act 1998.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This section applies to— which could be read in such a way as to be outside competence.
any provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or of a Bill for such an Act, and
any provision of subordinate legislation made, confirmed or approved, or purporting to be made, confirmed or approved, by a member of the Scottish Government,
Such a provision is to be read as narrowly as is required for it to be within competence, if such a reading is possible, and is to have effect accordingly.
In this section “competence”—
in relation to an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or a Bill for such an Act, means the legislative competence of the Parliament, and
in relation to subordinate legislation, means the powers conferred by virtue of this Act.
This section applies where any court or tribunal decides that—
an Act of the Scottish Parliament or any provision of such an Act is not within the legislative competence of the Parliament, or
a member of the Scottish Government does not have the power to make, confirm or approve a provision of subordinate legislation that he has purported to make, confirm or approve , or
any other purported exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Government was outside devolved competence.
The court or tribunal may make an order—
removing or limiting any retrospective effect of the decision, or
suspending the effect of the decision for any period and on any conditions to allow the defect to be corrected.
In deciding whether to make an order under this section, the court or tribunal shall (among other things) have regard to the extent to which persons who are not parties to the proceedings would otherwise be adversely affected.
Where a court or tribunal is considering whether to make an order under this section, it shall order intimation of that fact to be given to— unless the person to whom the intimation would be given is a party to the proceedings.
the Lord Advocate, and
the appropriate law officer, where the decision mentioned in subsection (1) relates to a devolution issue (within the meaning of Schedule 6), or to a compatibility issue,
A person to whom intimation is given under subsection (4) may take part as a party in the proceedings so far as they relate to the making of the order.
Paragraphs 36 and 37 of Schedule 6 apply with necessary modifications for the purposes of subsections (4) and (5) as they apply for the purposes of that Schedule.
Where the decision mentioned in subsection (1) is a decision of the Supreme Court on a compatibility issue, the power to make an order under this section is exercisable by the High Court of Justiciary instead of the Supreme Court.
In this section—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any decision of the Judicial Committee in proceedings under this Act shall be stated in open court and shall be binding in all legal proceedings (other than proceedings before the Committee).
No member of the Judicial Committee shall sit and act as a member of the Committee in proceedings under this Act unless he holds or has held—
the office of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, or
high judicial office as defined in section 25 of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 (ignoring for this purpose section 5 of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1887).
Her Majesty may by Order in Council—
confer on the Judicial Committee in relation to proceedings under this Act such powers as Her Majesty considers necessary or expedient,
apply the Judicial Committee Act 1833 in relation to proceedings under this Act with exceptions or modifications,
make rules for regulating the procedure in relation to proceedings under this Act before the Judicial Committee.
In this section “proceedings under this Act” means proceedings on a question referred to the Judicial Committee under section 33 or proceedings under Schedule 6.
The Treasury may make a scheme transferring on the transfer date all the existing Scottish functions of the Crown Estate Commissioners (“ the Commissioners ”) to the Scottish Ministers or a person nominated by the Scottish Ministers (“ the transferee ”).
The existing Scottish functions are the Commissioners' functions relating to the part of the Crown Estate that, immediately before the transfer date, consists of—
property, rights or interests in land in Scotland, excluding property, rights or interests mentioned in subsection (3), and
rights in relation to the Scottish zone.
Where immediately before the transfer date part of the Crown Estate consists of property, rights or interests held by a limited partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907, subsection (2)(a) excludes—
the property, rights or interests, and
any property, rights or interests in, or in a member of, a partner in the limited partnership.
Functions relating to rights within subsection (2)(b) are to be treated for the purposes of this Act as exercisable in or as regards Scotland.
The property, rights and interests to which the existing Scottish functions relate must continue to be managed on behalf of the Crown.
That does not prevent the disposal of property, rights or interests for the purposes of that management.
Subsection (5) also applies to property, rights or interests acquired in the course of that management (except revenues to which section 1(2) of the Civil List Act 1952 applies).
The property, rights and interests to which subsection (5) applies must be maintained as an estate in land or as estates in land managed separately (with any proportion of cash or investments that seems to the person managing the estate to be required for the discharge of functions relating to its management).
The scheme may specify any property, rights or interests that appear to the Treasury to fall within subsection (2)(a) or (b), without prejudice to the functions transferred by the scheme.
The scheme must provide for the transfer to the transferee of designated rights and liabilities of the Commissioners in connection with the functions transferred.
The scheme must include provision to secure that the employment of any person in Crown employment (within the meaning of section 191 of the Employment Rights Act 1996) is not adversely affected by the transfer.
The scheme must include such provision as the Treasury consider necessary or expedient—
in the interests of defence or national security,
in connection with access to land for the purposes of telecommunications, or with other matters falling within Section C10 in Part 2 of Schedule 5,
for securing that the management of property, rights or interests to which subsection (5) applies does not conflict with the exploitation of resources falling within Section D2 in Part 2 of Schedule 5, or with other reserved matters in connection with their exploitation, and
for securing consistency, in the interests of consumers, in the management of property, rights or interests to which subsection (5) applies and of property, rights or interests to which the Commissioners' functions other than the existing Scottish functions relate, so far as it affects the transmission or distribution of electricity or the provision or use of electricity interconnectors.
Any transfer by the scheme is subject to any provision under subsection (12).
The scheme may include—
incidental, supplemental and transitional provision;
consequential provision, including provision amending an enactment, instrument or other document;
provision conferring or imposing a function on any person including any successor of the transferee;
provision for the creation of new rights or liabilities in relation to the functions transferred.
On the transfer date, the existing Scottish functions and the designated rights and liabilities are transferred and vest in accordance with the scheme.
A certificate by the Treasury that anything specified in the certificate has vested in any person by virtue of the scheme is conclusive evidence for all purposes.
The Treasury may make a scheme under this section only with the agreement of the Scottish Ministers.
The power to make a scheme under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument.
The power to amend the scheme is exercisable so as to provide for an amendment to have effect from the transfer date.
In this section—
Subordinate legislation may make such provision as the person making the legislation considers necessary or expedient in consequence of any provision made by or under any Act of the Scottish Parliament or made by legislation mentioned in subsection (2).
The legislation is subordinate legislation under an Act of Parliament made by—
a member of the Scottish Government,
a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, or
any other person (not being a Minister of the Crown) if the function of making the legislation is exercisable within devolved competence.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subordinate legislation may make such modifications in any pre-commencement enactment or prerogative instrument or any other instrument or document as appear to the person making the legislation necessary or expedient in consequence of this Act.
Subordinate legislation may make such provision (including, in particular, provision modifying a function exercisable by a Minister of the Crown) as the person making the legislation considers appropriate for the purpose of enabling or otherwise facilitating the transfer of a function to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 or 63.
Subordinate legislation under subsection (1) may, in particular, provide for any function which—
is not exercisable separately in or as regards Scotland to be so exercisable, or
is not otherwise exercisable separately within devolved competence to be so exercisable.
The reference in subsection (1) to the transfer of a function to the Scottish Ministers shall be read as including the sharing of a function with the Scottish Ministers or its other adaptation.
No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make, and no Minister of the Crown shall make, subordinate legislation under this section which modifies a function of observing or implementing an obligation mentioned in subsection (5) unless the Scottish Ministers have been consulted about the modification.
The obligation is an international obligation, or an assimilated obligation, to achieve a result defined by reference to a quantity (whether expressed as an amount, proportion or ratio or otherwise), where the quantity relates to the United Kingdom (or to an area including the United Kingdom or to an area consisting of a part of the United Kingdom which includes the whole or part of Scotland).
If subordinate legislation under this section modifies a function of observing or implementing such an international obligation so that the function to be transferred to the Scottish Ministers relates only to achieving so much of the result to be achieved under the obligation as is specified in the legislation, references in section 58 to the international obligation are to be read as references to the requirement to achieve that much of the result.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subordinate legislation may make such provision as the person making the legislation considers necessary or expedient in consequence of—
an Act of the Scottish Parliament or any provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament which is not, or may not be, within the legislative competence of the Parliament, or
any purported exercise by a member of the Scottish Government of his functions which is not, or may not be, an exercise or a proper exercise of those functions.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for any functions exercisable by a member of the Scottish Government to be exercisable—
by a Minister of the Crown instead of by the member of the Scottish Government,
by a Minister of the Crown concurrently with the member of the Scottish Government, or
by the member of the Scottish Government only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, a Minister of the Crown.
Where an Order is made under subsection (1)(a) or (b) in relation to a function of the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate which is exercisable only with the agreement of, or after consultation with, any other of those persons, the function shall, unless the Order provides otherwise, be exercisable by the Minister of the Crown free from any such requirement.
An Order under this section may, in particular, provide for any function exercisable by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of an Order under subsection (1)(a) or (b) to be exercisable subject to a requirement for the function to be exercised with the agreement of, or after consultation with, another person.
This section does not apply to any retained functions of the Lord Advocate which fall within section 52(6)(a).
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide—
for the transfer to a Minister of the Crown or government department of any property belonging to the Scottish Ministers or the Lord Advocate, or
for a Minister of the Crown or government department to have such rights or interests in relation to any property belonging to the Scottish Ministers or the Lord Advocate as Her Majesty considers appropriate (whether in connection with a transfer or otherwise).
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for the transfer to a Minister of the Crown or government department of any liabilities to which the Scottish Ministers or the Lord Advocate are subject.
An Order in Council under this section may only be made in connection with any transfer or sharing of functions of a member of the Scottish Government by virtue of section 108 or in any other circumstances in which Her Majesty considers it appropriate to do so for the purposes of this Act.
The Secretary of State may by order provide for individuals of any description specified in the order to be treated for the purposes of any of the matters that are reserved matters by virtue of Head F of Part II of Schedule 5 as if they were, or were not, Scottish taxpayers.
The Secretary of State may by order provide in relation to any year of assessment that, for those purposes, the basic rate in relation to the income of Scottish taxpayers shall be treated as being such rate as is specified in the order (instead of the rate increased or reduced for that year by virtue of any resolution of the Parliament in pursuance of section 73 passed after the beginning of the year).
An order under this section may apply in respect of any individuals whether Scotland is the part of the United Kingdom with which they have the closest connection or not.
In this section “Scottish taxpayer” has the same meaning as in Part IV.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for or in connection with the conservation, management and exploitation of salmon, trout, eels, lampreys, smelt, shad and freshwater fish in the Border rivers.
An Order under subsection (1) may—
exclude the application of section 53 in relation to any Border rivers function,
confer power to make subordinate legislation.
In particular, provision may be made by such an Order—
conferring any function on a Minister of the Crown, the Scottish Ministers or a public body in relation to the Border rivers,
for any Border rivers function exercisable by any person to be exercisable instead by a person (or another person) mentioned in paragraph (a),
for any Border rivers function exercisable by any person to be exercisable concurrently or jointly with, or with the agreement of or after consultation with, a person (or another person) mentioned in paragraph (a).
In this section— and references to the Border rivers include any part of the Border rivers.
“intimation” includes notice,
“proceedings”, in relation to the Parliament, includes proceedings of any committee or sub-committee,
An Order under subsection (1) may modify the definitions in subsection (4) of the River Tweed and the River Esk.
An Order under subsection (1) may amend that subsection so as to—
add any description of fish to it, or
remove any description of fish from it.
The Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers before—
establishing a renewable electricity incentive scheme that applies in Scotland, or
amending such a scheme as it relates to Scotland.
Subsection (1) does not apply to amendments that appear to the Secretary of State to be minor or made only for technical or administrative reasons; and the Secretary of State is not to be taken to establish or amend a scheme by exercising a power under a scheme, other than a power that is exercisable subject to any parliamentary procedure.
Subsection (1) does not require the Secretary of State to consult the Scottish Ministers about any levy in connection with a renewable electricity incentive scheme.
In this section a “renewable electricity incentive scheme” means any scheme, whether statutory or otherwise, that provides an incentive to generate, or facilitate the generation of, electricity from sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel. This includes provision made by or under the following so far as they relate to the generation of electricity from sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel—
sections 6 to 26 of the Energy Act 2013 (contracts for difference);
sections 41 to 43 of the Energy Act 2008 (feed-in tariffs for small-scale generation of electricity);
sections 32 to 32Z2 of the Electricity Act 1989 (renewables obligations or certificate purchase obligations).
Where, before the commencement of this section, the Secretary of State has consulted, or is consulting, the Scottish Ministers regarding a renewable electricity incentive scheme, that consultation is to be treated as fulfilling the obligation in subsection (1).
Any power to make subordinate legislation conferred by this Act shall, if no other provision is made as to the person by whom the power is exercisable, be exercisable by Her Majesty by Order in Council or by a Minister of the Crown by order.
But the power to make subordinate legislation under section 129(1) providing— shall be exercisable only by Her Majesty by Order in Council.
for the appropriation of sums forming part of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, or
for sums received by any person to be appropriated in aid of sums appropriated as mentioned in paragraph (a),
References in this Act to an open power are to a power to which subsection (1) applies (and include a power to make subordinate legislation under section 129(1) whether or not the legislation makes provision as mentioned in subsection (2)).
An Order in Council under an open power may revoke, amend or re-enact an order, as well as an Order in Council, under the power; and an order under an open power may revoke, amend or re-enact an Order in Council, as well as an order, under the power.
Any power to make subordinate legislation conferred by this Act shall, in relation to its exercise by a Minister of the Crown or a member of the Scottish Government, be exercisable by statutory instrument.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
References in this section to a power are to an open power and to any other power to make subordinate legislation conferred by this Act which is exercisable by Her Majesty in Council or by a Minister of the Crown, and include a power as extended by this section.
A power may be exercised so as to make different provision for different purposes.
Subsections (2) to (11), except subsection (9), apply also to the power of the Scottish Ministers to make an order under section 12 or regulations under section 12B.
A power (as well as being exercisable in relation to all cases to which it extends) may be exercised in relation to—
those cases subject to specified exceptions, or
any particular case or class of case.
A power includes power to make— which the person making the legislation considers necessary or expedient.
any supplementary, incidental or consequential provision, and
any transitory, transitional or saving provision,
A power may be exercised by modifying— if the subordinate legislation (or a statutory instrument containing it) would be subject to any of the types of procedure referred to in Schedule 7.
any enactment or prerogative instrument,
any other instrument or document,
But a power to modify enactments does not (unless otherwise stated) extend to making modifications of this Act or subordinate legislation under it.
A power may be exercised so as to make provision for the delegation of functions.
A power includes power to make provision for sums to be payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund or charged on the Fund.
A power includes power to make provision for the payment of sums out of money provided by Parliament or for sums to be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund.
In relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the specified penalties are—
where the offence is tried summarily, imprisonment for a period exceeding the prescribed term and a fine exceeding—
in the case of a summary offence, level 5 on the standard scale,
in the case of an offence triable either way, the statutory maximum,
where the offence is tried on indictment, imprisonment for a period exceeding two years.
The fact that a power is conferred does not prejudice the extent of any other power.
A power may not be exercised so as to create any criminal offence punishable with any of the penalties specified for the offence in subsection (9B) or (10).
In relation to Scotland, the specified penalties are—
where the offence is triable on summary complaint only, imprisonment for a period exceeding 12 months and a fine exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
where an offence triable either on indictment or on summary complaint is tried on summary complaint, imprisonment for a period exceeding 12 months and a fine exceeding the statutory maximum,
where the offence is tried on indictment, imprisonment for a period exceeding two years.
In subsection (10)(a), “the prescribed term” means—
in relation to England and Wales, where the offence is a summary offence, 51 weeks;
in relation to England and Wales, where the offence is triable either way, the general limit in a magistrates’ court;
in relation to ... Northern Ireland, three months.
If a power— the power must also be exercised so as to provide that, in relation to an offence committed before the day referred to in paragraph (b)(ii), any reference in the relevant provision to a term of imprisonment of more than 6 months is to be read as a reference to a term of imprisonment of 6 months.
is exercised so as to make provision for a summary offence under the law of England and Wales to be punishable with imprisonment for more than 6 months (“the relevant provision”) and
is so exercised—
on or after 2 May 2022, but
before the day on which section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force,
Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend subsection (9B) or (10) so as to change—
any period of imprisonment specified there, or
the amount of any fine so specified.
A power to make subordinate legislation conferred by any of the following provisions of this Act may be exercised by modifying any enactment comprised in or made under this Act (except Schedules 4 and 5): sections 12B, 66(5), 89, 104, 107, 108 and 129(1).
The reference in subsection (1) to a power to make subordinate legislation includes a power as extended by section 113.
A power to make subordinate legislation conferred by any of the following provisions of this Act may be exercised so as to make provision having retrospective effect: sections 30, 58(4), 104 and 107.
Schedule 7 (which determines the procedure which is to apply to subordinate legislation under this Act in relation to each House of Parliament and the Scottish Parliament) shall have effect.
In spite of the fact that that Schedule provides for subordinate legislation under a particular provision of this Act (or the statutory instrument containing it) to be subject to any type of procedure in relation to the Parliament, the provision conferring the power to make that legislation may be brought into force at any time after the passing of this Act.
Accordingly, any subordinate legislation (or the statutory instrument containing it) made in the exercise of the power in the period beginning with that time and ending immediately before the principal appointed day is to be subject to such other type of procedure (if any) as may be specified in subordinate legislation made under section 129(1).
This section applies in relation to subordinate legislation under section 60, 62, 90 or 109 or paragraph 2 of Schedule 2.
Any such subordinate legislation may, in particular—
provide for the creation of rights or interests, or the imposition of liabilities or conditions, in relation to property transferred, or rights or interests acquired, by virtue of such legislation,
provide for any property, liabilities or conditions to be determined under such legislation,
make provision (other than provision imposing a charge to tax) as to the tax treatment of anything done by virtue of such legislation.
No order shall be made by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of subsection (2)(c), and no recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order in Council by virtue of subsection (2)(c), without the agreement of the Treasury.
Subordinate legislation to which this section applies shall have effect in relation to any property or liabilities to which it applies despite any provision (of whatever nature) which would otherwise prevent, penalise or restrict the transfer of the property or liabilities.
A right of pre-emption, right of irritancy, right of return or other similar right shall not operate or become exercisable as a result of any transfer of property by virtue of any subordinate legislation to which this section applies.
Any such right shall have effect in the case of any such transfer as if the transferee were the same person in law as the transferor and as if no transfer of the property had taken place.
Such compensation as is just shall be paid to any person in respect of any such right which would, apart from subsection (5), have operated in favour of, or become exercisable by, that person but which, in consequence of the operation of that subsection, cannot subsequently operate in his favour or (as the case may be) become exercisable by him.
Any compensation payable by virtue of subsection (7) shall be paid by the transferor or by the transferee or by both.
Subordinate legislation under this subsection may provide for the determination of any disputes as to whether and, if so, how much, compensation is payable by virtue of subsection (7) and as to the person to whom or by whom it shall be paid.
Subsections (4) to (9) apply in relation to the creation of rights or interests, or the doing of anything else, in relation to property as they apply in relation to a transfer of property; and references to the transferor and transferee shall be read accordingly.
A certificate issued by the Secretary of State that any property or liability has, or has not, been transferred by virtue of subordinate legislation under section 60 or 62 or paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 shall be conclusive evidence of the transfer or (as the case may be) the fact that there has not been a transfer.
A certificate issued by the Secretary of State and the Scottish Ministers that any property or liability has, or has not, been transferred by virtue of an Order in Council under section 90 or 109 shall be conclusive evidence of the transfer or (as the case may be) the fact that there has not been a transfer.
In this section “right of return” means any right under a provision for the return or reversion of property in specified circumstances.
So far as may be necessary for the purpose or in consequence of the exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Government within devolved competence, any pre-commencement enactment or prerogative instrument, and any other instrument or document, shall be read as if references to a Minister of the Crown (however described) were or included references to the Scottish Ministers.
Subsection (2) applies in relation to the exercise by a member of the Scottish Government within devolved competence of a function to make, confirm or approve subordinate legislation.
If a pre-commencement enactment makes provision— the provision shall have effect, so far as it relates to the exercise of the function by a member of the Scottish Government within devolved competence, as if any reference in it to Parliament or either House of Parliament were a reference to the Scottish Parliament.
for any instrument or the draft of any instrument made in the exercise of such a function to be laid before Parliament or either House of Parliament,
for the annulment or approval of any such instrument or draft by or in pursuance of a resolution of either or both Houses of Parliament, or
prohibiting the making of such an instrument without that approval,
Where— the provision shall have effect, so far as it relates to the exercise of the function by that authority, as if any reference in it to Parliament or either House of Parliament were a reference to the Scottish Parliament.
a function of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation conferred by a pre-commencement enactment is exercisable by a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, and
a pre-commencement enactment makes such provision in relation to the exercise of the function as is mentioned in subsection (2),
Where— the provision shall have effect, so far as it relates to the exercise of the function by that person within devolved competence, as if any reference in it to Parliament or either House of Parliament were a reference to the Scottish Parliament.
a function of making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation conferred by a pre-commencement enactment is exercisable within devolved competence by a person other than a Minister of the Crown, a member of the Scottish Government or a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, and
a pre-commencement enactment makes such provision in relation to the exercise of the function as is mentioned in subsection (2),
If a pre-commencement enactment applies the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 as if a function of the kind mentioned in subsection (3) or (4) were exercisable by a Minister of the Crown, that Act shall apply, so far as the function is exercisable as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) or (as the case may be) (4), as if the function were exercisable by the Scottish Ministers.
In this section “Scottish functions” means—
functions of the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate which are exercisable within devolved competence,
functions of any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions.
Subject to subsections (3) and (5), a provision of a pre-commencement enactment which— shall cease to have effect in relation to any Scottish functions.
requires or authorises the payment of any sum out of the Consolidated Fund or money provided by Parliament, or
requires or authorises the payment of any sum into the Consolidated Fund,
A provision of a pre-commencement enactment which— shall have effect in relation to any Scottish functions as if it provided for the sum to be charged on the Scottish Consolidated Fund or required it to be paid out of that Fund without further approval or required or authorised it to be paid into that Fund (as the case may be).
charges any sum on the Consolidated Fund,
requires the payment of any sum out of the Consolidated Fund without further appropriation, or
requires or authorises the payment of any sum into the Consolidated Fund by a person other than a Minister of the Crown,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A provision of a pre-commencement enactment which authorises any sums to be applied as money provided by Parliament instead of being paid into the Consolidated Fund shall have effect in relation to any Scottish functions as if it authorised those sums to be applied as if they had been paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund in accordance with rules under section 65(1)(c) instead of being paid into that Fund.
Where a power to lend money under a pre-commencement enactment is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers, subsection (7) applies to any sums which, for the purpose or as the result of the exercise of the power, would be required (apart from that subsection)—
to be issued by the Treasury out of the National Loans Fund, or
to be paid into that Fund.
Those sums shall instead— (as the case may be).
be paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund without further approval, or
be paid into that Fund,
A provision of a pre-commencement enactment which— shall have effect in relation to any Scottish functions (within the meaning of section 119) as if the references to the Comptroller and Auditor General were to the Auditor General for Scotland.
requires any account to be examined, certified and reported on by, or to be open to the inspection of, the Comptroller and Auditor General, or
requires him to have access to any other document for carrying out any such examination,
This section applies where—
a pre-commencement enactment makes provision for any report to be laid before Parliament or either House of Parliament, and
the report concerns Scottish functions.
If the report only concerns Scottish functions, it shall be laid instead before the Scottish Parliament.
In any other case, it shall be laid before the Scottish Parliament as well as before Parliament or (as the case may be) either House of Parliament.
In this section—
In any provision about the application of any pre-commencement enactment to Crown land—
references to a Minister of the Crown or government department shall be read as including the Scottish Ministers and the Lord Advocate, and
references to a Minister of the Crown or government department having the management of the land shall be read as including any member of the Scottish Government having the management of the land.
In this section, “Crown land” has the meaning given by section 242 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
In section 55 of the Finance Act 1987 (Crown exemption from stamp duty) references to a Minister of the Crown shall be read as including the Scottish Ministers, the Lord Advocate and the Parliamentary corporation.
Subordinate legislation may provide for any provision of sections 94 and 117 to 122 not to apply, or to apply with modifications, in such cases as the person making the legislation considers appropriate.
Subordinate legislation made by Her Majesty in Council or a Minister of the Crown under this Act may, in connection with any other provision made by the legislation, also provide for any provision of sections 94 and 117 to 122 not to apply, or to apply with modifications.
Schedule 8 (which makes modifications of enactments) shall have effect.
The enactments mentioned in Schedule 9 are repealed to the extent specified in that Schedule.
In this Act—
“the principal appointed day” means the day appointed by an order under section 130 which is designated by the order as the principal appointed day,
“Food” has the same meaning as it has in Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (as at 7th December 2004).
The reference to the subject-matter of section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 is to be construed as a reference to it as at 7th December 2004 (and, accordingly, paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to that reference).
Her Majesty may by Order in Council determine, or make provision for determining, for the purposes of this Act any boundary between waters which are to be treated as internal waters or territorial sea of the United Kingdom, or sea within British fishery limits, adjacent to Scotland and those which are not.
For the purposes of this Act—
the question whether any function of a body, government department, office or office-holder relates to reserved matters is to be determined by reference to the purpose for which the function is exercisable, having regard (among other things) to the likely effects in all the circumstances of any exercise of the function, but
bodies to which paragraph 3 of Part III of Schedule 5 applies are to be treated as if all their functions were functions which relate to reserved matters.
References in this Act to Scots private law are to the following areas of the civil law of Scotland— and include references to judicial review of administrative action.
the general principles of private law (including private international law),
the law of persons (including natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated bodies),
the law of obligations (including obligations arising from contract, unilateral promise, delict, unjustified enrichment and negotiorum gestio),
the law of property (including heritable and moveable property, trusts and succession), and
the law of actions (including jurisdiction, remedies, evidence, procedure, diligence, recognition and enforcement of court orders, limitation of actions and arbitration),
References in this Act to Scots criminal law include criminal offences, jurisdiction, evidence, procedure and penalties and the treatment of offenders.
References in this Act and in any other enactment to the Scottish Administration are to the office-holders in the Scottish Administration and the members of the staff of the Scottish Administration.
For the purposes of this Act—
references to office-holders in the Scottish Administration are to—
members of the Scottish Government and junior Scottish Ministers, and
the holders of offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, and
references to members of the staff of the Scottish Administration are to the staff of the persons referred to in paragraph (a).
For the purposes of this Act, the offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices are—
the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, and
any other office of a description specified in an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this subsection.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
all those rights, powers, liabilities, obligations and restrictions from time to time created or arising by or under the Community Treaties, and
all those remedies and procedures from time to time provided for by or under the Community Treaties,
In this Act, “international obligations” means any international obligations of the United Kingdom other than obligations to observe and implement ... the Convention rights.
In this Act, “by virtue of” includes “by” and “under”.
In this Act, the expressions listed in the left-hand column have the meaning given by, or are to be interpreted in accordance with, the provisions listed in the right-hand column. Expression Provision of this Act Act of the Scottish Parliament Section 28(1) Advocate General Section 32(4) Auditor General for Scotland Section 69 Body Section 126(1) By virtue of Section 126(11) Clerk, and Assistant Clerk Section 20 and paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 . . . . . . Constituencies and constituency member Section 126(1) The Convention rights Section 126(1) Cross-border public authority Section 88(5) Devolved competence (in relation to the exercise of functions) Section 54 Devolved tax Section 80A(4) Document Section 126(1) Enactment Sections 113(6) and 126(1) Financial year Section 126(1) Functions Section 126(1) Government department Section 126(1) The Human Rights Convention Section 126(1) International obligations Section 126(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legislative competence Section 29 Member of the Scottish Government Section 44(1) Members of the staff of the Scottish Administration Section 126(7) Minister of the Crown Section 126(1) Modify Section 126(1) Occupational pension scheme, personal pension scheme and public service pension scheme Section 126(1) Office-holders in the Scottish Administration Section 126(7) Offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices Section 126(8) Open power Section 112(3) The Parliament Section 126(1) “parliamentary” (in relation to constituencies, elections and electors) Section 126(1) The Parliamentary corporation Section 21(1) Pre-commencement enactment Section 53(3) Prerogative instrument Section 126(1) Presiding Officer Section 19 Principal appointed day Section 126(1) Proceedings Section 126(1) Property Section 126(1) Regional list (in relation to a party) Section 5(4) Regional returning officer Section 12(6) Regional vote Section 6(2) Regions and regional member Section 126(1) Registered political party Section 5(9) Reserved matters Schedule 5 Retained functions (in relation to the Lord Advocate) Section 52(6) Scotland Section 126(1) and (2) Scots criminal law Section 126(5) Scots private law Section 126(4) Scottish Administration Section 126(6) Scottish Ministers Section 44(2) Scottish public authority Section 126(1) Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part III of Schedule 5 Scottish Seal Section 2(6) The Scottish zone Section 126(1) Staff of the Parliament Paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 Standing orders Section 126(1) Subordinate legislation Section 126(1) Tribunal Section 126(1)
There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—
any expenditure incurred by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of this Act, and
any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment.
There shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund any sums received by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of this Act which are not payable into the National Loans Fund.
Subordinate legislation may make such provision as the person making the legislation considers necessary or expedient for transitory or transitional purposes in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.
If any of the following provisions come into force before the Human Rights Act 1998 has come into force (or come fully into force), the provision shall have effect until the time when that Act is fully in force as it will have effect after that time: sections 29(2)(d), 57(2) and (3), 100 and 126(1) and Schedule 6.
Sections 19 to 43, Parts II to V, sections 117 to 124 and section 125 (except so far as relating to paragraphs 10, 11, 19 and 23(1) and (6) of Schedule 8) shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint.
Different days may be appointed under this section for different purposes.
Section 25 extends only to Scotland.
This Act may be cited as the Scotland Act 1998.
In this Part—
Chapter 2 confers on the Scottish Parliament power to set a rate or rates of income tax to be paid by Scottish taxpayers, and
The remaining Chapters specify the taxes about which the Scottish Parliament may make provision in the exercise of the power conferred by section 28(1).
The power to make provision about a devolved tax is subject to the restrictions imposed by—
subsection (3), and
the other provisions of this Part.
A devolved tax may not be imposed where to do so would be incompatible with any international obligations.
In this Act “devolved tax” means a tax specified in this Part as a devolved tax.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend this Part so as to—
specify, as an additional devolved tax, a tax of any description, or
make any other modifications of the provisions relating to devolved taxes which She considers necessary or expedient.
An Order in Council under this section may also make such modifications of— as Her Majesty considers necessary or expedient in connection with other provision made by the Order.
any enactment or prerogative instrument (including any enactment comprised in or made under this Act), or
any other instrument or document,
The Scottish Parliament may by resolution (a “Scottish rate resolution”) set the Scottish basic rate, and any other rates, for the purposes of section 11A of the Income Tax Act 2007 (which provides for the income of Scottish taxpayers which is charged at those rates).
Where a Scottish rate resolution sets more than one rate it must also set limits or make other provision to enable it to be ascertained, for the purposes of that section, which rates apply in relation to a Scottish taxpayer.
If income tax is charged at Scottish rates on the non-savings income of a Scottish taxpayer for a tax year (within the meaning of section 11A of the Income Tax Act 2007), those rates are treated for income tax purposes as if they were— but, subject to that, a Scottish rate resolution may not provide for different rates to apply in relation to different types of income.
Scottish rates for all non-savings income other than property income which are set for the tax year at the same rates as the Scottish rates, and
separate Scottish rates for property income which are set for the tax year at the same rates as the Scottish rates,
In this Chapter a “Scottish rate” means a rate set by a Scottish rate resolution.
A Scottish rate resolution applies—
for only one tax year, and
for the whole of that year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Scottish rate must be a whole number or half a whole number , or zero.
A Scottish rate resolution—
must specify the tax year for which it applies,
must be made before the start of that tax year, and
must not be made more than 12 months before the start of that year.
If a Scottish rate resolution is cancelled before the start of the tax year for which it is to apply—
the Income Tax Acts have effect for that year as if the resolution had never been passed, and
the resolution may be replaced by another Scottish rate resolution.
Standing orders must provide that only a member of the Scottish Government may move a motion for a Scottish rate resolution.
For any tax year, a Scottish taxpayer is an individual (T)—
who is resident in the UK for income tax purposes for that year (see Schedule 45 to the Finance Act 2013), and
who, for that year, meets condition A, B or C.
T meets condition A if T has a close connection with Scotland (see section 80E).
T meets condition B if—
T does not have a close connection with England, Wales or Northern Ireland (see section 80E), and
T spends more days of that year in Scotland than in any other part of the UK (see section 80F).
T meets condition C if, for the whole or any part of the year, T is—
a member of Parliament for a constituency in Scotland, or
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a member of the Scottish Parliament.
Subsection (1) does not apply if T is a Welsh parliamentarian for the whole or any part of the year (see section 80DA).
For the purposes of subsection (4A) and section 80DA, T is a Welsh parliamentarian if T is a member as described in paragraph (a) or (c) of section 116E(4) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (definition of a Welsh taxpayer).
In this Chapter “the UK” means the United Kingdom.
An individual (T) who is a Welsh parliamentarian for the whole or any part of a tax year is a Scottish taxpayer for that tax year if—
T is resident in the UK for income tax purposes for that year (see Schedule 45 to the Finance Act 2013),
T meets condition C in section 80D for that year, and
T meets either of the following conditions for that year.
T meets the first condition if—
the number of days in that year on which T is a member as described in paragraph (a) or (c) of section 80D(4), exceeds
the number of days in that year on which T is a Welsh parliamentarian.
T meets the second condition if—
the number of days in that year mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) are the same, and
T meets condition A or B in section 80D for that year.
To find whether, for any year, T has a close connection with any part of the UK see—
subsection (2) (where T has only one place of residence in the UK), or
subsection (3) (where T has 2 or more places of residence in the UK).
T has a close connection with a part of the UK if in that year—
T has only one place of residence in the UK,
that place of residence is in that part of the UK, and
for at least part of the year, T lives at that place.
T has a close connection with a part of the UK if in that year—
T has 2 or more places of residence in the UK,
for at least part of the year, T's main place of residence in the UK is in that part of the UK,
the times in the year when T's main place of residence is in that part of the UK comprise (in aggregate) more of the year than the times when T's main place of residence is in each other part of the UK (considered separately), and
for at least part of the year, T lives at a place of residence in that part of the UK.
In this section “place” includes a place on board a vessel or other means of transport.
T spends more days of a year in Scotland than in any other part of the UK if (and only if) the number of days in the year on which T is in Scotland at the end of the day exceeds each of the following—
the number of days in the year on which T is in England at the end of the day;
the number of days in the year on which T is in Wales at the end of the day;
the number of days in the year on which T is in Northern Ireland at the end of the day.
T is treated as not being in the UK at the end of a day if—
on that day T arrives in the UK as a passenger,
T departs from the UK on the next day, and
during the time between arrival and departure T does not engage in activities which are to a substantial extent unrelated to T's passage through the UK.
The Treasury may by order modify section 11A of the Income Tax Act 2007 (income charged at Scottish rates) for the purpose of altering—
the definition of the income which is charged to income tax at Scottish rates, or
the application of the section in relation to a particular class of income which is so charged.
The Treasury may by order modify any enactment so as to make any provision that they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of or in connection with—
the powers of the Parliament under section 80C;
a Scottish rate resolution.
If the Treasury consider it necessary or expedient to do so, they may by order provide that— does not require any change in the amounts repayable or deductible under PAYE regulations between the beginning of that year and such later date as may be specified in the order.
provision made by a Scottish rate resolution for a tax year,
the absence of particular provision in a Scottish rate resolution for a tax year, or
the absence of a Scottish rate resolution for a tax year,
The Treasury may by order make such modifications of any enactment as they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of or in connection with an order under subsection (1), (1A) or (1B)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An order under this section may, to the extent that the Treasury consider it to be appropriate, take effect retrospectively from the beginning of the tax year in which the order is made.
The power under subsection (1) does not include power to provide that any income which is— is income which is charged to income tax at a rate provided for under section 11A of that Act.
savings income, or
dividend income which would otherwise be charged to income tax at a rate provided for under section 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007,
The Scottish Ministers may reimburse any Minister of the Crown or government department for administrative expenses incurred by virtue of this Chapter at any time after the passing of the Scotland Act 2012 by the Minister or department.
The Comptroller and Auditor General must for each financial year prepare a report on the matters set out in subsection (2).
Those matters are—
the adequacy of any of HMRC 's rules and procedures put in place, in consequence of the Scottish rate provisions, for the purpose of ensuring the proper assessment and collection of income tax charged at rates determined under those provisions,
whether the rules and procedures described in paragraph (a) are being complied with,
the correctness of the sums brought to account by HMRC which relate to income tax which is attributable to a Scottish rate resolution, and
the accuracy and fairness of the amounts which are reimbursed to HMRC under section 80H (having been identified by it as administrative expenses incurred as a result of the charging of income tax as mentioned in paragraph (a)).
The “Scottish rate provisions” are—
any provision made by or under this Chapter, and
any provision made by or under the Income Tax Acts relating to a Scottish rate.
A report under this section may also include an assessment of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which HMRC has used its resources in carrying out relevant functions.
“Relevant functions” are functions of HMRC in the performance of which HMRC incurs administrative expenses which are reimbursed to HMRC under section 80H (having been identified by it as administrative expenses incurred as a result of the charging of income tax as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)).
HMRC must give the Comptroller and Auditor General such information as the Comptroller and Auditor General may reasonably require for the purposes of preparing a report under this section.
A report prepared under this section must be laid before the Scottish Parliament not later than 31 January of the financial year following that to which the report relates.
In this section “HMRC” means Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
A tax charged on any of the following transactions is a devolved tax—
the acquisition of an estate, interest, right or power in or over land in Scotland;
the acquisition of the benefit of an obligation, restriction or condition affecting the value of any such estate, interest, right or power.
The tax may be chargeable—
whether or not there is any instrument effecting the transaction,
if there is such an instrument, regardless of where it is executed, and
regardless of where any party to the transaction is or is resident.
Tax may not be imposed under section 80I on so much of a transaction as relates to land below mean low water mark.
The following persons are not to be liable to pay a tax imposed under section 80I— Government A Minister of the Crown The Scottish Ministers A Northern Ireland department The Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales and the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government Parliament etc The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission The National Assembly for Wales Commission The National Assembly for Wales.
A tax charged on disposals to landfill made in Scotland is a devolved tax.
A disposal is a disposal to landfill if—
it is a disposal of material as waste, and
it is made by way of landfill.
A tax charged on the carriage of passengers by air from airports in Scotland is a devolved tax.
A tax which is charged on aggregate when it is subjected to commercial exploitation in Scotland is a devolved tax.
The tax must not be chargeable when aggregate is subjected to commercial exploitation for fuel.
Aggregate is subjected to commercial exploitation for fuel—
when the aggregate is used as fuel;
when the aggregate is subjected to commercial exploitation for the purpose of extracting or producing anything capable of being used as fuel;
when the aggregate becomes subject to an agreement to use it as mentioned in paragraph (a) or to subject it to commercial exploitation as mentioned in paragraph (b).
A tax to which subsection (2) applies is a devolved tax.
This subsection applies to taxes on the owners, occupiers or users of wild fisheries, or on the owners or occupiers of the right to fish in wild fisheries, to fund expenditure in respect of—
the conservation of freshwater fish and their habitats, or
the management or regulation of wild fisheries.
For the purposes of subsection (2)—
A tax to which subsection (2) applies is a devolved tax.
This subsection applies to a tax charged, for the purpose of meeting any building safety expenditure, in respect of—
an application made in connection with the building control process,
the issuing or submission of a document in connection with the building control process, or
the taking of any other step in connection with the building control process.
In subsection (2), “building safety expenditure” means expenditure incurred (whether before or after the coming into force of this section) for the purposes of improving the safety of persons in or about buildings in Scotland.
For the purposes of subsection (2), a thing is done in connection with the building control process if it is done in connection with ensuring that the design, construction, demolition or conversion of a relevant building or proposed relevant building complies with a statutory requirement that is designed to secure the safety of persons in or about buildings in Scotland.
In this section— “relevant building” means a building in Scotland consisting of or containing— one or more dwellings, or other accommodation, (and “accommodation” here includes temporary accommodation, for example in a hotel or hospital); “statutory requirement” means a requirement imposed by or under an Act of Parliament or an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The constituencies for the purposes of this Act are—
the Orkney Islands,
the Shetland Islands, and
the parliamentary constituencies in Scotland, except a parliamentary constituency including either of those islands.
There are to be 73 constituencies for the purposes of this Act. The constituencies are— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There shall be eight regions for the purposes of this Act. Those regions shall be the eight European Parliamentary constituencies which were provided for by the European Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 1996. Seven regional members shall be returned for each region. Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) are subject to any Order in Council under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (referred to in this Schedule as the 1986 Act), as that Act is extended by this Schedule.
There are to be eight regions for the purposes of this Act. The regions are the regions provided for by an Order in Council under paragraph 6. Seven regional members are to be returned for each region.
This paragraph applies where the Boundary Commission for Scotland (referred to in this Schedule as the Commission) submit a report to the Secretary of State under section 3(1) or (3) of the 1986 Act recommending any alteration in any parliamentary constituencies. In the report the Commission shall recommend any alteration— which, in their opinion, is required to be made in order to give effect to the rules in paragraph 7. If in the case of a report under section 3(1) or (3) of that Act the Commission do not make any recommendation within sub-paragraph (2), they shall in the report state that, in their opinion, no such alteration is required. A report making a recommendation for an alteration in any region shall state— The Commission shall lay any report recommending any alteration in parliamentary constituencies before the Parliament.
An Order in Council under section 4 of the 1986 Act which has the effect of making any alteration in any constituency of the Parliament, or makes any alteration within paragraph 3(2), may come into force for the purposes of any election for membership of the Parliament on a different day from the day on which it comes into force for the purposes of any parliamentary election; and paragraph 1(c) shall be read accordingly. The coming into force of such an Order, so far as it has the effect of making any alteration in any constituency of the Parliament or makes any alteration within paragraph 3(2), shall not affect the return of any member of the Parliament, or its constitution, until the Parliament is dissolved.
Boundaries Scotland must keep under review the boundaries of the constituencies (other than those mentioned in paragraph 1(2)(za), (a) and (b)). The review must be conducted in accordance with the constituency rules. Boundaries Scotland must submit to the Scottish Ministers a report— The first report of Boundaries Scotland to the Scottish Ministers under this paragraph must be submitted to the Scottish Ministers no later than 1 May 2025. Subsequent reports must be submitted not less than eight nor more than twelve years after the date of the submission of the last report. Boundaries Scotland may also from time to time ... submit to the Scottish Ministers reports with respect to the area comprised in any two or more constituencies showing the constituencies into which it recommends the area should be divided in order to give effect to the constituency rules. A report under sub-paragraph (6) must recommend the same number of constituencies as that in which the area is comprised. Boundaries Scotland may not submit to the Scottish Ministers— during the period of 18 months immediately preceding the date of the next ordinary general election for membership of the Parliament. A report of Boundaries Scotland which recommends an alteration to the boundaries of constituencies must state as respects each constituency— As soon as practicable after Boundaries Scotland have submitted a report to the Scottish Ministers under this paragraph the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Parliament — Sub-paragraph (9)(b) does not apply if the report states that no alteration is required to be made to the boundaries of the constituencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This paragraph applies if Boundaries Scotland submit a report to the Scottish Ministers recommending an alteration in a constituency. In the report Boundaries Scotland must recommend any alteration in any of the regions which it thinks is necessary to give effect to the regional rules. A report making a recommendation for an alteration in a region must recommend the name by which Boundaries Scotland think the region should be known.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The draft of an Order in Council laid before the Parliament by the Scottish Ministers for giving effect to the recommendations contained in a report by Boundaries Scotland under paragraph 3 may make provision for any matters which the Scottish Ministers think are incidental to or consequential on the recommendations. If the draft is approved by resolution of the Parliament the Scottish Ministers must submit it to Her Majesty in Council. If a motion for the approval of the draft is rejected by the Parliament or withdrawn ... the Scottish Ministers may amend the draft to make such minor or technical alterations as they consider appropriate and lay the amended draft before the Parliament. As soon as reasonably practicable after laying the draft so amended, the Scottish Ministers must publish a statement setting out their reasons for making the minor or technical alterations to the draft. The Scottish Ministers must not withdraw a draft Order laid before the Parliament under paragraph 3(9)(b) or sub-paragraph (3) except with the agreement of the Parliament. If the draft as so amended is approved by resolution of the Parliament the Scottish Ministers must submit it to Her Majesty in Council. If the Scottish Ministers do not lay an amended draft Order under sub-paragraph (3), the Scottish Ministers must notify Boundaries Scotland that it is required to conduct, in accordance with sub-paragraph (4B), a further review of the alterations proposed to the boundaries by the draft Order which was rejected or withdrawn. Once notified, Boundaries Scotland must conduct a further review of the proposed alterations and may determine the manner and the extent of the review, provided that the purpose of the review is to— This schedule applies to a further review under sub-paragraph (4B) as it applies to a review and report under paragraph 3 except that— A further review under sub-paragraph (4B) is to be disregarded for the purposes of calculating the intervals between reports of Boundaries Scotland under paragraph 3. If a draft of an Order in Council is submitted to Her Majesty in Council under this Schedule, Her Majesty in Council may make an order in terms of the draft. An Order in Council made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) comes into force on the date specified in the Order. The coming into force of the Order does not affect the return of any member to the Parliament or its constitution until the Parliament is dissolved. The validity of an Order in Council purporting to be made under this Schedule and reciting that a draft of the Order has been approved by a resolution of the Parliament must not be called in question in any legal proceedings whatsoever.
Boundaries Scotland may if it thinks fit cause a local inquiry to be held in respect of any constituency or constituencies. If Boundaries Scotland receive any relevant representations objecting to a proposed recommendation for the alteration of a constituency it must not make the recommendation unless since the publication of the notice under paragraph 7(2) a local inquiry has been held in respect of the constituency. If a local inquiry was held in respect of the constituency before the publication of the notice under paragraph 7(2), sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply if Boundaries Scotland after considering— think that a further local inquiry is not justified. A relevant representation is a representation made in accordance with paragraph 7(2)(b)—
Boundaries Scotland may if it thinks fit cause a local inquiry to be held in respect of any region or regions. If Boundaries Scotland receive any relevant representations objecting to a proposed recommendation for the alteration of a region it must not make the recommendation unless since the publication of the notice under paragraph 7(2) a local inquiry has been held in respect of the region. If a local inquiry was held in respect of the region before the publication of the notice under paragraph 7(2), sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply if Boundaries Scotland after considering— think that a further local inquiry is not justified. A relevant representation is a representation made in accordance with paragraph 7(2)(b)—
Section 210(4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) (attendance of witnesses at inquiries) applies in relation to a local inquiry held under paragraph 9 or 10.
If Boundaries Scotland intend to consider making a report under this Schedule— If Boundaries Scotland has provisionally determined to make recommendations affecting a constituency it must publish in such manner as it thinks fit a notice stating— Boundaries Scotland must take into account any representations made in accordance with the notice. If Boundaries Scotland revise any proposed recommendations after publishing notice of them under sub-paragraph (2) it must comply again with sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) in relation to the revised recommendations as if no earlier notice had been published. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A constituency shall fall wholly within a region.
The regional electorate of any region shall be as near the regional electorate of each of the other regions as is reasonably practicable having regard, where appropriate, to special geographical considerations.
So far as reasonably practicable, the ratio which the number of regional member seats bears to the number of constituency member seats shall be 56 to 73.
The number of regional member seats for a region shall be— If the total number of regional member seats is not exactly divisible by eight, the Commission shall calculate the difference between— and that is the number of residual seats to be allocated by the Commission. The Commission shall not allocate more than one residual seat for a region. The Commission shall divide the regional electorate for each region by the aggregate of— and, in allocating the residual seat or seats for a region or regions, shall have regard to the desirability of allocating the residual seat or seats to the region or regions for which that calculation produces the highest number or numbers.
one eighth of the total number of regional member seats, or
(if that total number is not exactly divisible by eight) either one eighth of the highest number which is less than that total number and exactly divisible by eight or the number produced by adding one to one eighth of that highest number (as provided by sub-paragraphs (2) to (4)).
This paragraph applies if Boundaries Scotland provisionally determine to make recommendations which would involve any alteration in a constituency. Boundaries Scotland must consider whether any alteration within paragraph 4(2) would be required in order to give effect to the regional rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paragraph 7 applies for the purposes of the proposed recommendations as if for any reference to a constituency there is substituted a reference to a region.
These are the constituency rules. Rule 1 (1) So far as is practicable, regard must be had to the boundaries of the local government areas having effect from time to time under section 1 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. ... Rule 2 (1) The electorate of a constituency must be as near the electoral quota as is practicable, having regard to Rule 1. (2) Boundaries Scotland may depart from the strict application of Rule 1 if it thinks that it is desirable to do so to avoid an excessive disparity between the electorate of a constituency and the electoral quota or between the electorate of a constituency and that of neighbouring constituencies. (3) The electoral quota is the number obtained by dividing the total electorate by 70. (4) The electorate of a constituency is the aggregate of the persons falling within paragraphs (5) and (6) below. (5) A person falls within this paragraph if his name appears on the register of local government electors in force on the enumeration date under the Representation of the People Acts for a local government area which is situated wholly in the constituency. (6) A person falls within this paragraph if his name appears on the register of local government electors in force on the enumeration date under the Representation of the People Acts for a local government area which is situated partly in the constituency and his qualifying address is situated in the constituency. (7) The total electorate is the total number of persons whose names appear on the registers of local government electors in force on the enumeration date under the Representation of the People Acts for all of the local government areas in Scotland (except the local government areas of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland). (8) The enumeration date is, in relation to a report of Boundaries Scotland ..., the date on which notice with respect to the report is published in the Edinburgh Gazette in accordance with paragraph 7(1) above. (9) “ Qualifying address ” and “ local government area ” have the same meanings as in the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2). Rule 3 Boundaries Scotland may depart from the strict application of Rules 1 and 2 if it thinks that special geographical considerations (including in particular the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency) render it desirable to do so. Rule 4 Boundaries Scotland need not aim at giving full effect in all circumstances to Rules 1 to 3 but it must take account (so far as it reasonably can)— (a) of the inconveniences attendant on alterations of constituencies other than alterations made for the purposes of Rule 1, and (b) of any local ties which would be broken by such alterations.
These are the regional rules. Rule 1 A constituency must fall wholly within a region. Rule 2 The regional electorate of a region must be as near the regional electorate of each of the other regions as is practicable, having regard (where appropriate) to special geographical considerations.
This paragraph applies for the purposes of the regional rules. For the purposes of a report of Boundaries Scotland in relation to a region, the regional electorate is the number of persons— The enumeration date is the date on which notice with respect to the report is published in the Edinburgh Gazette in accordance with paragraph 7(1) above. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 21.
A person appointed under section 21(2)(b) shall hold office until another member of the Parliament is appointed in his place unless he previously resigns, ceases to be a member of the Parliament otherwise than by virtue of a dissolution or is removed from office by resolution of the Parliament.
The corporation may hold property. Subordinate legislation may provide— Subordinate legislation under sub-paragraph (2) in relation to any property may provide for the transfer to the corporation of any liabilities relating to the property to which a Minister of the Crown or government department is subject and which subsist immediately before the subordinate legislation comes into force. Subordinate legislation under sub-paragraph (2) may only be made if the person making the legislation considers it appropriate to do so to enable the corporation to exercise its functions or to facilitate their exercise or in connection with their exercise or proposed exercise.
The corporation shall appoint Assistant Clerks and may appoint other staff. The Clerk and other persons appointed by the corporation are referred to in this Act as the staff of the Parliament. It is for the corporation to determine the terms and conditions of appointment of the staff of the Parliament, including arrangements for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who has ceased to be a member of the staff of the Parliament. In particular, the corporation may—
Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the corporation may do anything which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of or in connection with the discharge of its functions. That includes, in particular— The corporation may sell goods or provide services, and may make arrangements for the sale of goods or provision of services, to the public. The corporation may borrow sums in sterling by way of overdraft or otherwise for the purpose of meeting a temporary excess of expenditure over sums otherwise available to meet that expenditure. The corporation may borrow money only under sub-paragraph (4) and may borrow under that sub-paragraph only in accordance with the special or general approval of the Parliament.
The corporation may delegate any of its functions to the Presiding Officer or the Clerk.
The validity of any act of the corporation shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members, or by any defect in the appointment, or qualification for membership, of any member. The corporation may determine its own procedure. The Presiding Officer shall preside at meetings of the corporation, but the corporation may appoint another of its members to preside if the office of Presiding Officer is vacant or the Presiding Officer is for any reason unable to act.
Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for the corporation to be treated to any extent as a Crown body for the purposes of any enactment. In particular, the Order may for the purposes of any enactment provide— For the purposes of this paragraph, “Crown body” means a body which is the servant or agent of the Crown, and includes a government department.
Section 22.
The standing orders shall include provision for preserving order in the proceedings of the Parliament, including provision for— Such provision may provide for excluding a member of the Parliament from proceedings.
The standing orders may include provision for withdrawing from a member of the Parliament his rights and privileges as a member.
The standing orders shall include provision requiring the proceedings of the Parliament to be held in public, except in such circumstances as the standing orders may provide. The standing orders may include provision as to the conditions to be complied with by any member of the public attending the proceedings, including provision for excluding from the proceedings any member of the public who does not comply with those conditions.
The standing orders shall include provision for reporting the proceedings of the Parliament and for publishing the reports.
The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that the Presiding Officer and deputies do not all represent the same political party.
Standing orders which provide for the appointment of committees may include provision for those committees to have power to appoint sub-committees. The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that, in appointing members to committees and sub-committees, regard is had to the balance of political parties in the Parliament. The standing orders may include provision for excluding from the proceedings of a committee or sub-committee a member of the Parliament who is not a member of the committee or sub-committee.
The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that a Bill containing provisions which would, if the Bill were a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty, the Prince and Steward of Scotland or the Duke of Cornwall shall not pass unless such consent has been signified to the Parliament.
Sections 29 and 53(4).
An Act of the Scottish Parliament cannot modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to modify, any of the following provisions. The provisions are— For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(g), the following are excluded provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018—
An Act of the Scottish Parliament cannot modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to modify, the law on reserved matters. In this paragraph, “the law on reserved matters” means— and in this sub-paragraph “Act of Parliament” does not include this Act. Sub-paragraph (1) applies in relation to a rule of Scots private law or Scots criminal law (whether or not contained in an enactment) only to the extent that the rule in question is special to a reserved matter or the subject-matter of the rule is— In sub paragraph (3)(c) “pension arrangement” and “person responsible for a pension arrangement” have the same meaning as in section 27(1) of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985. Sub-paragraph (3) does not affect sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to an Act of the Scottish Parliament so far as any matter to which a provision of the Act relates falls within exception 10 of Section F1 of Part 2 of Schedule 5.
Paragraph 2 does not apply to modifications which— In determining for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) what is necessary to give effect to the purpose of a provision, any power to make laws other than the power of the Parliament is to be disregarded. Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the application of paragraph 2 to modifications which are incidental to, or consequential on, any provision, if it is only by virtue of exception 10 of Section F1 of Part 2 of Schedule 5 that the provision does not relate to reserved matters.
An Act of the Scottish Parliament cannot modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to modify, this Act. This paragraph does not apply to modifying— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This paragraph does not apply to modifying any provision of this Act (other than sections 64(7), 66(2), 71(7), 77, 78 and 119) which— This paragraph does not apply to any modifications of Part III which are necessary or expedient for the purpose or in consequence of the establishment of a new fund, in addition to the Scottish Consolidated Fund, out of which loans may be made by the Scottish Ministers. This paragraph does not apply to—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Act of the Scottish Parliament cannot modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to modify—
the effect of section 119(3) in relation to any provision of an Act of Parliament relating to judicial salaries,
so much of any enactment as—
is amended by paragraph 2, 7 or 32 of Schedule 8, and
relates to the Advocate General,
so much of any enactment as is amended by paragraph 9(b) or 29 of Schedule 8.
An Act of the Scottish Parliament cannot modify, or confer power by subordinate legislation to modify, any enactment so far as the enactment relates to powers exercisable by a Minister of the Crown by virtue of section 56.
Part I of this Schedule does not prevent an Act of the Scottish Parliament— or conferring power by subordinate legislation to do so. For the purposes of paragraph 2, the law on reserved matters includes any restatement in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or subordinate legislation under such an Act, of the law on reserved matters if the subject-matter of the restatement is a reserved matter.
Part I of this Schedule does not prevent the operation of any provision of the Interpretation Act 1978.
Part I of this Schedule does not prevent an Act of the Scottish Parliament amending, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to amend, any enactment by changing— in consequence of any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament. The titles are those of—
Part I of this Schedule does not prevent an Act of the Scottish Parliament modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to modify, any enactment for or in connection with the purposes of section 70 or 91.
Part I of this Schedule does not prevent an Act of the Scottish Parliament modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to modify, any enactment for or in connection with any of the following purposes. Those purposes are— The power to make the subordinate legislation, or a power to confirm or approve the legislation, must be exercisable by— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This paragraph applies to a function which (apart from this Schedule) would be transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53(2)(c). If, because of anything in Part I of this Schedule, a provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament modifying an enactment so as to provide for the function to be exercisable by a different person would be outside the legislative competence of the Parliament, the function is not so transferred.
Paragraph 12 does not apply to any function conferred by any provision of— For the purpose of determining— the references in section 54 to the legislative competence of the Parliament are to be read as if section 29(2)(c) were omitted. Part I of this Schedule does not prevent an Act of the Scottish Parliament modifying, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to modify, any of the provisions mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) so as to provide for a function transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 to be exercisable by a different person.
If any pre-commencement enactment or prerogative instrument is modified by subordinate legislation under section 105 or under section 71 of the Scotland Act 2016, a function under that enactment or instrument (whether as it has effect before or after the modification) is not transferred by virtue of section 53 if the subordinate legislation provides that it is not to be so transferred.
Section 30.
The following aspects of the constitution are reserved matters, that is—
the Crown, including succession to the Crown and a regency,
the Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England,
the Parliament of the United Kingdom,
the continued existence of the High Court of Justiciary as a criminal court of first instance and of appeal,
the continued existence of the Court of Session as a civil court of first instance and of appeal.
Paragraph 1 does not reserve— Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of honours and dignities or the functions of the Lord Lyon King of Arms so far as relating to the granting of arms; but this sub-paragraph does not apply to the Lord Lyon King of Arms in his judicial capacity. Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of the management (in accordance with any enactment regulating the use of land) of the Crown Estate (that is, the property, rights and interests under the management of the Crown Estate Commissioners). Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of the requirements of section 90B(5) to (8). Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of the functions of the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Headquarters. Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of the functions exercisable through the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
Paragraph 1 does not reserve property belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or belonging to any person acting on behalf of the Crown or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of any person acting on behalf of the Crown. Paragraph 1 does not reserve the ultimate superiority of the Crown or the superiority of the Prince and Steward of Scotland. Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of—
Paragraph 1 does not reserve property held by Her Majesty in Her private capacity. Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the reservation by paragraph 1 of the subject-matter of the Crown Private Estates Acts 1800 to 1873.
Paragraph 1 does not reserve the use of the Scottish Seal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The registration and funding of political parties is a reserved matter but this paragraph does not reserve making payments to any political party for the purpose of assisting members of the Parliament who are connected with the party to perform their Parliamentary duties.
International relations, including relations with territories outside the United Kingdom, the European Union(and their institutions) and other international organisations, regulation of international trade, and international development assistance and co-operation are reserved matters. Sub-paragraph (1) does not reserve—
The Civil Service of the State is a reserved matter. Sub-paragraph (1) does not reserve the subject-matter of—
The following are reserved matters— Sub-paragraph (1) does not reserve—
Treason (including constructive treason), treason felony and misprision of treason are reserved matters.
The matters to which any of the Sections in this Part apply are reserved matters for the purposes of this Act.
A Section applies to any matter described or referred to in it when read with any illustrations, exceptions or interpretation provisions in that Section.
Any illustrations, exceptions or interpretation provisions in a Section relate only to that Section (so that an entry under the heading “exceptions” does not affect any other Section).
B1. Misuse of drugs The subject-matter of— the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, sections 12 to 14 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (substances useful for manufacture of controlled drugs), and Part V of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (drug trafficking) and, so far as relating to drug trafficking, the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995. B2. Data protection The subject-matter of— the Data Protection Act 1998, and Council Directive 95/46/EC (protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data). Interpretation If any provision of the Data Protection Act 1998 is not in force on the principal appointed day, it is to be treated for the purposes of this reservation as if it were. B3. Elections Elections for membership of the House of Commons, the European Parliament and the Parliament, including the subject-matter of— the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978, the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Representation of the People Act 1985, and the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, so far as those enactments apply, or may be applied, in respect of such membership. The franchise at local government elections. B4. Firearms The subject-matter of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997. B5. Entertainment The subject-matter of— the Video Recordings Act 1984, and sections 1 to 3 and 5 to 16 of the Cinemas Act 1985 (control of exhibitions). The classification of films for public exhibition by reference to their suitability for viewing by persons generally or above a particular age, with or without any advice as to the desirability of parental guidance. B6. Immigration and nationality Nationality; immigration, including asylum and the status and capacity of persons in the United Kingdom who are not British citizens; free movement of persons within the European Economic Area; issue of travel documents. B7.Scientific procedures on live animals The subject-matter of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. B8. National security, interception of communications, official secrets and terrorism National security. The interception of communications; but not the subject-matter of Part III of the Police Act 1997 (authorisation to interfere with property etc.) or surveillance not involving interference with property. The subject-matter of— the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1920, and the Official Secrets Act 1989, except so far as relating to any information, document or other article protected against disclosure by section 4(2) (crime) and not by any other provision of sections 1 to 4. Special powers, and other special provisions, for dealing with terrorism. B9. Betting, gaming and lotteries Betting, gaming and lotteries. B10. Emergency powers Emergency powers. B11. Extradition Extradition. B12. Lieutenancies The subject-matter of the Lieutenancies Act 1997.
C1. Business associations The creation, operation, regulation and dissolution of types of business association. Exceptions The creation, operation, regulation and dissolution of— particular public bodies, or public bodies of a particular type, established by or under any enactment, and charities. Interpretation “Business association” means any person (other than an individual) established for the purpose of carrying on any kind of business, whether or not for profit; and “business” includes the provision of benefits to the members of an association. C2. Insolvency In relation to business associations— the modes of, the grounds for and the general legal effect of winding up, and the persons who may initiate winding up, liability to contribute to assets on winding up, powers of courts in relation to proceedings for winding up, other than the power to sist proceedings, arrangements with creditors, and procedures giving protection from creditors. Preferred or preferential debts for the purposes of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, the Insolvency Act 1986, and any other enactment relating to the sequestration of the estate of any person or to the winding up of business associations, the preference of such debts against other such debts and the extent of their preference over other types of debt. Regulation of insolvency practitioners. Co-operation of insolvency courts. Exceptions In relation to business associations— the process of winding up, including the person having responsibility for the conduct of a winding up or any part of it, and his conduct of it or of that part, the effect of winding up on diligence, and avoidance and adjustment of prior transactions on winding up. Floating charges and receivers, except in relation to preferential debts, regulation of insolvency practitioners and co-operation of insolvency courts. Interpretation “Business association” has the meaning given in Section C1 of this Part of this Schedule, but does not include any person whose estate may be sequestrated under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 or any public body established by or under an enactment. “Winding up”, in relation to business associations, includes winding up of solvent, as well as insolvent, business associations. C3. Competition Regulation of anti-competitive practices and agreements; abuse of dominant position; monopolies and mergers. Exception Regulation of particular practices in the legal profession for the purpose of regulating that profession or the provision of legal services. Interpretation “The legal profession” means advocates, solicitors and qualified conveyancers and executry practitioners within the meaning of Part II of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. C4. Intellectual property Intellectual property. Exception The subject-matter of Parts I and II of the Plant Varieties Act 1997 (plant varieties and the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal). C5. Import and export control The subject-matter of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. Prohibition and regulation of the import and export of endangered species of animals and plants. Exceptions Prohibition and regulation of movement into and out of Scotland of— food, animals, animal products, plants and plant products for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment or observing or implementing obligations under the Common Agricultural Policy, and animal feeding stuffs, fertilisers and pesticides for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health or the environment. C6. Sea fishing Regulation of sea fishing outside the Scottish zone (except in relation to Scottish fishing boats). Interpretation “Scottish fishing boat” means a fishing vessel which is registered in the register maintained under section 8 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Scotland as the port to which the vessel is to be treated as belonging. C7. Consumer protection Regulation of— the sale and supply of goods and services to consumers, guarantees in relation to such goods and services, hire-purchase, including the subject-matter of Part III of the Hire-Purchase Act 1964, trade descriptions, except in relation to food, misleading and comparative advertising, except regulation specifically in relation to food, tobacco and tobacco products, price indications, trading stamps, auctions and mock auctions of goods and services, and hallmarking and gun barrel proofing. Safety of, and liability for, services supplied to consumers. The subject-matter of— the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968, the Unsolicited Goods and Services Acts 1971 and 1975, Parts I to III and XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Estate Agents Act 1979, the Timeshare Act 1992, the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992, and the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993. Exception The subject-matter of section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (food safety and consumer protection). C8. Product standards, safety and liability Technical standards and requirements in relation to products in pursuance of an obligation under Community law. Product safety and liability. Product labelling. Exceptions Food, agricultural and horticultural produce, fish and fish products, seeds, animal feeding stuffs, fertilisers and pesticides. In relation to food safety, materials which come into contact with food. C9. Weights and measures Units and standards of weight and measurement. Regulation of trade so far as involving weighing, measuring and quantities. C10. Telecommunications and wireless telegraphy Telecommunications and wireless telegraphy. Internet services. Electronic encryption. The subject-matter of Part II of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (electromagnetic disturbance). Exception The subject-matter of Part III of the Police Act 1997 (authorisation to interfere with property etc.). C11. Post Office, posts and postal services The Post Office, posts (including postage stamps, postal orders and postal packets) and regulation of postal services. C12. Research Councils Research Councils within the meaning of the Science and Technology Act 1965. The subject-matter of section 5 of that Act (funding of scientific research) so far as relating to Research Councils. C13. Designation of assisted areas The subject-matter of section 1 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. C14. Industrial Development Advisory Board The Industrial Development Advisory Board. C15. Protection of trading and economic interests The subject-matter of— section 2 of the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964 (Treasury power in relation to action damaging to economic position of United Kingdom), Part II of the Industry Act 1975 (powers in relation to transfer of control of important manufacturing undertakings), and the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980.
“ Board ” includes any other equivalent management body.
Section A1. Fiscal, economic and monetary policy, including the issue and circulation of money, taxes and excise duties, government borrowing and lending, control over United Kingdom public expenditure, the exchange rate and the Bank of England. Exceptions Devolved taxes, including their collection and management. Local taxes to fund local authority expenditure (for example, council tax and non-domestic rates).
Section A2. Coinage, legal tender and bank notes.
Section A3. Financial services, including investment business, banking and deposit-taking, collective investment schemes and insurance. Exception The subject-matter of section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (bank holidays).
Section A4. Financial markets, including listing and public offers of securities and investments, transfer of securities and insider dealing.
Section A5. The subject-matter of the Money Laundering Regulations 1993, but in relation to any type of business.
Section B1. The subject-matter of— the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, sections 12 to 14 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (substances useful for manufacture of controlled drugs), and Part V of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (drug trafficking) and, so far as relating to drug trafficking, the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995.
Section B2. The subject-matter of— the Data Protection Act 1998, and Council Directive 95/46/EC (protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data). Interpretation If any provision of the Data Protection Act 1998 is not in force on the principal appointed day, it is to be treated for the purposes of this reservation as if it were.
(A) Elections for membership of the House of Commons and the European Parliament Section B3. Elections for membership of the House of Commons and the European Parliament, including the subject-matter of— the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002. the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Representation of the People Act 1985, and the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, so far as those enactments apply, or may be applied, in respect of such membership. ... (B) Elections for membership of the Parliament and local government elections in Scotland The subject-matter of sections 2(2A) and 12A of this Act. The subject-matter of section 43(1AA) of the Representation of the People Act 1983. The combination of— polls at elections or referendums that are outside the legislative competence of the Parliament with polls at— elections for membership of the Parliament, or local government elections in Scotland, and polls at ordinary general elections for membership of the Parliament with polls at ordinary local government elections in Scotland. Any digital service provided by a Minister of the Crown for the registration of electors. The subject matter of— Parts 5 and 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (expenditure in connection with elections) where a limit applies to expenditure in relation to a period determined by reference both to the date of the poll for an election within the legislative competence of the Parliament and to the date of the poll at an election for membership of the House of Commons or the European Parliament, and sections 145 to 148 and 150 to 154 of that Act (enforcement) as they apply for the purposes of Part 5 or 6, so far as the subject-matter of that Part is reserved by paragraph (a). The subject-matter of the following sections of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to elections for membership of the Parliament— section 1, except in relation to— financing the Electoral Commission, preparation, laying and publication by the Commission of reports about the performance of its functions, and provision by the Commission of copies of regulations made by it or notice of the alteration or revocation of such regulations, sections 2 to 4, 6(1)(e) and (f) (and (g) to the extent that it relates to the law mentioned in those paragraphs), sections 12, 21 to 33, 35 to 37, 39 to 57, 58 to 67, 69, 71, 71F, 71G, 71H to 71Y and 140A, section 149 (except in relation to the register kept under section 89), sections 157 and 159 to 163, and sections 145 to 148 and 150 to 154 as they apply for the purposes of a provision mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e), so far as the subject matter of that provision is reserved by those paragraphs. Interpretation Paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to the subject-matter of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002; and the reference to the subject-matter of that Act is to be construed as a reference to it as at the date that Act received Royal Assent.
Section B4. The subject-matter of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997. Exception The regulation of air weapons within the meaning given by section 1(3)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 (which is subject to the following which remain powers of the Secretary of State— the power to make rules under section 53 of that Act for the purposes of that provision (specially dangerous weapons requiring firearms certificate), and the power to make an order under section 1(4) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (specially dangerous weapons to be prohibited)).
Section B5. The subject-matter of— the Video Recordings Act 1984, and sections 1 to 3 and 5 to 16 of the Cinemas Act 1985 (control of exhibitions). The classification of films for public exhibition by reference to their suitability for viewing by persons generally or above a particular age, with or without any advice as to the desirability of parental guidance.
Section B6. Nationality; immigration, including asylum and the status and capacity of persons in the United Kingdom who are not British citizens; free movement of persons within the European Economic Area; issue of travel documents.
Section B7. The subject-matter of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Section B8. National security. The interception of communications; but not the interception of any communication made to or by a person detained at a place of detention, if the communication- is a written communication and is intercepted there, or is intercepted in the course of its transmission by means of a private telecommunication system running there, the subject matter of Part III of the Police Act 1997 (authorisation to interfere with property etc.) or surveillance not involving interference with property. The subject-matter of— the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1920, and the Official Secrets Act 1989, except so far as relating to any information, document or other article protected against disclosure by section 4(2) (crime) and not by any other provision of sections 1 to 4. Special powers, and other special provisions, for dealing with terrorism. Interpretation “Place of detention” means a prison, young offenders institution, remand centre or legalised police cell (as those expressions are defined for the purposes of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 or a hospital (within the meaning of the given in section 329(1) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003; and “person detained”, in relation to a hospital, means a person detained there under– section 24, 25 or 70 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984; Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995; the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003; or regulations under– subsection (3) of section 116B of the Army Act 1955; subsection (3) of section 116B of the Air Force Act 1955; or section 63B of the Naval Discipline Act 1957. “Private telecommunication system” has the meaning given in section 261(14) of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
Section B9. Betting, gaming and lotteries. Exception In the case of a betting premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005, other than one in respect of a track, the number of gaming machines authorised for which the maximum charge for use is more than £10 (or whether such machines are authorised).
Section B10. Emergency powers.
Section B11. Extradition.
Section B12. The subject-matter of the Lieutenancies Act 1997.
Public access to information held by public bodies or holders of public offices (including government departments and persons acting on behalf of the Crown). Exception Information held by– the Parliament, any part of the Scottish Administration, the Parliamentary corporation, any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, unless supplied by a Minister of the Crown or government department and held in confidence.
Section C1. The creation, operation, regulation and dissolution of types of business association. Exceptions The creation, operation, regulation and dissolution of— particular public bodies, or public bodies of a particular type, established by or under any enactment, and charities. Interpretation “Business association” means any person (other than an individual) established for the purpose of carrying on any kind of business, whether or not for profit; and “business” includes the provision of benefits to the members of an association.
Section C2. In relation to business associations— the modes of, the grounds for and the general legal effect of winding up, and the persons who may initiate winding up, liability to contribute to assets on winding up, powers of courts in relation to proceedings for winding up, other than the power to sist proceedings, arrangements with creditors, and procedures giving protection from creditors. Preferred or preferential debts for the purposes of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, the Insolvency Act 1986, and any other enactment relating to the sequestration of the estate of any person or to the winding up of business associations, the preference of such debts against other such debts and the extent of their preference over other types of debt. Regulation of insolvency practitioners. Co-operation of insolvency courts. Exceptions In relation to business associations— the process of winding up, including the person having responsibility for the conduct of a winding up or any part of it, and his conduct of it or of that part, the effect of winding up on diligence, and avoidance and adjustment of prior transactions on winding up. In relation to business associations which are social landlords, the following additional exceptions– the general legal effect of winding up, procedures for the initiation of winding up, powers of courts in relation to proceedings for winding up, and procedures giving protection from creditors, but only in so far as they relate to a moratorium on the disposal of property held by a social landlord and the management and disposal of such property. Floating charges and receivers, except in relation to preferential debts, regulation of insolvency practitioners and co-operation of insolvency courts. Interpretation
Section C3. Regulation of anti-competitive practices and agreements; abuse of dominant position; monopolies and mergers. Exception Regulation of particular practices in the legal profession for the purpose of regulating that profession or the provision of legal services. Interpretation “The legal profession” means advocates, solicitors and qualified conveyancers and executry practitioners within the meaning of Part II of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.
Section C4. Intellectual property. Exception The subject-matter of Parts I and II of the Plant Varieties Act 1997 (plant varieties and the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal).
Section C5. The subject-matter of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. Prohibition and regulation of the import and export of endangered species of animals and plants. Exceptions Prohibition and regulation of movement into and out of Scotland of— food, animals, animal products, plants and plant products for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health, animal welfare or the environment or observing or implementing obligations under the Common Agricultural Policy, and animal feeding stuffs, fertilisers and pesticides (including anything treated as if it were a pesticide by virtue of section 16(16) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985) for the purposes of protecting human, animal or plant health or the environment. Interpretation
Section C6. Regulation of sea fishing outside the Scottish zone (except in relation to Scottish fishing boats). Interpretation “Scottish fishing boat” means a fishing vessel which is registered in the register maintained under section 8 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Scotland as the port to which the vessel is to be treated as belonging.
Section C7. Regulation of— the sale and supply of goods and services to consumers, guarantees in relation to such goods and services, hire-purchase, including the subject-matter of Part III of the Hire-Purchase Act 1964, trade descriptions, except in relation to food, misleading and comparative advertising, except regulation specifically in relation to food, tobacco and tobacco products, price indications, trading stamps, auctions and mock auctions of goods and services, and hallmarking and gun barrel proofing. Safety of, and liability for, services supplied to consumers. The subject-matter of— the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968, the Unsolicited Goods and Services Acts 1971 and 1975, Parts I to III and XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Estate Agents Act 1979, the Timeshare Act 1992, the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, and the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993. Exceptions The provision of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office. The subject-matter of section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (food safety and consumer protection). Interpretation
Section C8. The subject matter of all technical standards and requirements in relation to products that had effect immediately before IP completion day in pursuance of an obligation under EU law. The national accreditation body and the accreditation of bodies which certify or assess conformity to technical standards in relation to products or environmental management systems. Product safety and liability. Product labelling. Exceptions The provision of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office. Food, agricultural and horticultural produce, fish and fish products, seeds, animal feeding stuffs, fertilisers and pesticides (including anything treated as if it were a pesticide by virtue of section 16(16) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985). In relation to food safety, materials which come into contact with food. Interpretation
Section C9. Units and standards of weight and measurement. Regulation of trade so far as involving weighing, measuring and quantities. Exceptions The provision of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office.
Section C10. Telecommunications and wireless telegraphy. Internet services. Electronic encryption. The subject-matter of Part II of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (electromagnetic disturbance). Exception The subject-matter of Part III of the Police Act 1997 (authorisation to interfere with property etc.).
The subject matter of the Postal Services Act 2000. Exceptions The provision of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office, but not any related compulsory levy on postal operators. Financial assistance for the provision of services (other than postal services and services relating to money or postal orders) to be provided from public post offices. Interpretation Paragraph 5(1) of Part III of this Schedule does not apply to this Section. The reference to the subject matter of the Postal Services Act 2000 is to be read as a reference to the subject matter of that Act as at the date when it received Royal Assent. “postal operator”, “postal services” and “public post offices” have the same meaning as in the Postal Services Act 2000.
United Kingdom Research and Innovation. Section C12. Research Councils within the meaning of the Science and Technology Act 1965. The subject-matter of section 5 of that Act (funding of scientific research) so far as relating to United Kingdom Research and Innovation and Research Councils. ... The subject-matter of section 10 of the Higher Education Act 2004 (research in arts and humanities) so far as relating to United Kingdom Research and Innovation. Interpretation Paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to the subject-matter of section 10 of the Higher Education Act 2004; and the reference to the subject-matter of that section is to be construed as a reference to it as at the date that Act received Royal Assent.
Section C13. The subject-matter of section 1 of the Industrial Development Act 1982.
Section C14. The Industrial Development Advisory Board.
Section C15. The subject-matter of— section 2 of the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964 (Treasury power in relation to action damaging to economic position of United Kingdom), Part II of the Industry Act 1975 (powers in relation to transfer of control of important manufacturing undertakings), and the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980.
Regulation of the provision of subsidies which are or may be distortive or harmful by a public authority to persons supplying goods or services in the course of a business. Interpretation
Section D1. Generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity. The subject-matter of Part II of the Electricity Act 1989. Exceptions The subject-matter of Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The provision of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office, but not any related compulsory levy on persons supplying, generating, transmitting or distributing electricity.
Section Oil and gas, including— the ownership of, exploration for and exploitation of deposits of oil and natural gas, the subject-matter of section 1 of the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972 (contributions in connection with mineral exploration) so far as relating to exploration for oil and gas, offshore installations and pipelines, the subject-matter of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 (including section 5 (deemed planning permission)) so far as relating to pipelines within the meaning of section 65 of that Act, the application of Scots law and the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts in relation to offshore activities, pollution relating to oil and gas exploration and exploitation, but only outside controlled waters (within the meaning of section 30A(1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974), the subject-matter of Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 so far as relating to oil and gas exploration and exploitation, but only in relation to activities outside such controlled waters, restrictions on navigation, fishing and other activities in connection with offshore activities, liquefaction of natural gas, and the conveyance, shipping and supply of gas through pipes. Exceptions The subject-matter of— sections 10 to 12 of the Industry Act 1972 (credits and grants for construction of ships and offshore installations), the Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Act 1975, other than sections 3 to 7, and Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The granting and regulation of licences to search and bore for and get petroleum that, at the time of the grant of the licence, is within the Scottish onshore area, except for any consideration payable for such licences. Access to land for the purpose of searching or boring for or getting petroleum under such a licence. The manufacture of gas. The conveyance, shipping and supply of gas other than through pipes. The provision in relation to gas of consumer advocacy and advice by, or by agreement with, a public body or the holder of a public office, but not any related compulsory levy on persons supplying gas to premises or conveying gas through pipes. Interpretation The Scottish onshore area is the area of Scotland that is within the baselines established by any Order in Council under section 1(1)(b) of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 (extension of territorial sea). “Petroleum” means petroleum within the meaning given by section 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998 in its natural state in strata.
Section D3. Coal, including its ownership and exploitation, deep and opencast coal mining and coal mining subsidence. Exceptions The subject-matter of— Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and sections 53 (environmental duties in connection with planning) and 54 (obligation to restore land affected by coal-mining operations) of the Coal Industry Act 1994.
Section D4. Nuclear energy and nuclear installations, including— nuclear safety, security and safeguards, and liability for nuclear occurrences. The Office for Nuclear Regulation. Exceptions The subject-matter of— Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.
Section D5. The subject-matter of the Energy Act 1976, other than section 9. Exception The encouragement of energy efficiency other than by prohibition or regulation.
Section E1. The subject-matter of— the Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Act 1952, the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 and the Transport Act 1985, so far as relating to public service vehicle operator licensing, section 17 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (traffic regulation on special roads) except so far as relating to the speed of vehicles on special roads, and section 87 of that Act (exemption of emergency vehicles from speed limits) so far as relating to the training of drivers of vehicles, the Road Traffic Act 1988 , except so far as relating to the parking of vehicles on roads, and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, and the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995. Regulation of proper hours or periods of work by persons engaged in the carriage of passengers or goods by road. The conditions under which international road transport services for passengers or goods may be undertaken. Regulation of the instruction of drivers of motor vehicles. Exceptions The subject-matter of sections 36 (offence of failing to comply with traffic sign), 39 and 40 (road safety information and training) and 157 to 159 (payments for treatment of traffic casualties) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The subject-matter of the Road Traffic Act 1988 so far as relating to the regulation of the description, by reference to their construction and equipment, of motor vehicles and trailers which may be used under arrangements for persons to travel to and from the places where they receive education or training, but not the setting of technical standards for the construction or equipment of such motor vehicles or trailers different from the standards that might otherwise apply to them. Interpretation The reference to the subject-matter of section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is to be construed as a reference to it as substituted by section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006 as at the date when section 40 of the Scotland Act 2016 comes into force, treating section 19 and any amendment affecting it at that date as if they were in force (and, accordingly, paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to that reference).
Section E2. Provision and regulation of railway services. Rail transport security. The subject-matter of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. The subject-matter of the Railway Heritage Act 1996. Exceptions Grants so far as relating to railway services; but this exception does not apply in relation to— the subject-matter of section 63 of the Railways Act 1993 (government financial assistance where railway administration orders made), “ railway services ” as defined in section 82(1)(b) of the Railways Act 1993 (carriage of goods by railway), or the subject-matter of section 136 of the Railways Act 1993 (grants and subsidies). Imposing requirements about the preparation and submission of strategies relating to the provision of rail services on Scottish public authorities with mixed functions relating to such services. The transfer of functions of passenger transport executives or passenger transport authorities relating to the provision and regulation of rail services conferred by Part II of the Transport Act 1968 and sections 32 to 36 of the Railways Act 1993 to, and the allocation of such functions among, relevant authorities. The promotion and construction of railways which start, end and remain in Scotland. Policing of railways and railway property. Interpretation “railway” has the meaning given by section 67(1) of the Transport and Works Act 1992. “Railway property” has the meaning given by section 75(3) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. “ Railway services ” has the meaning given by section 82 of the Railways Act 1993 (excluding the wider meaning of “ railway ” given by section 81(2) of that Act). “ relevant authority ” means– the Scottish Ministers; or any Scottish public authority (not being a cross-border public authority or an authority exercising functions solely in relation to a reserved matter) which is set up wholly or mainly to exercise functions relating to transport.
Section E3. The subject-matter of— the Coastguard Act 1925, the Hovercraft Act 1968, except so far as relating to the regulation of noise and vibration caused by hovercraft, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, section 2 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 (prohibition on approaching dangerous wrecks), the Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Act 1982, the Dangerous Vessels Act 1985, the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, other than Part I (aviation security), the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the Shipping and Trading Interests (Protection) Act 1995, and sections 24 (implementation of international agreements relating to protection of wrecks), 26 (piracy) and 27 and 28 (international bodies concerned with maritime matters) of the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997. Navigational rights and freedoms. Financial assistance for shipping services which start or finish or both outside Scotland. Exceptions Ports, harbours, piers and boatslips, except in relation to the matters reserved by virtue of paragraph (d), (f), (g) or (i). Regulation of works which may obstruct or endanger navigation. The subject-matter of the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960 in relation to financial assistance for bulk freight services.
Section E4. Regulation of aviation and air transport, including the subject-matter of— the Carriage by Air Act 1961, the Carriage by Air (Supplementary Provisions) Act 1962, the Carriage by Air and Road Act 1979 so far as relating to carriage by air, the Civil Aviation Act 1982, the Aviation Security Act 1982, the Airports Act 1986, and sections 1 (endangering safety at aerodromes) and 48 (powers in relation to certain aircraft) of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, and arrangements to compensate or repatriate passengers in the event of an air transport operator’s insolvency. Exceptions The subject-matter of the following sections of the Civil Aviation Act 1982— section 25 (Secretary of State’s power to provide aerodromes), section 30 (provision of aerodromes and facilities at aerodromes by local authorities), section 31 (power to carry on ancillary business in connection with local authority aerodromes), section 34 (financial assistance for certain aerodromes), section 35 (facilities for consultation at certain aerodromes), section 36 (health control at Secretary of State’s aerodromes and aerodromes of Civil Aviation Authority), and sections 41 to 43 and 50 (powers in relation to land exercisable in connection with civil aviation) where land is to be or was acquired for the purpose of airport development or expansion. The subject-matter of Part II (transfer of airport undertakings of local authorities), sections 63 and 64 (airport byelaws) and 66 (functions of operators of designated airports as respects abandoned vehicles) of the Airports Act 1986. The subject-matter of sections 59 (acquisition of land and rights over land) and 60 (disposal of compulsorily acquired land) of the Airports Act 1986 where land is to be or was acquired for the purpose of airport development or expansion. Imposing requirements about the preparation and submission of strategies relating to the provision of air services on Scottish public authorities with mixed functions relating to such services.
Section E5. Transport of radioactive material. Technical specifications for public passenger transport for disabled persons, including the subject-matter of— section 125(7) and (8) of the Transport Act 1985 (Secretary of State’s guidance and consultation with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee), and Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (public transport). Regulation of the carriage of dangerous goods. Interpretation “ Radioactive material ” has the same meaning as in section 1(1) of the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Act 1991.
Section F1. Schemes supported from central or local funds which provide assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals by way of benefits. Requiring persons to— establish and administer schemes providing assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals, or make payments to or in respect of such schemes, and to keep records and supply information in connection with such schemes. The circumstances in which a person is liable to maintain himself or another for the purposes of the enactments relating to social security and the Child Support Acts 1991 and 1995. The subject-matter of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. Illustrations National Insurance; Social Fund; ... recovery of benefits for accident, injury or disease from persons paying damages; deductions from benefits for the purpose of meeting an individual’s debts; sharing information between government departments for the purposes of the enactments relating to social security; making decisions for the purposes of schemes mentioned in the reservation and appeals against such decisions. Exceptions Exception 1 Any of the following benefits— disability benefits, other than severe disablement benefit or industrial injuries benefits, severe disablement benefit, so far as payable in respect of a relevant person, and industrial injuries benefits, so far as relating to relevant employment or to participation in training for relevant employment; but this exception does not except a benefit which is, or which is an element of, an excluded benefit. Exception 2 Carer's benefits, other than a benefit which is, or which is an element of, an excluded benefit. Exception 3 The subject-matter of Part II of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (social welfare services), section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (provision of welfare services), section 50 of the Children Act 1975 (payments towards maintenance of children), section 15 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (industrial injuries benefit), and sections 22 (promotion of welfare of children in need), 29 and 30 (advice and assistance for young persons formerly looked after by local authorities) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Exception 4 Providing financial or other assistance for the purposes of meeting or reducing— maternity expenses, funeral expenses, or expenses for heating in cold weather. Exception 5 Providing financial assistance to an individual who— is entitled to a reserved benefit, and appears to require financial assistance, in addition to any amount the individual receives by way of reserved benefit, for the purpose, or one of the purposes, for which the benefit is being provided. This exception does not except discretionary financial assistance in a reserved benefit. This exception also does not except providing financial assistance to meet or help to meet housing costs (as to which, see exception 6). This exception also does not except providing financial assistance where the requirement for it arises from reduction, non-payability or suspension of a reserved benefit as a result of an individual's conduct (for example, non-compliance with work-related requirements relating to the benefit) unless— the requirement for it also arises from some exceptional event or exceptional circumstances, and the requirement for it is immediate. For the purposes of this exception “reserved benefit” means a benefit which is to any extent a reserved matter. Exception 6 Providing financial assistance to an individual who— is entitled to— housing benefit, or any other reserved benefit payable in respect of a liability to make rent payments, and appears to require financial assistance, in addition to any amount the individual receives by way of housing benefit or such other reserved benefit, to meet or help to meet housing costs. This exception does not except discretionary financial assistance in a reserved benefit. This exception also does not except providing financial assistance where the requirement for it arises from reduction, non-payability or suspension of a reserved benefit as a result of an individual's conduct (for example, non-compliance with work-related requirements relating to the benefit) unless— the requirement for it also arises from some exceptional event or exceptional circumstances, and the requirement for it is immediate. For the purposes of this exception— Exception 7 Providing financial or other assistance to or in respect of individuals who appear to require it for the purposes of meeting, or helping to meet, a short-term need that requires to be met to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual. This exception does not except providing assistance where the requirement for it arises from reduction, non-payability or suspension of a benefit as a result of an individual's conduct (for example, non-compliance with work-related requirements relating to the benefit) unless— the requirement for it also arises from some exceptional event or exceptional circumstances, and the need is immediate as well as short-term. Exception 8 Providing occasional financial or other assistance to or in respect of individuals who have been or might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution, or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life, and who appear to require the assistance to establish or maintain a settled home. Exception 9 The subject-matter of section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988 (benefits under schemes for improving nutrition: pregnant women, mothers and children). Exception 10 Schemes which provide assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals by way of benefits and which— are supported from sums paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, do not fall within exceptions 1 to 9, and are not connected with reserved matters (other than matters reserved only by virtue of this Section). This exception does not except providing assistance by way of pensions to or in respect of individuals who qualify by reason of old age. This exception does not except providing assistance where the requirement for it arises from reduction, non-payability or suspension of a reserved benefit as a result of an individual's conduct (for example, non-compliance with work-related requirements relating to the benefit) unless— the requirement for it also arises from some exceptional event or exceptional circumstances, and the requirement for it is immediate. For the purposes of this exception “reserved benefit” means a benefit which is to any extent a reserved matter. In this exception the reference to schemes supported from sums paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund does not include schemes— in respect of which sums are at some time paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, but which are directly supported from payments out of the Consolidated Fund, the National Insurance Fund or the Social Fund, or out of money provided by Parliament. Exclusions from exceptions 1 to 10 Nothing in exceptions 1 to 10 is to be read as excepting— the National Insurance Fund, the Social Fund, or the provision by a Minister of the Crown of assistance by way of loan for the purpose of meeting, or helping to meet, an intermittent expense. Interpretation ... The reference to the subject-matter of section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988 is to be construed as a reference to it as at the day on which section 27 of the Scotland Act 2016 comes into force (and, accordingly, paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to that reference).
Section F2. The subject-matter of the Child Support Acts 1991 and 1995. Exception The subject-matter of sections 1 to 7 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 (aliment). Interpretation If section 30(2) of the Child Support Act 1991 (collection of payments other than child support maintenance) is not in force on the principal appointed day, it is to be treated for the purposes of this reservation as if it were.
Section F3. The regulation of occupational pension schemes and personal pension schemes, including the obligations of the trustees or managers of such schemes. Provision about pensions payable to, or in respect of, any persons, except— the persons referred to in section 81(3), in relation to a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, persons who are or have been a member of the public body, the holder of the public office, or a member of the staff of the body, holder or office. The subject-matter of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971. Schemes for the payment of pensions which are listed in Schedule 2 to that Act, except those mentioned in paragraphs 38A and 38AB. Where pension payable to or in respect of any class of persons under a public service pension scheme is covered by this reservation, so is making provision in their case— for compensation for loss of office or employment, for their office or employment being affected by constitutional changes, or circumstances arising from such changes, in any territory or territories or for loss or diminution of emoluments, or for benefits in respect of death or incapacity resulting from injury or disease. Interpretation “Pension” includes gratuities and allowances.
Section F4. Schemes for the payment of pensions for or in respect of persons who have a disablement or have died in consequence of service as members of the armed forces of the Crown. The subject-matter of any scheme under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act 1939, sections 3 to 5 and 7 of the Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act 1939 or section 1 of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 Illustration The provision of pensions under the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983. Interpretation “Pension” includes grants, allowances, supplements and gratuities.
Section G1. Regulation of the profession of architect.
Section G2. Regulation of the health professions. Exceptions The subject-matter of— section 21 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (requirement of suitable experience for medical practitioners), and section 25 of that Act (arrangements for the provision of general dental services), so far as it relates to vocational training and disciplinary proceedings. Interpretation “ The health professions ” means the professions regulated by— the Pharmacy Act 1954, the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the Medical Act 1983, the Dentists Act 1984, the Opticians Act 1989, the Osteopaths Act 1993, the Chiropractors Act 1994, and the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997.
Section G3. Regulation of the profession of auditor.
Section H1. Employment rights and duties and industrial relations, including the subject-matter of— the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, the Employment Agencies Act 1973, the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981, the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, the Employment Tribunals Act 1996, the Employment Rights Act 1996, and the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. Exception The subject-matter of the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949.
Section H2. The subject-matter of Part I of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 The Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and the Employment Medical Advisory Service
Section H3. The subject-matter of— the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, and the Employment and Training Act 1973, except so far as relating to training for employment. Exceptions Exception 1 The making by a person of arrangements for, or arrangements for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for, any of the following purposes— assisting disabled persons to select, obtain and retain employment; assisting persons claiming reserved benefits who are at risk of long-term unemployment to select, obtain and retain employment, where the assistance is for at least a year; assisting employers to obtain suitable employees who are persons referred to in paragraph (a) or (b). The arrangements referred to in this exception include— securing that the assistance referred to in this exception is provided by another person; providing or arranging for the provision of facilities, support or services to any person; the making of payments to any person. The assistance referred to in this exception includes— work search support, skills training, and work placements for the benefit of the community. In this exception— “disabled person” has the same meaning as it has in the Equality Act 2010 as at 28 May 2015 (the date of introduction into Parliament of the Bill for the Scotland Act 2016); “reserved benefit” means a benefit which is to any extent a reserved matter. Exception 2 The subject-matter of— sections 8 to 10A of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (careers services), and the following sections of Part I of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise)— section 2(3)(c) (arrangements for the purpose of assisting persons to establish themselves as self-employed persons), and section 12 (disclosure of information).
...
Section J2. Xenotransplantation.
Section J3. Surrogacy arrangements, within the meaning of the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985, including the subject-matter of that Act. The subject-matter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Human genetics.
Section J4. The subject-matter of— the Medicines Act 1968, except so far as it applies in relation to— medicinal products which are for use in relation to animals, and animal feeding stuffs, the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994, the Poisons Act 1972, and the Biological Standards Act 1975. Regulation of prices charged for medical supplies or medicinal products which (in either case) are supplied for the purposes of the health service established under section 1 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. Regulation of— veterinary medicinal products, specified feed additives, and animal feeding stuffs, in relation to— the incorporation in them of veterinary medicinal products or specified feed additives, matters arising in consequence of such incorporation. Interpretation
“Specified feed additives” has the same meaning as in Schedule 5 to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (as at 1st October 2013).
...
Section K1. The subject-matter of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Broadcasting Act 1996. The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Section K2. The subject-matter of the Public Lending Right Act 1979.
Section K3. The subject-matter of sections 16 and 16A of the National Heritage Act 1980 (public indemnities for objects on loan to museums, art galleries, etc. ).
Section K4. The subject-matter of sections 8 and 9 of the National Heritage Act 1980 (payments to Inland Revenue in respect of property accepted in satisfaction of tax, and disposal of such property).
Section L1. Determination of the remuneration of— judges of the Court of Session, sheriffs principal and sheriffs, members of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court.
Section L2. Equal opportunities ... Exceptions The encouragement (other than by prohibition or regulation) of equal opportunities, and in particular of the observance of the equal opportunity requirements. Imposing duties on— any office-holder in the Scottish Administration, or any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, to make arrangements with a view to securing that the functions of the office-holder or authority are carried out with due regard to the need to meet the equal opportunity requirements, or any cross-border public authority to make arrangements with a view to securing that its Scottish functions are carried out with due regard to the need to meet the equal opportunity requirements. Equal opportunities so far as relating to the inclusion of persons with protected characteristics in non-executive posts on boards of Scottish public authorities with mixed functions or no reserved functions. Equal opportunities in relation to the Scottish functions of any Scottish public authority or cross-border public authority, other than any function that relates to the inclusion of persons in non-executive posts on boards of Scottish public authorities with mixed functions or no reserved functions. The provision falling within this exception does not include any modification of the Equality Act 2010, or of any subordinate legislation made under that Act, but does include— provision that supplements or is otherwise additional to provision made by that Act; in particular, provision imposing a requirement to take action that that Act does not prohibit; provision that reproduces or applies an enactment contained in that Act, with or without modification, without affecting the enactment as it applies for the purposes of that Act. Interpretation
Section L3. Control of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Section L4. The subject-matter of the Ordnance Survey Act 1841.
Section L5. Timescales, time zones and the subject-matter of the Summer Time Act 1972. The calendar; units of time; the date of Easter. Exceptions The computation of periods of time. The subject-matter of— section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (bank holidays), and the Term and Quarter Days (Scotland) Act 1990.
Section L6. Regulation of activities in outer space.
Regulation of activities in Antarctica. Interpretation “Antarctica” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Antarctic Act 1994.
This Schedule does not reserve any Scottish public authority if some of its functions relate to reserved matters and some do not, unless it is a cross-border public authority. Sub-paragraph (1) has effect as regards— Sub-paragraph (2)(b) does not apply to any function which is specifically exercisable in relation to a particular function of the authority if the particular function relates to reserved matters. An authority to which this paragraph applies is referred to in this Act as a Scottish public authority with mixed functions.
Paragraph 1 of Part I of this Schedule does not reserve any Scottish public authority with functions none of which relate to reserved matters (referred to in this Act as a Scottish public authority with no reserved functions).
The reservation of any body to which this paragraph applies has effect to reserve— This paragraph applies to—
This Schedule does not reserve the transfer to a Scottish tribunal of functions of a tribunal that relate to reserved matters, so far as those functions are exercisable in relation to Scottish cases. “ Scottish cases ” has the meaning given by an Order in Council made by Her Majesty under this sub-paragraph. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply where a function is excluded from transfer. Where a function is not excluded from transfer but is subject to qualified transfer, sub-paragraph (1) applies only if the transfer of the function is in accordance with provision made by Her Majesty by Order in Council. An Order in Council under sub-paragraph (4)— The functions that are subject to qualified transfer are the functions of the following tribunals— Sub-paragraph (6)(c) and (d) include a tribunal added to the Schedule concerned after this paragraph comes into force. Provision made by virtue of sub-paragraph (5)(c) may— Sub-paragraph (8) does not limit the provision that may be made by virtue of sub-paragraph (5)(c). The following functions are excluded from transfer— In this paragraph— The powers conferred by this paragraph do not affect the powers conferred by section 30 or section 113.
This Schedule does not reserve giving financial assistance to commercial activities for the purpose of promoting or sustaining economic development or employment. Sub-paragraph (1)— Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the question whether any matter other than financial assistance to which that sub-paragraph applies is reserved.
References in this Schedule to the subject-matter of any enactment are to be read as references to the subject-matter of that enactment as it has effect on the principal appointed day or, if it ceased to have effect at any time within the period ending with that day and beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, as it had effect immediately before that time. Subordinate legislation under section 129(1) may, in relation to the operation of this Schedule at any time before the principal appointed day, modify the references to that day in sub-paragraph (1).
Section 98.
In this Schedule “devolution issue” means—
a question whether an Act of the Scottish Parliament or any provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament is within the legislative competence of the Parliament,
a question whether any function (being a function which any person has purported, or is proposing, to exercise) is a function of the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate,
a question whether the purported or proposed exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Executive is, or would be, within devolved competence,
a question whether a purported or proposed exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Executive is, or would be, incompatible with any of the Convention rights or with Community law,
a question whether a failure to act by a member of the Scottish Executive is incompatible with any of the Convention rights or with Community law,
any other question about whether a function is exercisable within devolved competence or in or as regards Scotland and any other question arising by virtue of this Act about reserved matters.
A devolution issue shall not be taken to arise in any proceedings merely because of any contention of a party to the proceedings which appears to the court or tribunal before which the proceedings take place to be frivolous or vexatious.
This Part of this Schedule applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in Scotland.
Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Advocate General or the Lord Advocate. The Lord Advocate may defend any such proceedings instituted by the Advocate General. This paragraph is without prejudice to any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.
Intimation of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before a court or tribunal shall be given to the Advocate General and the Lord Advocate (unless the person to whom the intimation would be given is a party to the proceedings).
A person to whom intimation is given in pursuance of paragraph 5 may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.
A court, other than the House of Lords or any court consisting of three or more judges of the Court of Session, may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings (other than criminal proceedings) before it to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
A tribunal from which there is no appeal shall refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it to the Inner House of the Court of Session; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.
A court, other than any court consisting of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary, may refer any devolution issue which arises in criminal proceedings before it to the High Court of Justiciary.
Any court consisting of three or more judges of the Court of Session may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 7 or 8) to the Judicial Committee.
Any court consisting of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 9) to the Judicial Committee.
An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the Inner House of the Court of Session on a reference under paragraph 7 or 8 shall lie to the Judicial Committee.
An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by— shall lie to the Judicial Committee, but only with leave of the court concerned or, failing such leave, with special leave of the Judicial Committee.
a court of two or more judges of the High Court of Justiciary (whether in the ordinary course of proceedings or on a reference under paragraph 9), or
a court of three or more judges of the Court of Session from which there is no appeal to the House of Lords,
This Part of this Schedule applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in England and Wales.
Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Attorney General. The Lord Advocate may defend any such proceedings. This paragraph is without prejudice to any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.
A court or tribunal shall order notice of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to be given to the Attorney General and the Lord Advocate (unless the person to whom the notice would be given is a party to the proceedings).
A person to whom notice is given in pursuance of paragraph 16 may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.
A magistrates' court may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings (other than criminal proceedings) before it to the High Court.
A court may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings (other than criminal proceedings) before it to the Court of Appeal. Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to—
A tribunal from which there is no appeal shall refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.
A court, other than the House of Lords or the Court of Appeal, may refer any devolution issue which arises in criminal proceedings before it to—
the High Court (if the proceedings are summary proceedings), or
the Court of Appeal (if the proceedings are proceedings on indictment).
The Court of Appeal may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 19, 20 or 21) to the Judicial Committee.
An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the High Court or the Court of Appeal on a reference under paragraph 18, 19, 20 or 21 shall lie to the Judicial Committee, but only with leave of the High Court or (as the case may be) the Court of Appeal or, failing such leave, with special leave of the Judicial Committee.
This Part of this Schedule applies in relation to devolution issues in proceedings in Northern Ireland.
Proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue may be instituted by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. The Lord Advocate may defend any such proceedings. This paragraph is without prejudice to any power to institute or defend proceedings exercisable apart from this paragraph by any person.
A court or tribunal shall order notice of any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to be given to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland and the Lord Advocate (unless the person to whom the notice would be given is a party to the proceedings).
A person to whom notice is given in pursuance of paragraph 26 may take part as a party in the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue.
A court, other than the House of Lords or the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, may refer any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.
A tribunal from which there is no appeal shall refer any devolution issue which arises in any proceedings before it to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; and any other tribunal may make such a reference.
The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland may refer any devolution issue which arises in proceedings before it (otherwise than on a reference under paragraph 28 or 29) to the Judicial Committee.
An appeal against a determination of a devolution issue by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland on a reference under paragraph 28 or 29 shall lie to the Judicial Committee, but only with leave of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland or, failing such leave, with special leave of the Judicial Committee.
Any devolution issue which arises in judicial proceedings in the House of Lords shall be referred to the Judicial Committee unless the House considers it more appropriate, having regard to all the circumstances, that it should determine the issue.
The Lord Advocate, the Advocate General, the Attorney General or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland may require any court or tribunal to refer to the Judicial Committee any devolution issue which has arisen in proceedings before it to which he is a party.
The Lord Advocate, the Attorney General, the Advocate General or the Attorney General for Northern Ireland may refer to the Judicial Committee any devolution issue which is not the subject of proceedings.
This paragraph applies where a reference is made under paragraph 34 in relation to a devolution issue which relates to the proposed exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Executive. The person making the reference shall notify a member of the Scottish Executive of that fact. No member of the Scottish Executive shall exercise the function in the manner proposed during the period beginning with the receipt of the notification under sub-paragraph (2) and ending with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of. Proceedings relating to any possible failure by a member of the Scottish Executive to comply with sub-paragraph (3) may be instituted by the Advocate General. Sub-paragraph (4) is without prejudice to any power to institute proceedings exercisable apart from that sub-paragraph by any person.
A court or tribunal before which any proceedings take place may take account of any additional expense of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) in deciding any question as to costs or expenses. In deciding any such question, the court or tribunal may award the whole or part of the additional expense as costs or (as the case may be) expenses to the party who incurred it (whatever the decision on the devolution issue). The additional expense is any additional expense which the court or tribunal considers that any party to the proceedings has incurred as a result of the participation of any person in pursuance of paragraph 6, 17 or 27.
Any power to make provision for regulating the procedure before any court or tribunal shall include power to make provision for the purposes of this Schedule including, in particular, provision—
for prescribing the stage in the proceedings at which a devolution issue is to be raised or referred,
for the sisting or staying of proceedings for the purpose of any proceedings under this Schedule, and
for determining the manner in which and the time within which any intimation or notice is to be given.
Any duty or power conferred by this Schedule to refer a devolution issue to a court shall be construed as a duty or (as the case may be) power to refer the issue to the court for decision.
Section 115.
Subordinate legislation (or a statutory instrument containing it) under a provision listed in the left-hand column is subject to the type of procedure in the right-hand column. This paragraph is subject to paragraphs 3 and 4. Provision of the Act Type of procedure Section 2(1) Type C Section 12(1) Type C Section 15 Type D Section 18(5) Type J Section 30 Type A Section 35 Type I Section 38 Type J Section 56(2) Type G Section 58 Type I Section 60 Type G Section 62 Type G Section 63 Type A Section 64(5) Type K Section 67(3) Type E Section 71(6) Type K Section 79 Type E Section 88 Type I Section 89 Type F Section 90 Type F Section 93 Type H Section 97 Type A Section 103(3)(a) and (b) Type I Section 104 Type G Section 105 Type G Section 106 Type G Section 107 Type G Section 108 Type A Section 109 Type H Section 110(1) Type C Section 110(2) Type I Section 111 Type A Section 116(9) Type G Section 124(1) Type G Section 126(2) Type B Section 126(8) Type H Section 129(1) Type G Schedule 2, paragraph 2 Type G Schedule 2, paragraph 7 Type H Notes The entry for section 58 does not apply to an instrument containing an order merely revoking an order under subsection (1) of that section. The entry for section 79, in relation to an instrument containing an order which makes only such provision as is mentioned in section 79(3), is to be read as referring to type K instead of type E.
The types of procedure referred to in this Schedule are— Type A: No recommendation to make the legislation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council unless a draft of the instrument — has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament, and has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Parliament. Type B: No recommendation to make the legislation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament. Type C: No Minister of the Crown is to make the legislation unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament. Type D: No recommendation to make the legislation is to be made to Her Majesty in Council unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Parliament. Type E: No Minister of the Crown is to make the legislation unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the House of Commons. Type F: The instrument containing the legislation, if made without a draft having been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament and of the Parliament, shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of— a resolution of either House, or a resolution of the Parliament. Type G: The instrument containing the legislation, if made without a draft having been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament, shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House. Type H: The instrument containing the legislation shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of— a resolution of either House of Parliament, or a resolution of the Parliament. Type I: The instrument containing the legislation shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. Type J: The instrument containing the legislation shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Parliament. Type K: The instrument containing the legislation shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
This paragraph applies if— Where this paragraph applies—
If legislation under section 129(1) makes provision as mentioned in section 112(2) then, instead of the type G procedure, the type D procedure shall apply.
An instrument containing an Order in Council or order under an open power which revokes, amends or re-enacts subordinate legislation under an open power may (in spite of section 14 of the Interpretation Act 1978) be subject to a different procedure under this Schedule from the procedure to which the instrument containing the original legislation was subject. An instrument containing an Order in Council under section 89 or 90 which revokes, amends or re-enacts an Order under either section may (in spite of section 14 of the Interpretation Act 1978) be subject to a different procedure under this Schedule from the procedure to which the instrument containing the original Order was subject.
Section 125.
In section 2 of the Public Revenue (Scotland) Act 1833 (regulation of Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer), for “Treasury” in both places there is substituted “Scottish Ministers”.
The Crown Suits (Scotland) Act 1857 is amended as follows. In section 1 (Crown suits may be brought by or against Lord Advocate)— In section 2 (authority of Crown required)— In section 3 (absence of authority cannot be founded upon), for “Her Majesty’s Advocate” there is substituted “the appropriate Law Officer”. After section 4 there is inserted— In section 5 (change of Lord Advocate not to affect proceedings)—
The Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Act 1927 is amended as follows. In section 1(2) (appointment etc. of procurator fiscal), “with the consent of the Treasury” is omitted. In section 2 (appointment of sheriff clerk and procurator fiscal deputes), “with the consent of the Treasury as to numbers and salaries” is omitted. In section 3 (whole-time sheriff clerks and procurators fiscal and deputes), “and in either case with the consent of the Treasury” is omitted. In section 5 (whole-time clerks), “with the consent of the Treasury as to numbers and salaries” is omitted. In section 12 (prosecutions at instance of procurator fiscal), “after consultation with the Treasury” is omitted.
In the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1933, in sections 24(7) and 25 (officers of Court of Session etc.), “and shall be exercised on nomination by the Lord Advocate” is omitted.
In section 1 of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 (application for provisional order: notices), after subsection (4) there is added—
In section 1 of the United Nations Act 1946 (measures to give effect to decisions of Security Council), in subsection (4), for the words following “shall” there is substituted forthwith after it is made be laid—
The Crown Proceedings Act 1947 is amended as follows. In section 38(2) (interpretation)— In section 40 (savings)— In the proviso to section 44 (remit from sheriff court to Court of Session on Lord Advocate’s certificate)— In section 50 (application to Scotland of section 35), subsection (2) of section 35 as substituted for Scotland is amended as follows— In section 51(2) (application to Scotland of section 38), in paragraph (ii), after “Lord Advocate” there is inserted “or the Advocate General for Scotland”.
In section 1(1) of the Public Registers and Records (Scotland) Act 1948 (appointment etc. of Keeper of the Registers and Keeper of the Records), for “Secretary of State” there is substituted “Scottish Ministers”.
In section 2 of the Lands Tribunal Act 1949 (members etc. of Lands Tribunal for Scotland)—
in subsection (9)—
after “effect” there is inserted “with the omission of subsection (8) and”, and
in paragraph (a), for “(8)” there is substituted “(7)”, and
after that subsection there is inserted—
In section 10 of the Defamation Act 1952 (limitation on privilege at elections), after “local government authority” there is inserted “to the Scottish Parliament”.
In section 10(2) of the Defamation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 (limitation on privilege at elections), after “Parliament of the United Kingdom” there is inserted “or to the Scottish Parliament”.
In section 1(1) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 (power of Secretary of State to appoint Registrar General), for “Secretary of State” there is substituted “Scottish Ministers”.
In Part II of Schedule 2 to the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (official pensions out of local funds), before paragraph 39 there is inserted—
In section 1(6) of the Superannuation Act 1972 (superannuation as respects civil servants etc.), for “or the Consolidated Fund” there is substituted “the Consolidated Fund or the Scottish Consolidated Fund”.
The European Communities Act 1972 is amended as follows. In section 2 (general implementation of Treaties)— In relation to regulations made by the Scottish Ministers, or an Order in Council made on the recommendation of the First Minister, under section 2— In section 3(4) (evidence), references to a government department include any part of the Scottish Administration.
The Interpretation Act 1978 is amended as follows. After section 23 there is inserted— In Schedule 1 (words and expressions defined), the following definitions are inserted in the appropriate places— “Enactment” does not include an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
In section 135(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (interpretation), in the definition of “Her Majesty’s inspectors”, “on the recommendation of the Secretary of State” is omitted.
Section 46 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (domicile and seat of the Crown) is amended as follows. In subsection (3), after paragraph (a) there is inserted—. In subsection (7), after “Kingdom” there is inserted “, the Scottish Administration”.
In section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (members of the House of Commons suffering from mental illness), after subsection (7), there is added—
Sections 6 and 7 of the National Audit Act 1983 (value for money studies) shall not apply in relation to—
the Scottish Administration or any part of it, or
any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions.
In section 1 of the Tourism (Overseas Promotion) (Scotland) Act 1984 (power of Scottish Tourist Board to promote tourism in Scotland outside UK), subsection (2) is omitted.
For section 1 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 there is substituted—
The Insolvency Act 1986 is amended as follows. Anything directed to be done, or which may be done, to or by— shall, or (as the case may be) may, also be done to or by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Those provisions are: sections 53(1), 54(3), 61(6), 62(5) (so far as relating to the giving of notice), 67(1), 69(2), 84(3), 94(3), 106(3) and (5), 112(3), 130(1), 147(3), 170(2) and 172(8). Anything directed to be done to or by— shall instead be done to or by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Those provisions are: sections 89(3), 109(1), 171(5) and (6), 173(2)(a) and 192(1). In section 427 (members of the House of Commons whose estates are sequestrated etc.), after subsection (6) there is inserted—
In section 26(1) of the Public Order Act 1986 (savings for reports of parliamentary proceedings), after “Parliament” there is inserted “or in the Scottish Parliament”.
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is amended as follows. In section 12(9) (duration of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works), for “166” there is substituted “166A”. In section 153(2) (qualification for copyright protection), for “166” there is substituted “166A”. In section 163(6) (Crown copyright), for “and 166” there is substituted “to 166A”. In section 164(1) (Crown copyright in Acts of Parliament etc.), after “Parliament” there is inserted “Act of the Scottish Parliament”. After section 166 there is inserted— In section 178 (minor definitions)— In section 179 (index of defined expressions), in column 2 of the entry for “Parliamentary copyright”, for “and 166(6)” there is substituted “166(6) and 166A(3)”.
Section 12 of the Official Secrets Act 1989 (meaning of “Crown servant” and “government contractor” for the purposes of that Act) is amended as follows. In subsection (1), after paragraph (a) there is inserted—. In subsection (2)(a), after “above,” there is inserted “of any office-holder in the Scottish Administration,”. After subsection (3) there is inserted—.
The Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 is amended as follows. Section 2 of that Act (appointment of officers etc.) is omitted. In section 3(1) (prison officers), for the words following “Secretary of State” there is substituted— In section 3A (medical services)—
In section 6 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993 (persons who may be proposed for membership of the Committee of the Regions), after “he is” there is inserted “a member of the Scottish Parliament”.
In section 1 of the Scottish Land Court Act 1993 (the Scottish Land Court)—
in subsection (2), for “Secretary of State” there is substituted “First Minister”, and
after subsection (2) there is inserted—
In section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (application to the Crown), in subsection (6), after “includes” there is inserted “the Scottish Administration”.
In section 12(1) of the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 (interpretation)—
in the definition of “Minister”, after “1975” there is inserted “and also includes a member of the Scottish Executive”, and
in paragraph (a) of the definition of “officer”, after “Department” there is inserted “or, as the case may be, as a member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers or the Lord Advocate”.
The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 is amended as follows. After section 288 there is inserted— “devolution issue” has the same meaning as in Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998;
The Defamation Act 1996 is amended as follows. In section 17(1) (interpretation), in the definition of “statutory provision”, after “1978” there is inserted—. In paragraph 11(1)(c) of Schedule 1 (qualified privilege), after “Minister of the Crown” there is inserted “a member of the Scottish Executive”.
In section 6 of the Damages Act 1996 (guarantees for public sector settlements), after subsection (8) there is inserted—
Section 125. Chapter Short title Extent of repeal 1927 c. 35. The Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Act 1927. In section 1(2), “with the consent of the Treasury”. In section 2, “with the consent of the Treasury as to numbers and salaries”. In section 3, “and in either case with the consent of the Treasury”. In section 5, “with the consent of the Treasury as to numbers and salaries”. In section 12, “after consultation with the Treasury”. 1933 c. 41. The Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1933. In sections 24(7) and 25, “and shall be exercised on nomination by the Lord Advocate”. 1975 c. 24. The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. In Schedule 2, the entries for the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. 1975 c. 27. The Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975. In Part III of Schedule 1, the entries for the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. 1980 c. 44. The Education (Scotland) Act 1980. In section 135(1), in the definition of “Her Majesty’s inspectors”, “on the recommendation of the Secretary of State”. 1984 c. 4. The Tourism (Overseas Promotion) (Scotland) Act 1984. Section 1(2). 1986 c. 56. The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. In Schedule 2, rule 1(2). 1989 c. 45. The Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989. Section 2.